Time to bring out the big guns, BlackBerry. It’s been a while since we’ve heard from one of the tech industry’s superstars of old. With giants constantly emerging from the workshops of Apple and Samsung, it’s becoming difficult for other brands like BlackBerry to survive and avoid fading into obscurity. But they try. And BlackBerry’s latest salvo hopes to do that by packaging nostalgia into a squeaky clean package.
BlackBerry has just launched the BlackBerry Priv in the Philippines. They’re naming it their next flagship phone. Short for “privacy” and “privilege,” the Priv is headlined by two standout features: the return of the BlackBerry keyboard and the inclusion of a pure Android system.
That’s not to say that its other qualities aren’t poised to bring the spotlight back on BlackBerry. The Priv’s spec sheet glitters as bright as competitor flagships, most notably a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor.
But back to basics. The Priv comes with the option of using the physical keyboard or a virtual on-screen one. It’s a blast from the past which, according to BlackBerry, is a design choice made through extensive research. The keyboard’s physical keys are also touch-capacitive, which means the keyboard can be used as a trackpad for scrolling. Buttons can also be programmed for specific shortcuts.
On the software side, the Priv retains some of the apps BlackBerry developed especially for their phones. DTEK by BlackBerry is the phone’s own antivirus and security suite rolled into one. The app monitors and suggests steps to take for a more secure phone. It even alerts you if, when, and where an app accesses phone features it shouldn’t be playing with (like a flashlight app accessing your mic needlessly).
The BlackBerry Hub returns as the brand’s in-demand communications center that consolidates all your messages into one app. Previously a BlackBerry 10 exclusive, the brand touts that it has been proclaimed as the industry’s best communications app. Pop-Up Widgets allows you to view any application widget by simply swiping up or down the app’s icon on the Priv’s home screen, giving you fast access to the information you need. The Productivity Tab maximizes the Priv’s dual-curved screen by providing an “at a glance” view of apps right on the phone’s edge.
Speaking of the Priv’s screen, the phone has a 5.4-inch dual-curve display with a Quad HD OLED screen that delivers richer colors and deeper blacks with less power consumption. It has a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 and a pixel density of 540ppi. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4.
As mentioned above, the Priv is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor with 3GB of RAM. The Priv’s internal memory is 64GB big with an allowance for up to 2TB of expansion via a microSD slot, one of the first smartphone to offer this compatibility. (While this in itself impressive, it should be noted that there are no 2TB memory cards out in the market as of this time. Responding to this limitation, BlackBerry is focusing on its future readiness when 2TB cards do come out.)
Unlike its predecessors, the Priv comes with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box. It even has a fully-functional Google Play Store which enables you to install Android apps and games, rather than being limited to BlackBerry-produced ones.
Another one of the Priv’s stronger features is the Schneider-Kreuznach 18-megapixel fast-focus camera with Optical Image Stabilization. It also has a dual flash for perfect light and color balance. Live filters that are applied can be seen before taking the photo. The camera is capable of taking 4K resolution video at 60FPS and taking photos while recording.
Finally, the Priv packs a 3,410mAh battery that’s monitored by the curved screen. Battery Edge enables you to view the battery charge status from the edge even without waking the screen up.
Attractive? Better break your piggy banks, then. The BlackBerry Priv retails for P45,000. (Yeah, we were shocked, too.) It’s available starting mid-December of this year.
