BlackBerry Priv to be launched in India today

BlackBerry Priv, the first Android smartphone from the beleaguered Canadian smartphone maker, is launching in India today.

For all those smartphone users who hated the move from the keypad-instilled comfort of their old BlackBerry to an Android or iOS device, there is finally some comforting news. BlackBerry Priv, the first Android smartphone from the beleaguered Canadian smartphone maker, is launching in India today. Priv has the potential to plug a big gap in the Android juggernaut, that of devices with good keypad support for those who don’t love typing on a touchscreen. For those who are not comfortable using a touchscreen, there is still no option other than to pick up a BlackBerry device, which though very secure, might deprive you of some of the pleasures of owning a smartphone.

In terms of specifications, the smartphone has a 5.4-inch dual-curved WQHD Plastic AMOLED screen similar to the Samsung Galaxy Edge series. The display has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels with a density of 540 dpi. In addition, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 Hexa-Core, 64 bit processor with an Adreno 418, 600MHz GPU.

An 18 MP dual-flash Schneider-Kreuznach certified camera is expected to deliver crisp images. The device has 3GB low powered RAM and internal storage of up to 32 GB, but is expandable via the microSD card slot of up to 2 TB. A 3410 mAh battery on the Priv gives up to 22.5 hours of battery life according to BlackBerry.

According to BlackBerry, the Priv ‘comes pre-loaded with the brand new BlackBerry DTEK application, designed to help you manage and protect your privacy.’ It tells you which apps access your personal data and shows the overall security of your device based on factors such as the strength of your password, your encryption settings and the apps you have installed. DTEK even makes recommendations on how you can improve your overall security rating.