• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechBlackBerry

BlackBerry Priv finally available for pre-order, specs confirmed

By
Kif Leswing
Kif Leswing
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Kif Leswing
Kif Leswing
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 16, 2015, 12:18 PM ET
The Blackberry Priv runs Google's mobile operating system.
The Blackberry Priv runs Google's mobile operating system.Courtesy of BlackBerry

If you’ve ever wanted a smartphone that combines a classic BlackBerry (BBRY) keyboard with the ubiquitous Android operating system, you’re in luck. The BlackBerry Priv is available for pre-order from UK retailer Carphone Warehouse.

However, consumers in North America won’t be able to plunk down any money on the device just yet. The device is only available for pre-registration in the United States and Canada. After signing up, consumers will be notified when the device goes on sale in their respective country.

The Priv is BlackBerry’s first smartphone that runs Android— Google’s (GOOGL) mobile operating system—and includes its own proprietary security app. Previously, the company’s flagship phones ran software developed internally, but its BlackBerry 10 operating system lacked apps. The Priv will use Google’s OS, which will allow users to install Android apps from the Google Play Store and take advantage of Google services.

Meanwhile, the listing on Carphone Warehouse includes a hands-on video, and provides the first official look at the device’s specifications that are generally in line with other high-end Android smartphones. The Priv is equipped with a curved 5.4-inch 2560 x 1440 screen, much like Samsung’s (SSNLF) Galaxy S6 Edge. It’s packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 32GB of expandable storage, and 3GB of RAM. The camera, often a weak spot on BlackBerry phones, is an 18-megapixel shooter, paired with a 2MP front-facing camera.

But the most important—and arguably best—feature on the Blackberry Priv is its sliding keyboard that also acts as a capacitive touchpad. Only a few smartphones on the market today come with keyboards, and its inclusion could help the Priv stand out.

Without a wireless contract, the Priv costs £579.99, which works out to about US $895.

According to BlackBerry CEO John Chen, Priv is short for privacy and privilege, and the company is working with Google to secure its new platform. Enterprise-level security has traditionally been a BlackBerry selling point.

The enhanced security appears to take the form of a new Android app called DTEK. Although most details haven’t been revealed, BlackBerry confirmed the app can “provide you with the power of privacy.”

However, Chen might not be the best spokesman for the Priv. Last month, he gave an awkward Priv demo during an on-camera interview where he had trouble launching a Chrome search app.

He also explained that while the BlackBerry 10 OS could still be “a smashing success,” it didn’t have enough apps, which is why the Canadian company opted for Android. “This is really the best thing we could do,” he said.

If the Priv doesn’t take off, it could be one of the last BlackBerry devices ever launched. Chen said that BlackBerry aims to sell 5 million devices per year, which he believes is the minimum needed to turn a profit. Although, that number has charged drastically over the years: when Chen took over in 2013, he set a goal of 10m phones per year.

BlackBerry isn’t even close to hitting either target. Last quarter, the company sold only 800,000 phones. However, BlackBerry sees itself less as a device company these days and makes most of its revenue from enterprise customers, while making significant headway with its automotive operating system QNX. The company is a “true software powerhouse,” not a device company these days, Chen explained.

BlackBerry was once the worldwide leader in the smartphone market, but according to IDC, in recent years its marketshare has dwindled to a measly 0.3%. The plan is that by switching to Android, the most popular mobile operating system worldwide, those numbers will change for the better.

Sign up for Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter about the business of technology.

For more on Blackberry, check out the following Fortune video:

About the Author
By Kif Leswing
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
Fortune Secondary Logo
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

PoliticsColleges and Universities
Pentagon chief blocks officers from attending Ivy League schools and other top universities, including partners on AI and space
By Jason MaFebruary 28, 2026
5 hours ago
AIAnthropic
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says ‘we are patriotic Americans’ committed to defending the U.S. but won’t budge on ‘red lines’
By Jason MaFebruary 28, 2026
10 hours ago
sarandos
InvestingMedia
3 things we will never know after Netflix pulled out of the Warner Bros. bidding, handing it to Paramount
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 28, 2026
13 hours ago
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
AIAnthropic
OpenAI sweeps in to ink deal with Pentagon as Anthropic is designated a ‘supply chain risk’—an unprecedented action likely to crimp its growth
By Jeremy KahnFebruary 28, 2026
13 hours ago
Big TechAmerican Politics
Your spend as a ‘weapon’: Scott Galloway’s ‘Resist and Unsubscribe’ movement asks you to ditch Amazon, Apple, and Netflix to oppose Trump
By Kristin StollerFebruary 28, 2026
17 hours ago
world's fair
CommentaryRobots
Something big is happening in AI, but panic is the wrong reaction
By Peter CappelliFebruary 28, 2026
18 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
Japanese companies are paying older workers to sit by a window and do nothing—while Western CEOs demand super-AI productivity just to keep your job
By Orianna Rosa RoyleFebruary 27, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Middle East
Iran is now on 'death ground' amid existential threat from U.S. attacks and could 'go big' in retaliation, former NATO commander warns
By Jason MaFebruary 28, 2026
12 hours ago
placeholder alt text
AI
The week the AI scare turned real and America realized maybe it isn't ready for what's coming
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 28, 2026
19 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Walmart exec says U.S. workforces needs to take inspiration from China where ‘5 year-olds are learning DeepSeek’
By Preston ForeFebruary 27, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of February 27, 2026
By Danny BakstFebruary 27, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Middle East
Dubai’s worst nightmare unfolds as Iran strikes Gulf neighbors
By Dana Khraiche, Fiona MacDonald and BloombergFebruary 28, 2026
7 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.