BlackBerry decks out $279 Leap with full 5-inch touchscreen (hands-on)

BARCELONA -- Though BlackBerry does not plan on getting rid of its signature keyboard-equipped smartphones anytime soon, it has taken a leap of faith with its latest handset, the BlackBerry Leap. Aimed at the "young career builder," the Leap is a full-touchscreen device that will be available globally for $279 (which converts to around 180 or AU$350). It will launch first in Europe in April.

The 4G LTE phone will run the latest BlackBerry 10.3.1 OS on a 5-inch HD display. The touchscreen has a 1,280x720-pixel resolution with a 293ppi density, so it won't have the sharpest resolution compared to other flagships. But during our brief time with it, the panel was bright, responsive and sensitive to the touch. And of course, though it won't have a physical QWERTY keyboard, you'll be able to peck out messages and emails with a digital on-screen keyboard.

When we got to check it out up close, we noticed that the Leap felt thick, but it had solid build quality. It feels dense, and its rear backing had a patterned rubber texture that lent it a polished and elegant aesthetic.

For your camera needs, the phone has an 8-megapixel rear snapper that can shoot up to 1080p HD video. Inside is a Qualcomm MSM 8960 1.5GHz processor with 2GB of RAM. It packs 16GB of storage for firmware and for your movies and music, apps and snaps. However, if you find yourself needing more space, it does include a microSD card slot on its left edge. BlackBerry also promises 25 hours of heavy use from the beefy 2,800mAh battery.

The company, which is known for its software security, will outfit the Leap with encryption services, built-in malware protection, and options to backup and wipe the handset. Other software features include BlackBerry's cross-platform tool Blend, and BlackBerry Assistant.

The handset will be available in grey and white, and at $279 unlocked, it's a relatively affordable option for budget-conscious people. In addition to the Leap, the company also teased a dual-screen smartphone with a sliding keyboard nicknamed by CEO John Chen as "the Slider."

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BlackBerry decks out $279 Leap with full 5-inch touchscreen (hands-on)