BlackBerry Passport Curved Version 'Oslo' Coming? New Leak Suggests More Compact Model
A Blackberry Passport curved version is reportedly coming soon to the mobile market as a new leak suggests its possible release.
Dubbed "Oslo," Engadget said that the photos of the handset suggests a "re-do" of the existing Passport but with a softer design.
"It's curvier all around, and it appears to have a slightly more compact plastic frame that's (hopefully) easier to fit into your pocket," noted Engadget.
The same report clarified that this will definitely not be the Passport 2 though it will have familiar features like Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB RAM and a 13-megapixel rear camera.
The phone will reportedly be intended for regions where "one-of-a-kind" devices are hard to find, like the Asia Pacific.
"That probably wouldn't please you if you're a BlackBerry die-hard who wants genuinely new gear, but it would suggest that the company still sees plenty of demand for its squarish smartphone," added the Engadget report.
A similar KnowYourMobile article said that it also has the same shape and features like a QWERTY keyboard as the Passport.
"The chassis itself has been smoothed down and is not quite a premium looking at the Passport, making us think this is a budget-option Passport alternative," explained KnowYourMobile, noting that it could just be a rework of its predecessor.
Blackberry has yet to reveal what they they are currently doing to the handset. The company has also not made official announcements on its release.
The KnowYourMobile report also noted that the phone will have a rubber back like that of a BlackBerry Leap and Z3, which is another indication that it could be a middle-range device from the company.
According to BidnessETC, the Oslo may also come with a fingerprint reader at the back.
"Software for the prospective device will follow the same credentials, previous rumors suggested, with the Oslo sporting a build of OS 10.3.2 (Gold Candidate Version 10.3.2.2.2150)," added BidnessETC.
The current Blackberry Passport release, according to TechTimes, has a 4.5-inch, 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution touchscreen display. It is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, has 3GB of RAM and with 32GB of on-board memory and a microSD card slot which can hold a maximum of 128GB memory.
"The BlackBerry Passport also houses a powerful 3,450 battery, which lasts for up to 30 hours of use. The smartphone offers support for Android apps, as well as games that can be found via the Amazon Appstore. The smartphone also packs in BlackBerry Blend and BlackBerry Assistant," added TechTimes.
It has a 13MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing shooter. Its initial price upon introduction was $499.
Blackberry fans are now excited to find out whether this new device will be better the the current release and whether it will be available at a cheaper price.