BlackBerry to Launch Three New Android Phones over the next 3 Quarters

BY Rajesh Pandey

Published 1 Jul 2016

Blackberry Priv

Not to be deterred by the lacklustre sales of its first Android smartphone, the Priv, BlackBerry plans on releasing three new Android smartphones over the next three quarters. The company will be releasing one new smartphone every quarter targeted at various price points and with different form factors.

The first handset from the Canadian company that will be making its way to the market sometime in July-August is codenamed Neon. Targeted at the lower-end of the market, the Neon will sport a 5.2-inch Full HD display. It will feature an aluminium chassis with a plastic back, and will be powered by Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 617 chipset. Other specs of the handset include 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, 13/8MP cameras, and a 2610mAh battery with Quick Charge 2.0 support. When the handset lands in the market, BlackBerry aims to sell it for free on contract, and even the unlocked variant will be priced competitively.

Following the Neon will be Argon that will be released sometime in October. The handset will sport a 5.5-inch Quad HD display that will be targeted at enterprise and enthusiasts. The handset will feature top of the line specs, including a Snapdragon 820 chipset, 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, and a 3000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support. Other notable specs include a 21MP rear shooter, 8MP selfie shooter, fingerprint scanner, and a USB Type-C port.

BlackBerry-Mercury

Last but not the least, BlackBerry plans on launching the Mercury in Q1, 2017. The handset will sport a physical QWERTY keyboard with a design that will be similar to the BlackBerry Passport. The device will sport a 4.5-inch 1080p display with a 3:2 aspect ratio that will be present inside an aluminium body. Inside the Mercury will be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 chipset along with 3GB RAM, and 32GB of storage space. Surprisingly, despite its measly specs, the device will come with a 3400mAh battery. The handset will also feature an 18MP shooter at the rear and an 8MP selfie shooter at the front.

With BlackBerry launching and pricing three handsets at different price points and catering to a wider range of consumers, the company should have better success with them than it did with the Priv that likely flopped due to its high price point and limited availability.

[Via VentureBeat; Image Source Mondo BlackBerry]