Just when you wondered where BlackBerry went, a new iteration of the mobile gadget was announced Monday. And it comes with a brow-raising price tag.
"BlackBerry's newest phone is decidedly different than its peers. It's designed by Porsche ... and it costs nearly $2,000," CNN reported.
"The BlackBerry P'9983 is hand-wrapped with leather, and it features 'glass-like keys' and a graphite, stainless-steel-color frame made of 'blackened glass,'" the news outlet continued. "The new phone is so exclusive, it even comes with a unique BlackBerry PIN ID for BBM messaging."
As noted in the official BlackBerry site, PIN IDs for this high-end gadget begins with the prefix 2AA, "which sets you apart and makes you instantly recognizable among other Porsche Design users."
While much can be said, and admired, about the phone's exterior, what's inside the device may be a disappointment to those expecting an equally powerful, cutting-edge engine.
"Internally, the P'9983 Graphite is identical to previous P'9983 devices, which is somewhat disappointing given its $1,950 price tag," TechnoBuffalo said. "You might expect to get the latest specifications for that kind of cash, but instead, you're really only getting a slightly refreshed design."
"The iconic styling of the new P'9983 Graphite from BlackBerry is technically inspired with longevity, integrity, and individuality at its core," said Roland Heiler, head of the Porsche Design Group. "And it will offer a new way to express individual style with the luxury of being one step ahead."
Considering the small 3.1-inch screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, and a 720p display, and limited battery life, it appears that this model isn't exactly a step ahead, when it comes to the technical specs.
CNN noted that the BlackBerry Passport had a bit more edge than this pricier version, as the Passport had 50% more memory and 64% larger battery, as well as a bigger screen at 4.5 inches.
This model, a result of BlackBerry and Porsche Design's collaboration, is the third of its kind. Previous iterations also had similar price tags.
Recently, BlackBerry Limited has dabbled in tablets once more as the company, formerly known as Research in Motion (RIM), struck a collaboration with Samsung and German encryption specialist Secusmart, which BlackBerry Limited had acquired, Tech Times said.
"The product is called the SecuTablet, and is essentially a Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 LTE, featuring software from IBM," the site said. "It also boasts Secusmart's special MicroSD card, which is made up of a number of cryptographic chips for data security."
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