Categories: Devices: Smartphones & Cell Phones

Blackberry Priv: Smartphone Developed by Blackberry

Blackberry Priv, new smartphone marketed by Blackberry

Blackberry Priv: Smartphone Developed by Blackberry

BlackBerry Priv smartphone is developed by BlackBerry Limited. It was in November, 2015. The term Priv stand for both “privacy” and “privilege”. The Blackberry Priv is the first BlackBerry phone not to run the BlackBerry OS or BlackBerry 10 platforms. It runs instead an Android. However, this Android version is customized with features inspired by those on BlackBerry phones. With the use of Android, BlackBerry get access to the amount of Android software available via Google Play Store. Besides, it is equipped with a physical keyboard and privacy-focused features.

BlackBerry had struggled in recent years due to the dominance of iPhone line, marketed by Apple Inc., and Android devices, marketed primarily by Samsung Electronics. Thus in 2014-2015, BlackBerry worked in collaboration with Google to engineer a version of Android for the Priv.

The Blackberry Priv features a massive 5.43 inch, 1440p AMOLED display, sharp and rich with color. It curves on each edge. Its rear is coated in a glass weave material. The screen can be slid up. It reveals then a hardware physical keyboard. Similarly to the BlackBerry Passport, the keyboard is touch-sensitive. It can register sliding gestures across its keys for scrolling, text selection, and autocomplete suggestions. The device’s bezel also features dedicated camera and Convenience buttons.

The Priv ships with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, using a stock user experience customized with additional features and BlackBerry-developed apps. BlackBerry Hub aggregates notifications and content from multiple sources. It allows for granular management of messages. It allows also snoozing based off time, location or network availability.

According to the reviews, BlacBerry Priv is a good smartphone. People who pin after the days of the hardware keyboard will probably going to love it. As well as those who’ve been longing for an Android phone with a keyboard.