BlackBerry is back and it’s not back with its redundant operating system BB10, but this time around with Android.
BlackBerry is trying to regain lost ground among its loyalists with the all-new BlackBerry Priv. And as expected, the phone is not cheap at all. It is exorbitantly priced at Rs 62,500 – that’s even more expensive than the iPhone 6s is now.
But people who buy BlackBerry’s are usually not iPhone lovers; they are people who love a secure phone that will never lose their data.
Key Specifications: BlackBerry Priv
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 Hexa-Core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57
- RAM: 3GB
- Display: Curved 5.43 Inch WQHD Plastic AMOLED Display
- Rear Camera: 18MP Camera With OIS And LED Flash
- Front Camera: 2 MP FF Front Camera
- Battery: 3410 mAh
- Price: Rs 62,500
What’s Good?
BlackBerry Priv is an Android smartphone to start with, that runs 5.1 Lollipop operating system. It houses BlackBerry Hub and of course the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).
The build quality on the Priv is fantastic. It’s a slider phone that also houses a physical keyboard. The Priv right now is the most refreshing and classy-looking smartphone money can buy. The matte carbon back panel is rubber-ish and the phone has a good grip inside the palm of your hand.
The Curved 5.43 Inch WQHD Plastic AMOLED Display, with a pixel density of 540 ppi is one of the most crisp and bright displays available in the market right now. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, the edge display on the blackberry has no function apart from making the phone look chic. It’s slightly heavy though, at 192 grams.
The physical keyboard is the highlight of the Priv. It’s very BlackBerry-like and just in physical form. The problem is that BlackBerry has been out of the scene for so long that many have gotten accustomed to a touchscreen keyboard. The keyboard on this one is not as good as the BlackBerry Passport, but still good enough to be in a BlackBerry.
Performance-wise it’s by far the most powerful BlackBerry to ever be produced. It comes loaded with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 Hexa-Core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57 processor that’s backed by 3GB RAM. That’s all the processing power you need on a smartphone.
It’s secured too – yes, it has android, but Blackberry utilises Google’s security updates to keep your data safe and secured. Also, the company says that it’s virus proof. BlackBerry has preloaded the Priv with an app called DTEK. This app is always on a lookout for apps that use permissions without the user’s knowledge and closes them.
This is the most secure Android smartphone that one can buy off the shelf.
The 3410 mAh battery will last you longer than you’d need it to. It also supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology for fast charging. It lasted us a good 22 hours on average.
What’s Bad?
BlackBerry Priv on paper has an 18-megapixel camera with optical image stabilisation, an f/2.2 aperture and a phase-detect auto focus system. That should do the trick for any user. Sadly, it’s just the best camera on a BlackBerry till date, but not the best camera that you’ll find on a smartphone.
The low-light image quality of the Priv is dismal and the front 2-megapixel camera for selfies is not even worth a mention in 2016.
Why Buy It?
Overall, the BlackBerry Priv is the best-looking BlackBerry ever. It’s not a phone for everyone, but for users who are paranoid about the security of their data. It would make the CEOs and CTOs of companies very happy on their professional front, but when it comes to personal usage they’ll be left wanting.
At Rs 62,500 it’s not an affordable phone at all, but then the people who love to keep their data secure don’t tend to be affected by the price factor.
BlackBerry Priv is the best BlackBerry ever, but not the best phone money can buy.
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