BlackBerry seems to be preparing a new Android smartphone with and without IP67 certification keyboard. The new device is expected to be released in October, and will be the first BlackBerry smartphone to be resistant to water, as neither the DTEK60, released in October 2016, nor the KEYone which we saw in April this year, had such a possibility.
What the BlackBerry is trying to do with the new model is the availability of a smartphone that can be used anytime, regardless of weather conditions, said François Mahieu, General Manager of Global TCL at Engadget. TCL is the company that manufactures the BlackBerry phones.
So we expect an IP67 certified device that makes the phone dust and water resistant. Please note that this certification does not mean you can swim with your cell phone. Waterproof does not mean waterproof.
The new BlackBerry phone will not have a keyboard, but will focus on durability and long battery life. With these two characteristics the company believes it could make many Android and iPhone buyers switch sides.
Of course, like all other BlackBerry models, the design of the device will be particularly focused on safety.
The new BlackBerry model is supposed to cost less than the other high-end devices available on the market.
As mentioned above BlackBerry seems to bet on the long battery life, as the device will offer about 26 hours of mixed use. This means that the phone should be able to operate not only one day but up to 2 days with average use.
More about the new BlackBerry model we will be learning this week at the IFA, while the release of the device is expected to take place in October.