Those who are security-conscious with their data will be glad to know that the next iteration of security-focused Blackphone has launched and now available in the U.S.

Unveiled last March at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, the Blackphone 2 has received an upgrade to at least match the specs of mid-range to above-average smartphones in today's market. The new handset is now powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 SoC with a 1.7 GHz octa-core processor, and the chipset is partnered with 3 GB of RAM. Storage-wise, the Blackphone 2 has an internal 32-GB memory, which can be expanded to 128 GB of storage via a microSD card.

The display, while not that vivid and bright compared to premium high-end phones, still deliver a Full HD resolution on its 5.5-inch display, covered by Corning Gorilla Glass for protection. In addition, the new handset also manages to feature an adequate 13-MP rear camera with BSI sensor, as well as a 5-MP front shooter. Other features include a 3060-mAh battery with Quick Charge 2.0 option.

Meanwhile, one of the selling points of the new Blackphone is its more robust security feature. The Blackphone 2 features an Android hybrid called the Silent OS, with its own Security Center. This feature allows Blackphone owners to conveniently access and change their privacy and security settings. In addition, the users themselves can tick off and individually set app permissions and the data that the apps have access to. The Security Center also employs a remote wipe setting, so users can delete data and information should the unit be lost or stolen.

Speaking about the launch, Silent Circle's Bill Conner, the company behind the Blackphone series, said: "The launch of Blackphone 2 is a game changer for the mobile sector and for the way we provide individual and enterprise privacy."

The Blackphone 2 is now available at the Silent Circle website for $799.