BlackBerry Mercury to Feature Touchscreen Display

BlackBerry has long been defined by its QWERTY keypad. While most other handset makers have transitioned to touchscreen interfaces, BlackBerry has remained true to its roots, relying on a traditional keypad as its primary method of input. Of course, many users prefer this option for its simplicity and ease of use. QWERTY keypads are arguably easier to use when typing long messages, and there’s a strong sense of familiarity associated with them. But it appears that BlackBerry could soon change the way in which users perform commands on its handsets, as there’s new evidence suggesting the company’s upcoming device will in fact feature a touchscreen interface.

Newly leaked photos reveal one of BlackBerry’s upcoming handsets, the Mercury. What makes these leaked photos interesting is the fact that they reveal a touchscreen display as opposed to the company’s traditional QWERTY keypad. Granted, there’s a still physical keypad (found at the bottom), but the top of the device also has a touchscreen display.

So, what kind of hardware can you expect to see in the upcoming BlackBerry Mercury? Being that the company has yet to officially announce the device, there’s really no definitive answer to this question. However, some of its rumored specifications include a 4.5″ touchscreen display with 3:2 ratio, a 2GHz Qualcomm processor, 3GB of random access memory (RAM), 18-megapixel primary camera, secondary camera, and presumably Google’s Android operating system. BlackBerry has shut down its BBOS mobile operating system, so it’s safe to assume the upcoming Mercury will run Android.

Of those specs, however, the most interesting is its use of a touchscreen display. BlackBerry has long been a fan of the QWETY keypad, even as other handset makers shifted towards touchscreen technology. Assuming these rumors are accurate, though, it appears that even BlackBerry is now jumping on the touchscreen bandwagon, using it as a method of input for its upcoming Mercury handset.

But even the transition to touchscreen technology may prove insufficient in saving the Canada-based tech company. Just recently, BlackBerry announced that it was officially closing the doors to its hardware business, citing lack of sales. This shouldn’t come a surprise given the sheer popularity surrounding Android and iOS devices.

Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of questions surrounding the BlackBerry Mercury. When will it launch? How much will it cost? Will the touchscreen display use resistive or capacitive technology? These are all great questions, but until BlackBerry makes an official announcement we simply won’t know the answers to them.