BlackBerry’s Leap Smartphone Ditches Keyboard to Attract New Users

By Todd R. Weiss

The Leap’s hardware includes a Qualcomm MSM 8960 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard flash storage (expandable up to 128GB via a micro SD card). It runs on the latest BlackBerry 10 OS 10.3.1 operating system.

Included in the new Leap is a 5-inch HD display with 1,280-by-720 resolution for clear, brilliant images and a 2,800mAh battery for long life. The Leap runs on 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks; weighs 6 ounces; and is 5.67 inches long, 2.87 inches wide and 0.37 inches thick.

Although aimed at business professionals, the Leap still includes features such as a built-in 8-megapixel auto-focus rear camera with 5x digital zoom and 1080p HD video recording with video stabilization, as well as a front-mounted 2MP fixed-focus camera with 3x digital zoom.

The all-new touch-screen keyboard used in the Leap learns from users as they type and provides personalized next-word suggestions that can be incorporated as users compose their text messages, emails, documents and more.

Leap owners can also purchase a wide range of Leap accessories from BlackBerry to personalize their devices, from a multimedia headset to a sync pod charging station to a flex shell case that allows users to stand their smartphone for video chats.

With a physical QWERTY keyboard, BlackBerry’s flagship device, the $449 Classic smartphone, allows users who don’t want a touch-screen keyboard to maintain their BlackBerry experiences. The Classic launched last December and includes a smaller 3.5-inch touch-screen HD display.

The BlackBerry Passport, which was unveiled in September 2014 for $599, also includes a traditional physical keyboard, but it includes a 4.5-inch-square display that allows 60 characters to be typed across its screen, compared with about 40 for a typical smartphone.