BlackBerry Unveils Mercury Smartphone with Physical Keyboard at CES 2017

BlackBerry made an unexpected appearance at CES 2017 with the launch of its new smartphone, the Mercury, previously known by its code name DTEK70. Despite earlier announcements that the company would stop manufacturing smartphones and focus solely on software, BlackBerry has partnered with Chinese electronics firm TCL, also responsible for Alcatel devices, to produce this new model.

The Mercury stands out with its traditional physical keyboard, a departure from the sliding keyboard seen on the BlackBerry Priv. This keyboard doubles as a trackpad, enabling swipe gestures for easier browsing and typing. Notably, the spacebar functions as both a home button and a fingerprint sensor.

The device features a compact 4.5-inch Full HD display protected by Gorilla Glass 5, presenting a sturdy industrial design with curved edges. Although showcased at CES, BlackBerry notes that the Mercury is still in prototype form, and full specifications have not been disclosed. However, earlier leaks indicate that it will be powered by a Snapdragon 625 or 821 processor, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It will run Android 7.0 Nougat with a near-stock interface, enhanced by BlackBerry’s signature security features.

The Mercury includes a substantial 3,400mAh battery with fast charging support and retains the 3.5mm headphone jack despite adopting USB-C. Expected camera configurations are an 18MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera.

BlackBerry plans to officially release the Mercury during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in late February, with an anticipated price of approximately $500, consistent with the brand's premium positioning.