Ever since the BlackBerry Passport made its debut in September 2014, we’ve seen several new colors and special versions of the device. Today BlackBerry is adding another to the list with the BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition.
The BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition includes a few changes from the original Passport. Obviously the first is that it’s got a silver frame, while the regular Passport is black. The Silver Edition also has a reinforced stainless steel frame for improved durability, a better keyboard with tactile ergonomic improvements that BlackBerry says will “make typing easier,” and bevelled edges around the front camera and a protective border around the rear camera to protect both cams. Finally, the Silver Edition has rounded corners like the AT&T Passport, as well as a diamond weave pattern on the rear for a better grip.
BlackBerry says that the goal with the Silver Edition of the Passport was to offer a more premium version of its standard Passport. The company also wanted to make it more appealing to a broader audience and improve both the phone’s durability and its antenna performance.
In terms of specs, the BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition is largely the same as the regular Passport. It’s got a 4.5-inch 1440x1440 touchscreen, 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801, 13-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front cameras, 32GB of storage, a microSD slot, 3GB of RAM, NFC, and a 3450mAh battery. The Silver Edition comes with BlackBerry OS 10.3.2, including support for Android apps from the Amazon Appstore, and the phone is compatible with LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20.
The BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition can now be bought from BlackBerry’s online store for $549. That’s $50 more than the standard Passport, but BlackBerry is throwing a $130 accessory package in with each purchase. The package includes a Flex Shell, Flip Case, and Sync Pod stand.
The new BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition looks like a nice improvement over the standard Passport, combining the rounded corners of the AT&T version with a more durable frame and a keyboard that’s apparently been improved. While those changes may not woo a ton of folks over to the BlackBerry camp if they weren’t already interested a Passport, the Silver Edition is likely to pique the interest of members of the BlackBerry faithful, especially with its improved keyboard and new design that’s finally available outside of the AT&T-branded Passport.