Most readers will have heard of the BlackBerry Priv, the company’s first Android smartphone that released in November this year. The device has received a largely positive reception and heavy early demand, and last month there were leaks of another Android BlackBerry dubbed the Venice. Now there’s further evidence of a new BlackBerry Android phone likely for 2016.
The BlackBerry Priv has the distinction of not only running Android but also having a slideout physical keyboard, and so far it looks to have been a notable success for the company. Back in November BlackBerry CEO John Chen confirmed that a new range of products was being planned and now Chen has given some further information.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg Chen pointed towards another Android phone saying, “Depends on the Priv. If the Priv is well received in the market and looks like it is. There’s a good chance […], we will still focus on the high-end probably closer to mid-range coming out in 2016.” Given the fact that the BlackBerry Priv is a high-end smartphone it looks more likely that the next Android phone from the company is more likely to be a mid-ranger.
Chen didn’t specify an approximate timeframe for the device but did say it depends on how well the Priv does in the next few months. Chen added that in the next 3 months the Priv would release to 31 additional markets. From this it looks as though the second BlackBerry Android smartphone is unlikely to arrive in the first few months of next year.
It’s not clear at this point whether the next Android phone from the company will be the previously leaked BlackBerry Venice or not. That leak included claimed images of the device that looks set to feature an always-present physical keyboard rather than a slideout one. It looked less premium than the Priv, and of course this would be more fitting for a mid-range device.
We’ll be following developments on a new BlackBerry Android smartphone with interest and will give further information as we hear it. Are you happy to hear it’s likely that a second BlackBerry Android phone will release? Let us know with your comments.