Buying an unlocked smartphone has many benefits, granted, they usually cost more than those bought from carriers, but users have the freedom to switch carriers at any time they want, those devices usually get updated and who could forget not having carrier logos or bloatware installed all over the device? The much anticipated BlackBerry PRIV has recently become available for preorder from the company’s site with expected deliveries on the week of November 9, plus it is also available on other retailers. Those who buy it directly from BlackBerry are obviously getting an unlocked device, although it might not be compatible with every carrier in the US. That’s not to say that additional carrier variants won’t be available, as the company stated that they were working with all major carriers to sell the Priv.
So far, only AT&T is reported to sell the BlackBerry PRIV starting this Friday and it was rumored that the device will eventually be sold by T-Mobile. T-Mobile’s Mike Sievert seems to be very excited about tomorrow’s launch of the PRIV, so he mentioned on his Twitter account that the unlocked version of this smartphone is fully compatible with T-Mobile’s network including Band 12 LTE. This particular band is often called Extended Range LTE and it travels twice as far than regular signals and it’s four times more reliable inside buildings. Plus, Sievert also confirmed that the PRIV will have support for Wi-Fi calling. The PRIV supports bands 1, 2, 4, 5/6, and 8 on HSPA+, in addition to bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 20, 29, and 30 on LTE.
Let’s remember some of the specs of the BlackBerry PRIV, it integrates a 5.4-inch QHD display made with AMOLED technology, it’s powered by the hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor along 3 GB of RAM. Users can save all kinds of files on its 32 GB of internal memory, and it can be expanded with Micro SD cards for up to additional 2 TB. The 18-megapixel camera on the back features Schneider-Kreuznach optics and the one in the front is a 2-megapixel one. It integrates a 3,410 mAh battery which should last up to 22.5 hours on every charge. This being a BlackBerry means it offers security thanks to the DTEK app and a sliding physical keyboard with tactile capabilities is also part of the phone. It can be preordered for $699.