BlackBerry Mercury – everything BlackBerry needs to do to make its next phone a success

TCL

What does the company have in store for the BlackBerry Mercury?

The BlackBerry Mercury could be one of the most heart-warming stories in technology in 2017.

Many fans were left heartbroken back in September when BlackBerry CEO John Chen confirmed that the company would stop building smartphones, following a long period of decline.

But recent months have seen the Canadian phone maker partner with Chinese firm TCL to release several new BlackBerry devices – proving that there is life in the brand yet.

So with the company set to officially reveal its next smartphone, the BlackBerry Mercury, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month, what does it need to do to draw customers back in?

BlackBerry Mercury – Everything we know so far Tue, January 5, 2016

BlackBerry is gearing up to launch its latest smartphone – here's everything we know so far about the new BlackBerry Mercury

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BlackBerry is gearing up to launch its latest smartphone – here's everything we know so far about the new BlackBerry Mercury

The BlackBerry Mercury was first shown off to select media at CES 2017 last month, giving an insight in to what the company has in store for its next handset.

These previews showed off a device that was solid but nothing spectacular, as Blackberry appeared to focus on hitting the affordable mid-range smartphone market instead of something to take on the likes of Apple and Samsung.

That being said, at first glance the BlackBerry Mercury appears to borrow heavily from other recent flagship smartphones, particularly the iPhone 7.

The phone’s curved metal build made of aluminium would not look out of place in the Apple Store, which is ironic given how the iPhone is partly responsible for BlackBerry’s decline.

TCL

The BlackBerry Mercury blends classic and modern design

But the Mercury also looks to appeal to traditional BlackBerry fans with a unique front panel design that combines a 4.2in display and the classic QWERTY keyboard that made traditional BlackBerry devices so popular.

Unlike these traditional keyboards, the new Mercury keys will allow users to swipe over the physical keys to interact with items on the display.

So you’ll be able to swipe across the keyboard to scroll down web pages or emails, saving your thumbs from constantly reaching between the physical keys and the touchscreen above.

There’s also a fingerprint sensor built into the keyboard’s space bar, allowing users to unlock the device quickly – showing that BlackBerry has been able to moved with the times on this device.

There’s no concrete information yet on exactly what hardware is inside the BlackBerry Mercury, but recent reports have said that the device will stand out in one particular field.

One source claimed that the BlackBerry Mercury will sport the same Sony IMX378 camera sensor that Google used in the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.

Both these devices have been hailed as some of the best Android devices to date, with cameras capable of recording 4K Ultra HD video and takes staggeringly good photos.

The front camera has also been rumoured to pack in an 8MP sensor, either from Samsung or Omnivision that features a 1.12μm pixel size and can shoot video at 1080p at 30fps.

This puts the BlackBerry Mercury far ahead of many other high-end Android devices available today. which could be crucial in luring away market share.

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This appears to be the BlackBerry Mercury in use in the wild

But will all this be enough for BlackBerry to return to its former glories?

Probably not, as the might of Apple and Samsung looks near-impossible to top. BlackBerry was a truly innovative brand in its day, but the company’s reluctance to move with new trends was paramount to its recent decline, as new heavyweights took over.

But the sheer number of consumers that are still seen using ancient BlackBerry devices today shows that the brand remains relevant for now.

And with the power of online marketing, as well as the constant draw of so-called ‘retro chic’ the BlackBerry Mercury could well be a lucrative return for the company.

For now, we’ll have to wait until February 25th, when BlackBerry is due to hold a launch event in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress, where all will be revealed.

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