Tag: BLackberry Passport

BlackBerry To Launch Three Android Devices At MWC 2018

BlackBerry is all set to launch three new smartphones in the coming days. According to a recent leak, these phones come with code name Athena, Luna, and Uni. After years of dominating the smartphone market along with Nokia, BlackBerry has gone off the rails. WIth another set of Android devices, the company would want to establish a strong foothold.

In the last couple of years, the company has launched smartphones like the BlackBerry Priv, BlackBerry KeyOne, and BlackBerry Passport. Now, the company is all set to refresh this lineup with these newer offerings. These devices are expected to be officially launched at the upcoming MWC 2018 in Barcelona.

WIPO has published a new patent from BlackBerry Limited for a smartphone with a sliding mechanism. In fact, the sketch resembles the BlackBerry Priv, which was launched in 2015. Back in the October 2017, a report claimed that the company is working on a new smartphone, is this one in the question?

The only difference between these models is the placement of the camera. The camera will be hidden until the slide is open. The back-case offers a camera lens, which might offer features like a wide-angle lens, fish-eye vision, a zoom lens or a macro lens.

Registered Patent for upcoming BlackBerry smartphone

Specifications of BlackBerry Uni, Luna, and, Athen:

As of now, we just have the specifications of the BlackBerry Uni. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 Octa-core processor with 6 GB or 8 GB RAM and 64 GB storage. The screen resolution of Uni (1620 x 1080) hints that the phone might resemble the BlackBerry KeyOne. This confuses a bit, as it has a mechanism like Priv, but a screen resolution of KeyOne? Considering that these devices will be launched in 2018, BlackBerry might go for a bezel-less design, which might be the reason for this different screen resolution.

Presently, the specifications of the other two models are still unclear. As the MWC approaches, we will have a clear idea about all three devices.

Conclusion:

At least on paper, these smartphones look promising. BlackBerry should make sure that these devices run on latest Android OS with a competitive price tag at the time of launch.

February 17, 2018
Blackberry Releases the Passport in India for Rs. 49,990

The Blackberry Passport, which was launched just a few days back in the international market, has now been launched in India. The device has a one of kind square display and flaunts top of the line specs.

The smartphone will be available for pre-order from today at BlackBerry exclusive stores and Amazon.in. The folks who book the Passport between today and October 10 will get a gift voucher worth Rs 5,000 on Amazon as well as 5,000 frequent flyer miles on Jet Airways.

The 4.5 inch square display is the USP of the device

The most prominent feature of the device is the 4.5 inch square display. It has a display resolution of 1440x1440p and a pixel density of 453 ppi. It features a 10 point multi-touch and is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

The device also comes with three-row QWERTY keyboard that gives users more typing accuracy and is also touch-enabled. It’s responsive to touch so the user can scroll web pages, flick to type or slide along the keys to move the cursor.

It is powered by a 2.26 GHz Snapdragon 800, quad-core processor and has 3 GB RAM, equivalent of the Note 4. The internal memory stands at 32 GB and is expandable up to 128 GB. The device also has NFC for mobile payment and file transfer.

The Passport runs on BlackBerry’s new BlackBerry 10.3 operating system and also features a Siri-like voice assistant. The device is priced at Rs. 49,990 and is competitive and justified for the features it offers. The phone might easily find customers in the corporate or government sectors or even from folks looking for a different mobile experience.

September 29, 2014
Blackberry Bets Big With the New High Specced Passport

A while back, Blackberry was synonymous with smartphones. It is common knowledge that on Secret Service’s direction, President Obama had to take the tough decision of quitting his Blackberry when he came to office. But now the company has lost that edge. iPhones and Android smartphones have taken over the market leaving just a tiny gap for others to squeeze through. Blackberry is now taking a major chance with the new Passport, which it hopes will bring back the lost glory of the company.

The 4.5-inch square-shaped Blackberry Passport is the company’s first major release in over two years. The square shaped screen with QWERTY keyboard is an attempt by the company to bring back corporate and government consumers. The phone was released simultaneously in Toronto, London and Dubai.

The Passport’s 4.5 inch screen has a resolution of 1440×1440 with a pixel density of 453 ppi, which sounds like an excellent display. It features 10 points multi-touch and is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

Its processing capabilities are handled by a 2.26 GHz Snapdragon 800, quad-core processor. The device has 3 GB RAM, equivalent of the Note 4. The internal memory stands at 32 GB and is expandable up to 128 GB. The device also has NFC for mobile payment and file transfer.

The phone looks classy on the back.

The main camera on the Passport is a 13 MP shooter while the front camera is a 2MP shooter. It comes with a massive battery of 3450 mAh which will probably keep it going for a couple of days, thereby being a good companion for the executive on the move.

Blackberry claims the physical keyboard gives users more typing accuracy and is also touch-enabled. It’s responsive to touch so the user can scroll web pages, flick to type or slide along the keys to move the cursor.

The Passport will cost $599 (about Rs. 36,400) without a contract. If they plan on bringing it to India, it will be at least a Rs. 40,000 plus device. At the price, it will still be cheaper than most of the flagships in the market.

Overall the passport sounds like a great device on paper but we are a little suspicious of the square display. While widescreen is the norm of the day, it will be interesting to see how this crucial bet by Blackberry pays off.

September 25, 2014