BlackBerry announces ‘world’s most secure smartphone’ of 2016

It seems like BlackBerry is not completely out of the game. The company just announced its second Android-based smartphone, the DTEK50. According to BlackBerry, upon release, the DTEK50 is going to be the world’s most secure smartphone.

The device has the hardware specifications, as well as the design of the Alcatel Idol 4. It is a mid-range device that is completely touchscreen, void of BlackBerry’s signature QWERTY keypad. The device is available for preorder, and retails at the price of $299.99, with availability being scheduled on August 8. In the US, it is expected to be compatible with T-Mobile and AT&T.

If you’re wondering what’s under the hood of the DTEK50, wait no more. The 5.2-inch smartphone boasts an impressive 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, a 2610mAh battery, 3GB RAM and a camera with a 13MP capacity. The front camera is also an impressive 8 megapixels, and comes with a flash that is handy for all selfie-lovers. As an Android-based device, the DTEK50 will run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but will have BlackBerry’s software features, similar to the previous Android iteration that BlackBerry unveiled – the Priv. So it’s basically a “best-of-both-worlds” situation. Get those content transfer apps ready to roll.

BlackBerry is currently marketing the DTEK50 as a secure device, trying to target one of the biggest weaknesses of a typical Android ecosystem – its dodgy security. As evident from its name, the smartphone has BlackBerry's DTEK software, which has in the past protected its users from malware and other security lapses typical in most Android devices. For anyone who doesn’t know, the DTEK software allows users to understand their device’s security situation and address possible threats. Criticizing Android’s handling of user privacy and security has come as second nature to BlackBerry. So it’s nice to know that while the company has, in a way, surrendered to Android, it has not stopped working on the security loopholes in the system. According to BlackBerry, the Android platform that they present to their users is a modified, more secure version.

Recently, BlackBerry announced that it intended to release at least three new smart devices, and it seems that the DTEK50 is leading the bunch.  What do you think of it? Let us know.