BlackBerry Priv release date, news and features

Update: Pre-orders have opened, all the specs have been revealed and it looks like BlackBerry has built in some functionality to the Priv's curved screens.
The BlackBerry Priv, previously known as the BlackBerry Venice, is more than just another enterprise handset, it's the first BlackBerry smartphone to run a proper version of Android.
In keeping with the brand's tradition it's got a physical QWERTY keyboard, which is a rarity on Android these days, and with a slide-out design you can keep it hidden when you'd rather stick with a touchscreen.
Add to that some impressively high-end specs and the Priv is the most exciting BlackBerry phone in years.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? BlackBerry's first Android phone
• When is it out? November 9 2015
• What will it cost? £559 (US$699, around AU$1,200)

Blackberry Priv release date

BlackBerry has confirmed that the Priv will start shipping on November 9, and pre-orders are already open for the Android-toting handset.

BlackBerry Priv design

BlackBerry's done something a little different to the rest of the high-end Android handsets on the market. The Priv sports a dual-curved 5.4-inch display - similar to the one found on the Galaxy S6 Edge - but it has a neat little party trick.
The power/lock key resides on the left, a trio of keys feature on the right with the volume rockers split by what we expect to be a shortcut to voice control. Meanwhile on the base you'll find the microUSB and headphone ports.
Oh and did we mention, it also has an actual, proper, physical keyboard.

There's a front facing speaker below the screen, while the back sports a sizable camera lens and the famous BlackBerry berry logo.
The Priv measures 147 (184 opened) x 77.2 x 9.4mm and weights 192g - making it a little on the heavy side, and with the keyboard out it's also rather tall.

BlackBerry Priv screen

The BlackBerry Priv has a 5.4-inch dual-curved AMOLED display, with a QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution - putting it right up there alongside the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. This is a flagship screen.
BlackBerry has covered the Priv's screen in Gorilla Glass 4, which should keep it breaking easily, while it's also boasting a high brightness mode for improved outdoor readability.

BlackBerry Priv rivals

With BlackBerry hardware and Android software the BlackBerry Priv finds itself in a fairly unique position with few direct rivals, especially as QWERTY Android phones are now such a rarity.
But it will feel the heat from the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, which has flagship specs and a similarly curved screen and high price point. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ poses an even bigger threat though, as there's a clip-on keyboard accessory for it.

The BlackBerry Priv also has to compete with other BlackBerry handsets, such as the fairly recent BlackBerry Passport and the staunchly traditional BlackBerry Classic.
Then there's the Moto X Style and LG G4, which don't have a keyboard but do have the same power, similar screen size and resolution and a much lower price.
That said, the DTek privacy aspect of the BlackBerry Priv also makes the super-secure Blackphone 2 a closer competitor.

BlackBerry Priv camera

The BlackBerry Priv comes with a rear facing 18MP dual-flash Schneider-Kreuznach certified camera with OIS (optical imaging stabilization).
It also boasts HDR (high dynamic range), PDAF (phase detect auto focus) and fast focus lock. On paper at least, the Priv holds it own against the flagship offerings from Sony, Samsung and HTC. There's also the option to record 4K video, with OIS available here too.
Round the front the 2MP snapper is less impressive, but should be good enough for the odd selfie and video conference call.

BlackBerry Priv battery

As for the battery, BlackBerry has revealed the Priv has a 'long lasting' 3,410mAh juice pack. That's bigger than the power pack found in the Galaxy S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, LG G4 and Moto X Style, so we're hoping for at least a full day of usage.
BlackBerry is quoting up to 22.5 hours of mixed usage for the Priv, but that will depending heavily on what exactly that usage is. Keep an eye our for our BlackBerry Priv review to find out how well it performs.

BlackBerry Priv power

The BlackBerry Priv is a pretty powerful phone, with a 64-bit hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor backed up by an Adreno 418 GPU 3GB of RAM, which means the Priv has the same specs as the LG G4 and Moto X Style.
It also comes with 32GB of internal storage, and that can be expanded on with a microSD card up to 2TB in size.

BlackBerry Priv OS

It's the OS that's really exciting though, as rather than running BlackBerry 10 (or any version of BlackBerry OS), it runs Android, more specifically Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.
Many BlackBerry phones already run Android apps via the Amazon App Store, but this is the first one to actually run Android, complete with access to Google Play.
That gives the Priv a more mainstream appeal than other BlackBerry phones and at the very least it gives buyers the choice of whether they'd rather have BlackBerry 10 or Android.

BlackBerry Priv other features

The BlackBerry Priv puts a serious focus on privacy and as part of that it comes with a new DTEK warning system app, which alerts you when your privacy is compromised.
It allows you to manage apps on an individual basis and will flag up when an application is trying to access a service on the phone, be it your location or the microphone.

BlackBerry Priv cost

The BlackBerry Priv is now available for pre-order in the UK, US, Canada and a handful of other countries with a SIM free price tag of £559 (US$699, around AU$980), which is pretty steep.
It runs into danger of being potentially too expensive, especially with this year's flagships from Samsung, HTC and LG all witnessing price drops in recent months.

• Launching at the end of the year gives it the iPhone 6S Plus for company.