Earlier today I wrote about how I have remained faithful to Windows Phones over my other OS of choice, Android.
This has made me think about the BlackBerry PRIV, the firm's first Android-running smartphone.
The PRIV is a weird bit of kit: The best review I've read so far is from Techradar, and it was a less than glowing review, citing a (surprisingly) poor physical keyboard and less than premium build quality. Maybe their reviewer firmly believes that BlackBerry is simply too late to jump on the Android bandwagon - A conceited idea, as there are countless Far Eastern manufacturers now selling Android-running handsets aplenty - none of whom are even household names yet.
However, the impressions that I'm getting from BlackBerry PRIV owners and other reviewers is that the PRIV is a great handset - It's almost as if they have forgotten that it's a BlackBerry, and many are enamored with the fact that it's an Android phone with a proper physical keyboard.
The PRIV might just be exactly what BlackBerry needed, and if it sells well, then we might possibly see more Android phones bearing physical keyboards within the next year or two - Though whether they'll be BlackBerry phones has yet to be decided.
Every credit to BlackBerry for finally taking a chance and producing a product which people might actually want.
