So now that we have the official release of BlackBerry 10 done and over with, most people who are interested in the underdog platform are probably more eager to try out the new Z10, which is one of the few BlackBerry devices that’s been released that is full touchscreen. While a more modern design is what a lot of people wanted to see from BlackBerry, those who would hate to see the physical keyboard go won’t have to worry because the BlackBerry Q10 has the best of both worlds by featuring both touch screen and a physical keyboard.

The specs of the Q10 are very similar to what the Z10 has to offer, with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2GB RAM. It will run on BlackBerry OS 10 (naturally) and has 16 GB of internal storage with microSD capabilities. The Q10 has an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-facing camera. While the general idea of the Q10 is similar to the BlackBerry Bold 9900 series in terms of design, the functionality of the two devices is presumed to differ greatly. While adding touch capabilities to a standard BlackBerry device with a QWERTY keyboard was a good idea, the functions weren’t that awesome when using BlackBerry 7. Hopefully the flaws have been overcome with the introduction of BlackBerry 10 in this first traditional-style BlackBerry device.

I think that if I were to pick up a BlackBerry device I actually would go with the Q10. The Z10 seems cool, but it’s the same basic form I have already seen time and time again. If I go back to BlackBerry I’d like to see what updates they did to modernize their roots – I want to have that “BlackBerry feel” with a device that makes it not-so-BlackBerry anymore, if that makes any sense. I don’t know about you guys, but when I hear “BlackBerry” my mind goes to that popular candybar QWERTY design, not any of the later designs like the Torch or the Style displayed. The specs are decent (yes, decent – while a 1.5 dual-core isn’t the best, it’s still not considered stone aged yet) and I dig the design; I think it looks sleek.

I’ve seen mixed feedback about BlackBerry continuing to offer keyboards with physical keyboards. Most people agree that not everybody can or wants to have a full touchscreen, and with only a few options offered from Android and even fewer from Windows Mobile (and none from Apple) one company has to step up to the plate for those who would rather have a physical keyboard. While I don’t think the reception of the device will be that big, it’s still important for BlackBerry to keep devices like the Q10 in their lineup.

The device is rumored to be released sometime either in May or June for the U.S. The price of the device hasn’t been disclosed yet, but I would be surprised if it ended up costing more than the Z10 does (then again, I was also very much taken aback by how much the company was asking for the Bold 9930 when it was released - $249 on contract!) I expect this device to be at an affordable price range; BlackBerry doesn’t have much to lose at this point in time, so an attractive price would be ideal for them to keep current customers and possibly attract new ones.

Readers, how do you feel about the BlackBerry Q10? If you had to choose between the Z10 and the Q10, which one would you prefer? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!