The BlackBerry PRIV is set to launch in India on January 28. Here are a few key features to watch out for in BlackBerry's first Android smartphone ever.
The BlackBerry PRIV, a BB device running on Android, is set to launch in India on January 28. BlackBerry PRIV is the first Android smartphone made by the company, which lost its market share to the astronomical growth of Android and iOS devices. Now, owing to Android's high adoption rate and in a push to revive sales, BlackBerry has come out with the PRIV smartphone. Here are 5 key features of the BlackBerry PRIV that are reason enough for all the hype surrounding the device.
- BlackBerry Hub: The BlackBerry Hub is a smart inbox that manages all your communications a single hub. It lets users compose email messages and social posts, or respond directly to messages and calendar invitations. It also has a snooze option, a file manager, and a smart contact management system on board.
- DTEK: The BlackBerry PRIV comes pre-loaded with DTEK, a security monitor designed to automatically monitor apps and processes in real time. DTEK then provides a security rating to the phone and adds an extra layer of protection, when it comes to unsafe apps. DTEK also notifies users whenever an app accesses sensitive functions like location, pictures, camera etc.
- Dual-curved Quad HD screen: Ths Priv comes with a display that is slightly curved on both edges, similar to the Samsgung Galaxy S6 Edge+. It works on a 2560 x 1440p resolution and has a pixel density of 540ppi, making for sharp images.
- Touch enabled physical keyboard with smart slide: Yes, BlackBerry has retained the old flavour of the physical keyboard. Although the phone also sports a touch keyboard on display, the physical QWERTY keyboard is a BB classic.
- 18MP camera with OIS and Dual-flash: The PRIV’s camera went through DxO’s image quality tests achieving an overall score of 82. This score was higher than those of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, Google Nexus 6 and Experia Z3 Plus.
- Strong tech specs: When it comes to specifications, the BlackBerry PRIV scores many plus points with a Snapdragon 808 CPU, 3GB RAM, expandable storage upto 2TB, 3410 mAh battery, accelerometer, altimeter, gyro sensor, proximity sensor and BlackBerry's natural sound alogoritm.
So yes, the BlackBerry PRIV does look like one exciting smartphone, but it all depends on how the company prices the device in India. Last year, four units of the BlackBerry Priv were imported to India for 'testing and evaluation'. Unit prices on Zauba’s import listing has stated the price at Rs. 50,635. This falls in tandem with BlackBerry CEO John Chen’s words, stating that the BlackBerry PRIV will be one pricey device. The PRIV costs Rs. 53,900 for an import unit on ebay India, but its actual price in the US is $699 (Rs. 47,214).
Back in 2014, BlackBerry CEO John Chen was quoted saying, "If I cannot make money on handsets, I will not be in the handset business." Then again, in October 2015, at the Code Mobile Conference in California, Chen finally put a timeline to the rumours and said that if the handset business does not generate enough money, the company will take the call of exiting it in a year's time. But, rumour has it that BlackBerry is working on another Android smartphone currently, and the company is set to release the same this year. How the BlackBerry PRIV will fare in India, is a question which will soon answer itself. Let us know what you think of the BlackBerry PRIV and that if you will choose it over the Apple's and Samsung's of the world.
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Adamya Sharma
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