Let’s be honest, BlackBerry has seen better days. Loyalists to the keyboarded brand still flock to their KeyOne and Passport Silver Edition models, but it’s seeming more and more like a push-button device just doesn’t fly these days! Inspired by this sentiment, this smartphone concept attempts to blend signature BlackBerry styling with features that are in mode.
Most noticeable is the bezel-free face with edge-to-edge screen. However, it doesn’t follow the current curved corner trend. There is still a slight bezel at the top and bottom of the device but the metal contrast is a nice throwback to metal-bodied phones of yesteryear. Continuing to the back, a distinct spine connects the metallic ends and plays home to the rear 12.2MP camera. I’m not usually one for unnecessary splits, but this one is nicely symmetrical and preferential over other flat phones with corner cameras that stick out.
In terms of hardware, it’s packing the latest Snapdragon 845 CPU and comes as standard with 4-8GB of RAM and 64-256GB of storage depending on the model.
TECH SPECS
- Body: 141 x 66.5 x 8.35 mm, 170 g, IP67, anodized aluminum, para-amid fiber, polycarbonate
- Display: 5.5″ OLED capacitive touchscreen, 16m colors, 2880 x 1440 pixels (18:9), Dolby Vision / HDR10 compliant, Corning Gorilla Glass 6, underclass fingerprint
- Platform: Android 8 (Oreo), Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
- Memory: 64 GB, 4 GB RAM or 256 GB, 8 GB RAM
- Cameras: Primary – Sigma optics, optical image stabilization, 12.2 MP, f/1.9, 28 mm focal length, 1.7 pixel size, dual-LED flash, laser and phase detection autofocus. Secondary- 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.2 pixel size
- Sound: Bowers & Wilkins, DAC chip, operational amplifier, 3.5mm jack
- Batter: non-removable Li-ion 3700 mAh
Designer: Albert Degin
