BlackBerry 10 Lower Z10 Price Leaks As Release Date Looms

Research In Motion hasn't formally commented on the pricing for its fast-approaching new BlackBerry 10 handsets, the X10 and Z10, but as a leak today suggests, we could be in for lower pricing than many have reported.

Past rumors had indicated the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone, running RIMs new operating system, would be priced at $799 without a SIM card. A screenshot from Best Buy Canada's stock control system shows a BlackBerry 10 device listed with a release date of Feb. 28 and shows a retail price of $799. But the latest rumor has the phone priced even cheaper, based on a leaked screenshot claimed to be from the Carphone Warehouse.

The leaked screen shot shows a white BlackBerry Z10 smarthphone selling for £479.95, according to SlashGear, or $755, in the U.S. Not a tremendous price drop, but that's still $44 less you have to drop to get your hands one of the most sought after new handsets around. If the $755 price tag is accurate, that's still cheaper than a 16 GB iPhone 5 ($799) and the Samsung Galaxy S III ($783) from Carphone Warehouse. According to SlashGear, other recent rumors have suggested the Z10 would be offered with a two-year contract for under $200 in the U.S.

When RIM unveils its new X10 and Z10 phones Jan. 30, we'll also finally find out when the company will officially release the devices. According to SlashGear, various rumors point to a release date between Feb. 28 and March 27.

BlackBerry 10 phones are reportedly already receiving stellar reviews ahead of their official release.

"Research in Motion has won key government security certification for its BlackBerry 10 operating system months ahead of its launch, allowing the smartphone to be used in secure government workplaces," reported Zack Whittaker of CNET.

When the BlackBerry 10 is eventually released on Jan. 30 the phone will reportedly be available in two models, the X10 and Z10, according to BGR.

While the Z10 opts for an all-touch-screen design, the X10 model employs more traditional design using the old school QWERTY style keyboard. The phone will reportedly be available in both black and white, and rumors indicate the phone will feature a 4.2-inch screen with 1280x768 resolution.

"In building BlackBerry 10, we set out to create a truly unique mobile computing experience that constantly adapts to your needs. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our customers innovative features combined with a best in class browser, a rich application ecosystem, and cutting-edge multimedia capabilities. All of this will be integrated into a user experience - the BlackBerry Flow - that is unlike any smartphone on the market today," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of RIM.

Rather not wait until Jan. 30 to get your hands on RIM's new smartphone? You can pre-order the BlackBerry 10 now from Canadian carrier, Rogers.