The BlackBerry-branded KeyOne was unveiled in a pre-launch MWC event, and now, another smartphone dubbed the BlackBerry Aurora is surfacing. A press image for the device leaked yesterday. This phone is apparently custom-made for Indonesia and is unofficially known as the BBC100-1.
Available for pre-order, but not officially
The Aurora is expected to come packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. It will reportedly sport a 5.5-inch 720p display and a 3,000 mAH battery.
However, something that remains unsolved is that the smartphone is listed at an aggregator called Lazada, which enables third-party retailers to display their product on the platform and sell; therefore, doubt about the legitimacy of the smartphone continues, according to Softpedia.
Not just Lazada, but another Indonesian retailer, Elevenia, also displayed the device. Both retailers have posted ads for pre-orders of the device, notes PhoneArena. The handset displayed under the name BlackBerry Aurora is available in several colors such as Silver, Black and Gold, and shipping is expected to commence March 3.
What makes the Aurora different from other recent BlackBerry devices is that unlike other phones, it is made by PT BB Merah Putih for the Indonesian market. For those unaware, PT BB Merah Putih is a joint venture headed by PT Tiphone and is backed by the largest mobile service provider in Indonesia.
BlackBerry Aurora: what to expect?
The images that surfaced are not particularly clear, but it is quite clear that the device has a full touchscreen instead of a physical keyboard, as has been the case in most recently-launched BlackBerry devices. The KeyOne came with a physical keyboard and a touchscreen.
An online picture of the Aurora that emerged showed that the rear of the smartphone is not the usual BlackBerry either; rather, it is shiny and dimpled, while the speakers are fixed within the slit, which is quite visible. The LED flash is housed under the main, single-lens camera, unlike the Keyone, notes AH.
There are reports stating that the BBC100-1 or Aurora has also been given certification in Indonesia and could appear on shelves soon. For now, there are no more details on the device, except that it is available for pre-order and will cost about $260 in Indonesia.
Unlike the KeyOne, which is dazzling enough to catch the attention of BlackBerry lovers, the Aurora has been a low-key launch. Since the phone is apparently only for Indonesian customers, there are strong possibilities of it being overlooked.
