BlackBerry Passport U.S. launch set for Wednesday, Sept. 24 - $599 unlocked
Alexandra BurlacuThe BlackBerry Passport will apparently hit commercial availability in the U.S. as soon as Wednesday, Sept. 24, according to the company's CEO.
The Canadian company has been struggling for a good while to keep its head above the water after it lost significant ground to rivals on the smartphone market. With Android and iOS now dominating the market and Windows Phone taking up the third spot, BlackBerry has been bleeding users and is still trying to make a comeback.
While its latest efforts didn't prove to be quite as successful as the company likely hoped for, BlackBerry is not yet ready to give up and hopes to turn things around with its new BlackBerry Passport.
The handset already managed to stir some hype on the smartphone market due to its odd size and square-ish shape. The BlackBerry Passport has leaked on several occasions so far and the company itself also revealed some of the smartphone's features.
In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), BlackBerry CEO John Chen has now revealed that the BlackBerry Passport is ready to hit retail in the U.S. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, sporting a $599 price tag for the unlocked model. As expected, the smartphone's pricing will vary depending on country, taxes, and tariffs.
Chen further mentioned other flagship devices from rival companies and said that the BlackBerry Passport should normally cost roughly $700 unlocked, but the company wants to offer an aggressive pricing compared to its competitors so it can attract more potential buyers.
The new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, for instance, cost $649 and $749, respectively, while the Samsung Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone costs roughly $650, depending on carrier.
According to Chen, the BlackBerry Passport is targeted at "users who need to be productive on their phones," and the attractive price tag should have a big say in the handset's appeal.
When it comes to specifications, the BlackBerry Passport is expected to sport a 4.5-inch display with a not-so-common resolution of 1440 x 1440 pixels and pack a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor under the hood, paired with Adreno 330 graphics and 2GB of RAM. Other specs should include 32GB of internal storage capacity, a microSD card slot for additional memory, a 3,450 mAh battery to keep things up and running, and BlackBerry OS 10.3 on the software side.
Moreover, BlackBerry 10.3 will also bring the company's new digital assistant to the table, aptly named BlackBerry Assistant.
With the new BlackBerry Passport hitting retail in the U.S. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, we'll get the official scoop straight from the company very soon. We'll keep you up to date with the latest details as soon as they become available, so stay tuned.
© Copyright 2020 Mobile & Apps, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.most read
related stories
more stories from Mobile
Update incoming! iOS 17.4.1 for iPhone set to roll out soon, promising bug fixes. Stay tuned for improved performance and stability. Update your device when available!
ernest hamiltonLeak alert! Samsung hints at Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra replacement; budget-friendly version surprises in cost. Explore the latest developments in Samsung's lineup
ernest hamiltonTech collaboration ahead! Apple discusses partnership with Google Gemini to enhance iPhone AI capabilities. Stay tuned for cutting-edge advancements.
ernest hamiltonBreaking news! Realme GT Neo 6 SE confirms Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset for next-level performance. Stay ahead of the curve with cutting-edge technology.
ernest hamiltonLeak alert! Apple's 3-year product roadmap reveals iPhone SE 4, foldable device, AR glasses. Explore the exciting innovations ahead. Stay tuned for updates!
ernest hamiltonUS Intel finds no evidence of TikTok threat. Security concerns dispelled. Stay informed on the latest updates in the tech landscape.
ernest hamiltonSony Xperia 1 VI potential game-changer! Considering a shift from 4K display. Explore the latest developments in Sony's flagship lineup. Stay tuned!
ernest hamiltonDiscover on-device web page summarization! Android phones with Gemini Nano could get this feature. Learn more now!
ernest hamilton