Those still stubbornly holding onto their Blackberrys might have a glimmer of hope with the recently released Blackberry Q10.
It lacks the 64 bit microprocessor and biometric security system of the new iPhone, but it does have something few smartphones come with these days: a real keyboard. It’s why so many have hung onto their Blackberry phones in the midst of far more advanced phones from other manufacturers.
And as far as the keyboard goes, it doesn’t disappoint. It feels like a Blackberry yet it has a new touchscreen operating system behind it that offers much of what low to mid-range smart phones have offered for the last several years. And yes, it runs Angry Birds quite well.
The biggest improvement is a functioning web browser running the same open-source framework that powers browsers on competing Android and Apple phones. Sites load and render in a reasonable length of time on both LTE and WiFi networks. The Q10’s square screen, small by today’s standards, is on par with the high resolution “retina” displays on recent iPhones but doesn’t have as much real estate for displaying websites and movies.
The touchscreen response is adequate but not as responsive as the iPhone or recent Android phones like the Galaxy S4. It lacks precision and there is a slight but noticeable delay when scrolling or tapping buttons. The new operating system also has odd gestures that require finger movements that need to begin offscreen in a very small bezel areas.
The bottom line? The Q10 is all business. It doesn’t dazzle with a huge screen and other battery draining features but it is a Blackberry that’s finally on par with smartphone market expectations. Why the company decided to release their lackluster touchscreen-only phone, the Z10, first is puzzling. Hopefully the release of the Q10 isn’t too little too late for the struggling company.
