The BlackBerry Q5 is a device that we haven't heard much about in the U.S. In fact, ever since its introduction at BlackBerry Live back in May, the folks at BlackBerry has remained fairly silent regarding the Q5 and any plans that the phone may have about coming stateside. That hasn't changed today, but one thing that has is the Q5's U.S. availability.
Best Buy recently added the BlackBerry Q5 to the virtual shelves of its online store, giving those of us in the U.S. an easy way to pick up the Curve-like BlackBerry 10.1 handset. The model that's being sold by Best Buy is unlocked and contract-free, meaning that any interested consumers will be forced to pay full price for a Q5 of their own. When it comes to the BlackBerry Q5 and Best Buy, "full price" is equal to $499.99.
As a quick BlackBerry refresher (sounds kinda tasty), the Q5 features a 3.1-inch 720x720 display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 8GB storage, microSD slot and a 2180mAh battery powering the whole package. There's also a 2-megapixel camera on the Q5's face and a 5-megapixel shooter on its backside. Oh yeah, and there's that physical QWERTY keyboard, which is becoming an increasingly rare sight in the smartphone world.
It's kind of strange to see the BlackBerry Q5 silently pop up in Best Buy's online store, but this appearance also makes it pretty darn easy for anyone in the U.S. to buy a Q5, so I'd say that it's best if we try not to think too hard about the how or why of the matter and just accept that it's here. After all, more choice is always a good thing.
This unlocked BlackBerry Q5 is a GSM unit, meaning that customers on AT&T, T-Mobile and other GSM operators can pop their SIM in and go. However, Sprint and Verizon folk are out of luck. If you fit into the former group and have a hankerin' for a new QWERTY smartphone, the Q5's product page and "Add to Cart" button are ready and waiting for you at the Best Buy link below.
Via BlackBerryOS, Best Buy: BlackBerry Q5
