BlackBerry has unveiled the DTEK50, its second touchscreen-based Android smartphone which serves as a follow-up to the flagship Priv.
Over the past few months, we’ve been privy to rumblings surrounding BlackBerry’s forthcoming phones, which are reported codenamed Neon, Argon, and Mercury. Now, BlackBerry have released the former device under the name DTEK50.
We first heard indication that BlackBerry was building a device under the ‘Neon’ moniker when it emerged that the Canadian company had struck a deal with TC Communications – better known as Alcatel – to manufacture its next device.
Read: BlackBerry Neon, Argon, and Mercury specs leak ahead of launch
The Neon – which was revealed in FCC documents as the ‘DTEK50’ – a reference to BlackBerry’s encryption software – has now been officially announced by the ailing Canadian giant, and will slot underneath its incumbent flagship, the Priv.
The device will make use of a Snapdragon 617 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage up to 2TB, and will sport a 1920×1080 display housed in a 5.2″ form factor. A 13-megapixel primary and 8-megapixel secondary camera, as well as a 2,610mAh battery, round out the package.
Further, the device will come loaded with many of the pre-installed apps the Priv bears; including BlackBerry’s Hub, DTEK, Password Keeper, BBM, BlackBerry Calendar, and will arrive running Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
The device’s unusual moniker – which takes its name from the aforementioned DTEK security app – forms part of BlackBerry’s continuing play into security as one of its major brand strengths. Mercifully, the device is now available on pre-order for a sum of $299 USD – a far cry from the price tag the Priv demanded.
Read: BlackBerry Priv Review: Crossing the Rubicon
What are your thoughts on the launch of the BlackBerry DTEK50? Is the device an improvement over the Priv, or a step backwards? Be sure to let us know your opinion in the comments below!
Follow Bryan Smith on Twitter: @bryansmithSA
