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A phone as bold as a BlackBerry running Android rather than its own software deserves a bold name. According to frequent Twitter tipster Evan Blass (@evleaks), that name will be Priv.
Now known by the code name Venice, the device, which is rumored to touch down in November, marks the first time BlackBerry has embraced a different operating system for its phones. Ditching its signature, security-focused BlackBerry platform would be a last-ditch effort for the beleaguered one-time market leader whose share has dwindled as Android and iOS platforms soared. It’s a move that critics have advised for years.
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Despite its struggles, BlackBerry hasn’t thrown in the towel yet. It continued releasing new BlackBerry OS devices this year, including the BlackBerry Classic and the BlackBerry Passport .
Evan Blass (Twitter)
Although the handset could use Android, the Priv, if that’s what it winds up being called, hints at some of BlackBerry’s trademark security playing a role: the very name Priv evokes concepts of privacy and security.
Previous reports suggest that the BlackBerry Venice/Priv could pack a pretty hefty punch. Allegedly, the device could be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and host a 5.4-inch screen with a resolution of 2,560×1,440 pixels (that’s the same as the gorgeous Samsung Galaxy S6 and Note 5 ). Oh, and then there’s that slide-out physical keyboard that looks every bit classic BlackBerry.
A render revealed in a separate leak shows a phone that resembles a curved Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge display with a traditional four-row BlackBerry keyboard.
It’s hard to say for certain how BlackBerry plans to market the phone when it arrives. With plenty of time before the rumored November announcement, those details could leak before launch.
BlackBerry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
