PRIV by BlackBerry

First shown off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the BlackBerry Priv — Priv standing for Privacy and Privilege — is a new BlackBerry device from the manufacturer of the same name, featuring a slide-out portrait keyboard and running Google's Android OS (in this case 5.1.1 Lollipop) — the first device from BlackBerry to do so.

The BlackBerry Priv has all of the leading specs for a high-end Android phone in 2015 — a Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 5.4-inch curved 2560x1440 touchscreen and a slider-style keyboard along with an 18MP camera on the back. BlackBerry has left Android looking rather similar to what you'd expect from the software on a Nexus, but has deeply integrated its own services and make a few tweaks to the interface. It has also integrated several security features to make the Priv presumably one of the more secure Android devices available today.

The BlackBerry Hub is still present on the Priv, as are some key BlackBerry features like those familiar notifications. The slide-out four row keyboard features not only physical keys for typing, but also touch gestures like scrolling, choosing predicitive text and even double-tapping to enter a cursor edit mode.

BlackBerry Priv Specs:

• Operating System: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (8992) Hexa-Core, 64 bit
• GPU: Adreno 418, 600 MHz
• Display: 5.43-inch curved AMOLED, 2560x1440 resolution (540 ppm)
• Memory: 3GB low-power RAM
• Storage: 32GB Flash storage MicroSD up to 2TB
• Rear camera: 18MP, f/2.2, OIS, phase-detect autofocus
• Front camera: 2MP, f/2.8, 1.75um pixel size
• Battery: 3,410 mAh, 4.4volt Non-removable
• Charging: Quick Charge 2.0 Qi wireless (some models)
• Size: 147 x 77.2 x 9.4 mm 184 x 77.2 x 9.4 mm (keyboard open)
• Weight: 192 g
• Network: FD-LTE: Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 20, 29, 30 HSPA+: Band 1, 2, 4, 5/6, 8 Quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Connectivity: Wifi 802.11ac Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, USB 2.0

The Priv launches at a very premium price of $699, which puts it in competition with the highest of the high-end Android phones. It's available unlocked directly from BlackBerry, but also from AT&T in the U.S. and a variety of carriers in Canada and retailers in the UK.

The PRIV by BlackBerry is available to order now.