BlackBerry has just launched its latest smartphone, the QWERTY-equipped BlackBerry KeyOne. The handset will be released in April and the company has just posted an online registration page where customers can sign up to get "first access to purchase" the new handset.
BlackBerry Mercury Image Leaks
The BlackBerry Mercury first leaked in late December and an image of the smartphone showed that BlackBerry was going back to its roots with its upcoming device. It featured the classic and iconic BlackBerry physical QWERTY keyboard that defined the company and smartphone category in the early days.
This time around, BlackBerry would bring back the much-loved physical QWERTY keyboard, make Android 7.1.1 Nougat the brains of the operation, and use the same highly rated Sony 12-megapixel rear camera found in Google's Pixel and Pixel XL for its latest smartphone. In mid-February a teaser image for the BlackBerry Mercury leaked with its launch date and time, but noticeably absent was the Mercury code name.
BlackBerry KeyOne Makes Mobile World Congress Debut And New Registration Page
BlackBerry has officially launched its new handset and has named its latest flagship smartphone the BlackBerry KeyOne. The company announced that the smartphone would be released in April, priced the handset at $549, and just posted an online registration page where future BlackBerry KeyOne owners can sign up to be notified to "get first access to purchase the new BlackBerry KeyOne."
BlackBerry KeyOne Specs And Features
The BlackBerry KeyOne features a 4.5-inch 1,620 x 1,080 IPS LCD display with a pixel density of 434 pixels per inch and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box. It's powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, Adreno 506 GPU, and 3 GB of RAM. It ships with 32 GB of internal storage and a microSD expansion slot that supports up to 2 TB microSD cards, according to BlackBerry.
The 12-megapixel rear camera includes a dual-tone LED flash, phase detection, autofocus, and the ability to capture 4K video at 30 fps. The 8-megapixel front-facing camera features Selfie Flash and the ability to capture 1080p Full HD video at 30 fps. The BlackBerry KeyOne packs in a 3,505 mAh non-removable battery that the company claims will provide all-day battery life. It also supports Quick Charge 3.0, which will provide a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.
BlackBerry hasn't announced U.S. carrier availability for the BlackBerry KeyOne, although Verizon is at least one of the major four U.S. carriers expected to offer the smartphone to its customers.
We'll keep you posted on any updates from BlackBerry on the BlackBerry KeyOne as more details become available. Are you planning on buying the BlackBerry KeyOne? Please share with us and our readers below.
