Three BlackBerry Android devices likely in the works, one possibly made by TCL/Alcatel

At the beginning of the month, reports described slow BlackBerry PRIV sales and high return rates. Despite this and a potential exit from the hardware business, VentureBeat has details on three new Android-powered devices in the works. These rumors are similar to ones from last year and involve a pair of touchscreen devices and one with a full keyboard.

The codenamed “Neon” is said to be the first of the three devices planned to hit the market in the next two months. It will feature a 1080p 5.2-inch touchscreen powered by a Snapdragon 617 processor, 3GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. It will have a 2610mAh battery with support for QuickCharge 2.0. A 13MP rear camera is complimented by an 8MP front facer.

Interestingly, another rumor points to Alcatel manufacturer TCL Communication making the device. As such, a leaked image shows that the rear of the Neon shares the same aluminum frame as the Alcatel Idol 4 but with a BlackBerry logo on the soft-coated plastic back. This device will be priced affordably and aimed at both the enterprise and consumer market.

Another full touchscreen device, “Argon,” is aimed purely at the enterprise market with a 5.5-inch QHD screen and 21MP rear camera, like the PRIV. The device uses a more powerful Snapdragon 820 chip with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The 3,000mAh battery will be charged via USB C and there will be fingerprint reader on the phone.

For those who miss the traditional BlackBerry keyboard, the rumored “Mercury” will be the device for them. However, the device with a 4.5-inch HD screen in a 3:2 aspect ratio and full keyboard will not be available until Q1 of 2017. The device is made of aluminum and powered by a Snapdragon 625 with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. There is an 18MP rear camera, 8MP front facer, and 3,400mAh battery.