BlackBerry Q20 Release Date: Handset ‘BlackBerry Classic;’ BlackBerry Keeps QWERTY Keyboard W/ 3.5” Touchscreen; Specs Promises Longer Battery Life, Faster Multimedia & Browsing

BlackBerry Q20 release date: BlackBerry CEO John Chen announced the release of the company’s upcoming flagship model, the Q20, or better known as the Blackberry Classic. Armed with both a 3.5-inch touchscreen interface and a QWERTY keyboard, with a body that greatly resembles the BlackBerry Bold, the BlackBerry Classic is the comeback kid of the smartphone industry.

"It's an updated and enhanced version of one of our most popular and successful products called the Bold. It will include a keyboard and a good touch-screen, very fast Internet, Web-browsing capability and multimedia capability. But also it will be very productive and very secure. So, all the familiar things that people love, with some new technology updated,” CEO Chen said in an interview with USA Today.

BlackBerry aims to strike hard in the market with the BlackBerry Classic. With its trademark keyboard and function keys, the Q20 targets the BlackBerry patrons who enjoy the use of its nifty and comfortable ergonomics. BlackBerry maintains a small, yet loyal base of QWERTY users.

Aside from the body, the Q20 has a promising start because of its upgraded internet and multimedia capabilities and longer battery life. It is expected that the BlackBerry Classic will have the longest battery life amidst the company’s smartphone products.

CEO Chen also announced that the company eyes to produce more touch-screen phones in line with the BlackBerry Z3 I order to keep up with the market demand. However, BlackBerry will strongly maintain the production of devices with the trademark QWERTY keyboards.

The Q20 release is all set in November this year along with the BES12. This is a challenging match-up against the Apple iPhone 6 juggernaut that is also expected to be release that same month.

It is no secret that BlackBerry is now struggling in the market. And after laying down almost all of its cards to the public, the upcoming sales will determine if BlackBerry made the right choice in sticking to the ‘Classic.’