BlackBerry Priv Debut: 10 Features Partners Need To Know About

BlackBerry's Next Smartphone Hope

BlackBerry last Friday opened orders for a new security-focused Android-powered smartphone called BlackBerry Priv, aimed at strengthening its struggling hardware portfolio in the U.S.

The new smartphone "combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform," said CEO John Chen on a call with investors.

BlackBerry has been struggling to turn around its mobile phone ecosystem. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company reported disappointing results for its second quarter ended Aug. 29. BlackBerry posted a loss of 13 cents per share on a revenue of $490 million, below analysts' expectations of 9 cents per share on revenue of $600 million.

Following are 10 features of BlackBerry's new Android smartphone that partners need to know about.

1. Display

The BlackBerry Priv's display looks significantly different from previous BlackBerry phones due to two big features -- the vertical sides of the smartphone's body are curved and it contains a slide-out older-school keyboard at the bottom.

The BlackBerry Priv features a 5.4-inch screen with 2,560 x 1,440 resolution and pixel density of 540 ppi. Weighing about 6.77 ounces, the 147 x 77.2 x 9.4mm smartphone contains an all-touch screen with intuitive gesture-based navigation a touch-enabled keyboard with gesture support and cursor control.

2. Keyboard

In addition to an on-screen keyboard, BlackBerry Priv contains a slide-out touch-enabled four-row physical keyboard, resembling the signature plastic keyboards on older BlackBerry models.

BlackBerry Priv's keyboard is a flashback to the days before on-screen keyboards, and is key for business users hoping to type emails or write notes on their smartphones. It also contains auto-correction features and next-word prediction features, facilitating the typing process.

3. Operating System

Another huge feature of BlackBerry Priv is the fact that it will run on the Android operating system. Previous generations of BlackBerry smartphones, such as the BlackBerry Z30, ran on the company's BlackBerry 10 operating system.

Analysts say the move makes sense from BlackBerry's perspective, as an Android OS could expand the company's offering of third-party apps, among other functions.

4. Processor

The BlackBerry Priv comes packed with a Qualcomm 8992 Snapdragon 808 processor, which is designed to enable streaming 4K Ultra-HD video and 3-D gaming, among other functions. This processor also tightly integrates with battery attributes like Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology and Qualcomm WiPower technology.

In terms of graphics, the hexa-core, 64-bit processor also touts a 600MHz Adreno 418 GPU.

5. Memory And Storage

In terms of memory and storage, the BlackBerry Priv contains 3 GB of low-power RAM and 32 GB of storage. The smartphone also contains up to 2 TB of expandable memory via a hot-swappable microSD memory card. The microSD memory slot is located on top of the device and accessible through a pin-eject tray.

6. Ports

In terms of ports, the BlackBerry Priv comes with USB 2.0 fully supported with a standard microUSB 2.0 cable included in the box. The smartphone also supports a cabled-video out port supported with a standard SlimPort adapter, which isn't included in the box, for video protocols like HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort 1.1.

The BlackBerry Priv also comes with an integrated speaker and three microphones, and contains hands-free, Bluetooth headset capabilities as well as integrated hands-free speakerphone capabilities.

7. Battery

The BlackBerry Priv contains a powerful 3410mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery with up to 22.5 hours of mixed battery life juice, 23.9 hours of talk time, and 10.2 hours of video playback in between charges.

The Priv also contains wireless charging capabilities and is compatible with Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0 technology, which is sold separately.

8. Camera

The BlackBerry Priv has an 18-megapixel auto-focus rear camera and 2-megapixel fixed-focus front camera. Its back camera contains features like optical image stabilization, phase detect auto focus, HDR, back side illumination stacked sensor, and 4X digital zoom, among other capabilities.

The front camera includes 720p HD video recording, wide selfie mode and multiframe low-light enhancement.

9. Security Features

BlackBerry Priv also comes with the company's trademark security features, which makes sense as the phone's name is literally an abbreviation of "privacy."

The phone contains features to authenticate and monitor access to personal data, such as BlackBerry's Hardware Root Of Trust, which is a manufacturing process that injects cryptographic keys into the device hardware, as well as Verified Boot and Secure Bootchain, which uses embedded keys to verify every layer of the device from hardware to OS, on top of a hardened Linux kernel with patches and configuration changes to improve security.

10. Price and Availability

The BlackBerry Priv is available for pre-order in the U.S. market from BlackBerry's website, as well as from AT&T. The phone starts at $699, a price fit for its high-end design, and is expected to start shipping the week of Nov. 23, according to BlackBerry.

While AT&T is selling the Priv for $250 on a two-year contract, the smartphone is currently not compatible on Verizon, Sprint, or U.S. Cellular, according to BlackBerry.