BlackBerry Reveals More About Android-Powered Priv Smartphone

BlackBerry has provided more details about its first-ever Android smartphone, the Priv, and has opened pre-orders for the device in the UK – where it will be stocked exclusively by Carphone Warehouse.

The device was announced earlier this year and is an attempt by the Canadian manufacturer to boost the appeal of its smartphones, sales of which have been falling over the past few years.

The Priv features an eye-catching retro design that includes a pop-out QWERTY keyboard at the bottom of the device, allowing users the chance to type on an iconic BlackBerry interface as well as interact with the device via its touchscreen.

Curvy

It features a 5.4-inch QHD display that wraps around the side of the device, much like the curved screen in Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge and Edge + smartphones, which comes with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution.

Measuring just 9.4mm across, the Priv weighs in at 192g, making it significantly heavier than many of the leading Android devices currently on the market.

Inside, there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor clocked at 1.8Ghz, 3GB of RAM, AND 32GB of internal storage, although this is expandable up to two terabytes via microSD.

There’s also a massive 3,410mAh battery, which will happily support a full day’s use, Android 5.1.1, and an 18MP  Schneider-Kreuznach certified camera on the rear, as well as a 2MP front lens for selfies.

The Priv will come with BlackBerry’s DTEK security app pre-installed, which will provide an extra level of privacy for the device.

The Priv will only be available in black, with contracts starting from £49 a month on Vodafone, O2 and EE, with the device reaching customers on November 6.

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