The future of BlackBerry is riding on its latest phone, the BlackBerry Priv, launched over the weekend that’s got an old school slide-out keyboard defying the touch screen standard. The phone looks really sleek and comes at the business-friendly price tag of US$700 (AU$992) in the U.S.

BlackBerry is gambling big with Priv’s large curved screen; a host of security and productivity features and a full range of Android apps to strengthen its market share that’s slipped by one percent, reported the Indian Express.

For the first time, BlackBerry ditches its own operating system and Priv will have the Android OS at its core. The phone also features 5.4-inch dual curved Amoled screen along with a keyboard slider, which is phone’s unique selling proposition.

BlackBerry Priv has an 18 MP dual-flash rear camera and a 2 MP front camera. Its powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor set at 1.8GHz and has got 3 GB of RAM. With these specs, it’s no wonder the phone offers lightening speed.

The power-packed 3410 mAH battery makes the phone last up to 22.5 hours at a stretch. Add pictures, videos and movies to your delight, thanks to its 32 GB on board flash storage sanctioned by a MicroSD card slot that can handle up to 2 TB additional storage.

With its chassis in silver accents highlighted by dark aesthetics, the BlackBerry Priv is a handsome handset that feels comfortable when held. Its rubbery back offers extra grip so the phone doesn’t slip from your hand when sliding the keyboard up and down with one hand, reported Tech Insider.

The keyboard is convenient for typing long emails or text messages. Being the best of both worlds, BlackBerry Priv with its large screen and classic keyboard is what a business phone should be.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or tell us what you think below.