BlackBerry's next flagship device, and touchscreen successor to the BlackBerry Z10, was expected to be called the BlackBerry A10, according to a report at the beginning of June. But now, as new photos leak of the device, it looks like the name of the new device is actually the BlackBerry Z30.
The report comes from BGR, which got its hands on another leaked photo, this time from ETrade Supply, and reported that the "BlackBerry Z00" stamp on the back of the device's mid-plate indicates that the device will launch as a Z-series phone, and not an A-series device.
While BGR didn't venture a guess at the BlackBerry Z30's release date, previous reports put a launch window, specifically with Sprint, sometime in November. So far, the BlackBerry Z30 is speculated to have a 5-inch touchscreen display with 720p high definition resolution. It's rumored to have a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, assisted by 2GB RAM, and an 8-megapixel rear camera, along with a 2-megapixel HD video-capable front shooter.
It's also rumored to have 16GB of storage, with a microSD slot that can expand that storage capability. It's rumored to be powered by a 2,800 mAh battery, and to include NFC, LTE, and other similar features that a flagship ought to have. Whenever the BlackBerry Z30 is released, it will come with (a possibly updated) BlackBerry 10 operating system, and it will be the last phone of 2013 to be introduced by the company.
For comparison, the BlackBerry Z30's predecessor, the BlackBerry Z10, was the first handset to be launched with a modern touchscreen design and Blackberry 10, and featured a 4.2-inch screen. It was powered by a 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor with 2GB of RAM, and also included an 8-megapixel shooter, LTE, and extras like a micro-HDMI port. Sprint, according to the earlier report on what was being called the A10, opted out of carrying the Z10 because it saw the upcoming handset and said it "felt the A10 was worth the wait."
If rumors are true, we'll see if it's worth the wait in November, but stay tuned until then for more updates, as leaks and rumors are bound to ramp up in the coming months. And take rumors with a grain of salt, because they could always be incorrect.