BlackBerry officially launches Android smartphone Priv; price, specifications

Canadian smartphone-maker BlackBerry has officially launched its first ever Android-powered handset, Priv.

"I have said many times that BlackBerry would not release an Android smartphone unless we could make it private and secure. I'm pleased to say that day has arrived," said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO, BlackBerry.

"With BlackBerry's patented keyboard and the full complement of applications found in Google Play, this device (Priv) expands our cross-platform strategy and gives end-users the best in security, privacy and productivity, with no compromises on applications," he added.

The new BlackBerry Priv sports a 5.4-inch QHD AMOLED based sliding display with QWERTY physical keyboard.

Under the hood, it runs the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS powered by a 64-bit Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core, similar to the one we find in the recently-released Google-LG Nexus 5X and G4.

It is backed by sumptuous 3GB RAM, 32GB inbuilt memory and a massive 3410mAh battery, which is enough to run the phone for close to 22.5 hours under mixed usage.

BlackBerry Priv boasts 18MP camera with dual-LED flash on the rear side and a 2MP front-facing snapper.

BlackBerry Priv price details:

The company has confirmed that the new BlackBerry Priv will cost $699 (around Rs 43,450) in the US.

BlackBerry Priv has been rolled out in Canada and the UK for CDN$899 (around Rs 44,404) and £559 (around Rs 55,708), respectively.

As of now, there is no official word on when BlackBerry Priv will be made available in India. Stay tuned for more updates.

Key specifications of BlackBerry Priv: