We’ve seen what the first all-touch phone with BlackBerry 10 will be like, and now the much-rumoured but well hidden QWERTY keyboard version has appeared. Say hello to the BlackBerry X10!
A while ago we learnt that BlackBerry 10 phones would be split into two types; the L series and the N series. The L series phones will be more akin to an iPhone or Android smartphone with a large touchscreen and very few buttons, whereas the N series will continue the BlackBerry tradition of a smaller screen coupled with a QWERTY keyboard.
The X10 is going to be the first traditional-looking BlackBerry to rock the new BlackBerry 10 software, and from a set of images it looks as though the design will stick closely to the recent Bold models. One major change is the screen size, which looks to have been upped considerably to give the phone a 60/40 ratio of screen to keyboard.
In shape it’s a nicely rounded device with smooth corners, edges and back, which should make it nice and comfy to hold even through long text conversations and phone calls. The QWERTY keyboard itself looks to be very similar to that of the Bold series of BlackBerrys that are out at the moment, so if you’re upgrading from a Bold then you’ll probably find yourself right at home with this phone.
One last detail we’ve gathered from the images is that the X10 will rock a front facing camera for video calling and rear camera with LED flash. We doubt either of these will be challenging the likes of the Sony Xperia Z for image quality in 2013 though, with RIM likely to be focussing on making it the perfect text and messaging phone.
BlackBerry 10 will be officially launched on January 30th and we’re expecting the Z10 and X10 phones to make their official debut on the same day.