BlackBerry Priv Android Smartphone Gets First Software Update

Better performance: The Priv’s software has been tweaked to improve overall system performance. Along with the support for 16:9 photos, it seems like BlackBerry has also improved the image quality in low-light for the Priv, so photos should look a bit better now.

Pre-loaded with DTEK by BlackBerry, the Priv gives users a great sense of security with an impressive 23 hours of battery life on mixed use.

Furthermore the update pack contains December’s security patches that will protect the device from the latest Android security threats.

BlackBerry Priv users who purchased the smartphone from ShopBlackBerry should start receiving update notifications OTA (over-the-air) while carrier-purchased Priv handsets are expected to receive it starting Monday. Let’s see when Android 6.0 Marshmallow will be pushed out. Considering that privacy is the USP of the device, the company will roll out frequent software updates for the device.

The Priv is still on Android 5.1, but the deployment of the December security patch should fulfill BlackBerry’s promise to keep the device secure. The Hub & Contacts apps will also be updated to support WhatsApp.

You should be able to get the OTA in the system update menu on unlocked phones right now.

The first OS update brings the promised Android security updates, but also targets some performance issues, aiming to improve stability and reduce crashes or freezing, as well as speeding things up. I believe that by the end of this week everyone should receive the new update. BlackBerry recommends that customers should be connected to a Wi-Fi network while downloading the update to avoid unwanted data charges.

If you remember the early 2000’s, you’ll remember how BlackBerry phones were all the rage- they even had their own operating system, functionalities, and design (and it appears that nothing has changed).