BlackBerry has officially announced a permanent price cut for the Priv in the US and Europe, just 5 months after the phone had been released. The news comes a few weeks after the handset had become cheaper in the UK.
The unlocked and SIM-free BlackBerry Priv now costs $649 in the US, a $50 drop. Likewise, interested buyers in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France and Italy can grab it for €50 cheaper at €729. Finally, UK citizens can get it for £529.
It’s not a huge drop in value by any means, but it should serve to make the Priv more appealing to those deliberating over whether to purchase it. Another factor which could play an important part in whether or not to buy the handset is its imminent upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
A quick take on the top specifications of the BlackBerry Priv:
– OS: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, upgradable to Marshmallow
– Display: 5.4-inch, 1440 x 2560 pixels
– Storage: 32GB, expandable till 2TB
– RAM: 3GB
– Processor: hexa-core 64-bit Snapdragon 808
– GPU: Adreno 418
– Cameras: 18MP rear, 2MP front
– Battery: 3410mAh
– Weight: 192g
– Dimensions: 147 x 77.2 x 9.4mm
– Connectivity: 4G, Wi-Fiac, NFC, microUSB 2.0, GPS, GLONASS, Bluetooth
The BlackBerry phone currently runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The company plans to roll out Marshmallow to its users by the end of April or early May. It’s already begun taking in beta testers for the OS. The first batch is currently full, but consumers can sign up to the waitlist in order to be part of the next one.
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These Android 6.0 beta testers will be able to report any bugs or issues through an app and will even get security updates before anyone else. However, only people who have bought the smartphone via Amazon, ShopBlackBerry or Carphone Warehouse will be given first preference. Others can apply but won’t be accepted immediately.
You can sign up for the Android 6.0 Marshmallow beta testing program for the BlackBerry Priv here.