BlackBerry has finally realized that if they are to make it in a smartphone market that is predominantly comprised of Apple iPhones and so many variants of Android handsets that it should revise its device strategy and launch the PRIV by BlackBerry. That means turning it upside down on its head and doing something radically different, and, you know what? I think that they have finally done it this time with the PRIV by BlackBerry.
Just think about it for a second – today your strengths lie in your mobile software – especially in mobile security. You are also known for powerful applications like the BlackBerry Messenger (also more commonly known as “BBM”) and then there is the ever iconic real life tactile BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard that all have learned to love and cherish so well.
So why not design a smartphone that has the following features?
- Contains all of BlackBerry’s strongest and well known pieces of software and applications like BBM and the BlackBerry Hub (the BlackBerry Hub is a neat application that brings all of your emails in one place so you no longer have to open a separate Hotmail email application or look for your several gmail and yahoo email applications in addition to your work Exchange email system for they all now reside in one place).
- Has all of BlackBerry’s internationally known security policies and encryption in place making your phone a veritable Fort Knox for your personal data and media.
- Has a slide out keyboard with the BlackBerry patented keyboard design.
- Has a gorgeous and huge screen that can rival those beautiful creations on the Apple iPhone 6 series, Motorola’s Nexus line as well as the LG G4 handsets (trust me when I say that the screens on those phones are truly amazing).
- Is neatly packaged on a slim form factor but high quality phone that will turn heads when you use it on the train.
- Has a serious amount of horsepower under the hood. In other words it must have at least a 6 core (hexcore) processor system and – and this is the most important part of all …..
Uses either Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android mobile operating system.
So, what does all of the above give you? PRIV by BlackBerry.
Actually the correct naming convention is “PRIV by BlackBerry” as BlackBerry wants to change the perception of their handsets going forward seeing that the design strategy is now totally different.
The term “PRIV” stands for “Privacy” and “Privileged” as it is targeted at the high end market. Now this may be a gutsy move by the technology company based on their current performance in the market today from a handset perspective, but from what I have experienced from there latest device, BlackBerry may still have a fighting chance yet.
In addition to the features listed above the phone comes with 3GB of onboard RAM and 32GB of memory for applications, multimedia and the like and there is also an expansion slot for microSD cards up to a maximum size of 2 terabytes (2TB) – yes ladies and gentlemen you heard me right, 2TBs and I do not believe that 2TB microSD cards exist yet as of today but rest assured when they do become available the PRIV can take them. Just think about it, with 2TB in your pocket you can have your entire movie and movie collection as well as all of your digital pictures taken from back in the day when you were at your high school prom (assuming that you were at the prom when they had digital cameras) till now.
PRIV by BlackBerry also boasts an 18 megapixel super camera which was designed by a German company called Schneider Kreuznach. I did do comparison tests between the camera’s of the iPhone 6S, Nexus 6 and LG G4 and the PRIV and I must admit that the PRIV pictures and video were indeed impressive.
The PRIV is powered by a 3250 mAH battery which BlackBerry claims can give you up to 22 hours of normal usage.
The PRIV was launched in early November with Android 5.1.1 installed but no fear Android lovers – the PRIV will be compatible with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) in early 2016.
BlackBerry, I so much want you to continue to have a place in the smartphone wars for years to come and the PRIV may be your saving grace yet!
Checkout my review video below.