BlackBerry Priv officially announced, the company’s first Android smartphone

While announcing its Q2 2016 results, BlackBerry has officially announced its plans to launch the company’s first Android-powered smartphone, the BlackBerry Priv. The company claimed that it’s the flagship smartphone offering that combines best of both the worlds, Android’s ecosystem with BlackBerry’s security along with its famous QWERTY keyboard.

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The company didn’t reveal too much details about the device other than that it runs BlackBerry secured version of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and that it is powered by a Qualcomm Processor. The device was leaked months ago as BlackBerry Venice, and it’s clear that the company has changed its retail name to BlackBerry Priv, and it will be available for purchase in late 2015.

Today, I am confirming our plans to launch Priv, an Android device named after BlackBerry’s heritage and core mission of protecting our customers’ privacy. Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform.

– John Chen, BlackBerry CEO

BlackBerry Priv Specifications

• 5.4-inch Super AMOLED dual-edge curved display, 1440 x 2560 pixels, ~544 ppi, Gorilla Glass 4
• Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, GrSecurity Kernel, BlackBerry Hub
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, Hexa-Core 64-bit CPU, Adreno 418 GPU, and 3GB RAM
• 32GB internal storage and microSD card slot (upto 128GB)
• 18MP primary camera, autofocus, dual-LED flash, OIS, and 4K 2160p video recording
• 5MP secondary camera
• Dual-band Wi-Fi ac/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1, microUSB v2.0 port, and 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Single-SIM, 4G LTE, HSPA+, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS,
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Slide-Up QWERTY Keyboard and 3,000 mAh battery

Going by the previous leaks, which seem accurate enough, the BlackBerry Priv features a 5.4-inch dual-edge curved Super AMOLED display with QHD resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, a microSD card slot, and the ever so famous touch-sensitive QWERTY keyboard that was also used in the BlackBerry Passport. On the imaging front, the device features an 18-megapixel primary camera with OIS and 4K video recording, and a 5-megapixel secondary camera.

Have a look at a BNN video below where John Chen, BlackBerry CEO, shows the BlackBerry Priv to the channel’s reporter. He states that people still love BlackBerry OS 10, but it lacks the apps that people want to use, and the if Android solves this problem, it’s a good thing. The company says that it will continue to release BlackBerry OS 10-based smartphones as well.

Today, BlackBerry is announcing two new additions to its handheld device roadmap. First, the company will launch a flagship slider device, Priv, which will run on the Android operating system, bringing together the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform. In combination with BlackBerry’s efforts to support Android for Work on the BES12 platform, the new device will offer best in class security for enterprise customers. BlackBerry expects the device to be available late in the calendar year in major markets in-store and online, and will release further details in the coming weeks.

While the new device will provide a choice in OS to new and existing customers, the company remains committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which enables industry-leading security and productivity benefits. Second, the company will continue to develop and enhance the BlackBerry 10 operating system and is confirming plans to release platform updates focused on security and privacy enhancements, with version 10.3.3 scheduled to be available in March 2016.

BlackBerry is committed to developing and enhancing its own operating system efforts with BlackBerry OS 10.3.3, which the company expects to be released by March 2016. This version of BB OS will have a focus on security and privacy enhancements. Are you impressed by the BlackBerry Priv? Also, if you are a BlackBerry fan, do let us know in the comments section below if you will buy the BlackBerry Priv, or continue to use BB OS 10-based smartphones.