BlackBerry Q10 Pro Reviews

There aren’t many surprises lurking beneath the surface of the BlackBerry Q10 – it looks like a texting machine built for hardcore message-senders with some modernized software, and that’s exactly what it is. And while we called out many of its shortcomings above, the device still packs an ineffable quality that draws our affection. Maybe it’s nostalgia for the golden years of the company formerly known as RIM. Maybe it’s the great keyboard. Those factors alone don’t sell a smartphone though, and it needs to be said: we’re left wondering just who will spring for this device, out there in the real world. There’s little question that the Q10 will please all but the most inflexible BlackBerry aficionados (it already boasts excellent user reviews on carrier sites), but what about the folks eyeing other platforms, whose heads are ringing with brand names like “Galaxy,” “iPhone,” and “Lumia?” It’s not as though BlackBerry’s product is cheaper than those devices, and its once-proprietary enterprise abilities and even its vaunted BBM are now finding homes on other platforms. So what does the Q10 offer that the more-mature ecosystems of Android, iOS, and even Windows Phone don’t? A great physical keyboard. A “peek-able” notification center. Cool multitasking. BlackBerry Balance. Is that enough? We’re not sure. Fortunately, the answer is a little clearer for those upgrading from feature-phones, those who don’t need as many bells or whistles, and those who just can’t bear the thought of tapping on a glass keypad. If you’re one of those folks -or a BlackBerry devotee- shopping for a messaging-focused smartphone with an excellent physical QWERTY keyboard and outstanding battery life, the Q10 is right up your alley. We just hope there are enough of you out there to warrant a sequel when the time comes.

BlackBerry has always done the physical keyboard right; in that sense, the company is peerless. The Q10 gives BlackBerry a way to carry that expertise over into the next generation of smartphones, and it works well. When a smartphone has such a great keyboard that you find yourself looking forward to typing on it, that says a lot. Of course, if your priority when shopping for a smartphone isn't its keyboard, or if you find that you don't need to type all that often on your handset, then there are plenty of better phones out there for you. Phones with bigger, brighter displays, phones with better cameras, phones with more powerful hardware, you name it. It's not even that the Q10 specs and performance are all that bad, it's just that it's closer to being a mid-tier smartphone than a flagship handset in the grand scheme of things. Its specs are, however, top of the line among those smartphones that put typing capabilities first since they're so few and far between. Combined with its peerless keyboard, that isn't half bad.

BlackBerry did a fine job with the Q10. The hardware is top-notch, the keyboard is great, and the screen looks really nice. The phone managed to always perform well on Verizon's network in terms of connection and the quality of that connection. The Verizon Q10 offers markedly cleaner and louder phone calls than the AT&T version, and the data speeds were excellent. Battery life is quite good, and bests most other devices I've tested in recent months. As good as the keyboard is, I found the small screen frustrating. I've used all-touch phones for too long and a device such as the Q10 simply isn't for me. That said, anyone who's interested in the Q10 knows that's the deal they're getting with this form factor and likely doesn’t need a phablet-size display. BlackBerry 10 is a fine operating system, but it still has plenty of weaknesses compared to Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. The lack of marquee apps is frustrating and the lack of apps such as Chrome, Google+, and so on is a bit of a let-down for someone entrenched in Google's various services. Again, this is another trade-off you're making by choosing the Q10 and BlackBerry 10. For what it is, a QWERTY-equipped smartphone, the Q10 earns solid marks, but still misses the mark on occasion.

Even though it doesn’t have a giant display, the BlackBerry Q10 may prove more interesting to mainstream users than the Z10. After all, there are a million touchscreen smartphones in the world. There aren’t many phones with good physical keyboards (and the competition mainly consists of other BlackBerry devices). And the main reason why most want that good keyboard is because they spend most of their time messaging; if nothing else, BlackBerry 10 is made for that type of person and the Q10 is made to deliver the best experience around messaging. For people who prioritize this above everything else, including good apps, the Q10 is a good buy. Just be aware that in order to get the most out of it, you’ll need to invest some time in learning the tricks and shortcuts. The BlackBerry Q10 is available right now from T-Mobile ($100 down, $20/mo for 2 years), Verizon Wireless, and AT&T ($200 with 2 year contract). Sprint will get the device later this year (no pricing data yet).

The BlackBerry Z10 already scored a whopping 88% rating in our review. The Blackberry Q10 even receives 1% more. We see this as absolutely deserved, because the Q10 offers some significant improvements. Primarily this is the great mechanical QWERTY keyboard, which in combination with the intelligent word prediction software creates a unrivaled typing experience and immensely increases productivity. In addition to this, the Q10 also has a 8 Wh battery, which ensure very good runtimes. On the same level have remained the clean and solid workmanship, the elegant exterior and the powerful hardware, with the resulting good application performance. The AMOLED touchscreen is slightly smaller with a size of 3.1 inches and also has lower brightness, but is still very good overall. Another highlight is the extensive connectivity: micro HDMI, two noise reduction microphones, WLAN a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS, LTE. No other competitor on the market offers as much. In addition there are 16 GB of flash memory, which can be increased with a microSD card. The intuitive, sensible controls and the great multitasking concept are the icing on the cake.

Since I had the pleasure to review both the BlackBerry Z10 and Q10, I’ve been asked a number of times which device should BlackBerry users purchase. After spending some quality time with both, I have to say it depends completely on what you’re going to use it for and what you’re comfortable with. If you’ve been using a BlackBerry device with a physical keyboard and can’t imagine a life using a virtual keyboard, then you’ll feel right at home with the BlackBerry Q10 as its QWERTY keyboard is outstanding and is one I can see myself using for a long time. BlackBerry successfully delivered a modern OS with BlackBerry 10, and when combined with the physical keyboard of the Q10, you’ll be able to get some serious work done as well as be able to keep up with your personal life. I know a virtual keyboard isn’t for everyone, which is why I could easily recommend the BlackBerry Q10. As for iOS and Android users, I still feel like there isn’t enough in BlackBerry 10 to warrant jumping ship, that is, unless you have been fumbling with a virtual keyboard and have yet to feel comfortable. In that case, I feel the BlackBerry Q10 would be the perfect reason for you to jump into BlackBerry 10 as you’ll be able to perform many of the tasks you could on iOS and Android on this device, although don’t expect the support for BlackBerry World to be as vast as the App Store and Google Play Store.

On two occasions in my life, I’ve made a serious go at using a BlackBerry full-time—first with the unforgettable and amazing Curve 8900, later with the Bold 9900. On both occasions, despite crippling software flaws and anemic app catalogs, there was something about the simple act of using a BlackBerry that made you feel more important and productive. Whenever I pulled it out and started typing, I was “getting stuff done.” Now, though, the Q10 has lost even that appeal for me. Yes, the software is miles beyond anything that BlackBerry 7 could ever deliver, but as a chronic Android and iOS user, there was no point during my encounter with this phone that I felt like I was running circles around those other platforms. Not with email, not with documents, not with contact management. BlackBerry 10’s Hub—which aggregates calls, texts, tweets, emails, BBMs, and so-on into quite possibly the most universal inbox on the planet—is a neat trick, but not particularly useful for business users who deal with a heavy stream of low- to medium-priority emails. I just didn’t feel the productivity bonus. And if you’re not on the Q10 for the productivity bonus, what are you here for? The small, square display? The weak third-party app selection?

The BlackBerry Q10 smartphone is a laser-focused niche product for messaging enthusiasts, and T-Mobile offers it for the lowest price of any major carrier.

As expected, the BlackBerry Q10 for AT&T sets the bar for QWERTY messaging phones, but it can't quite compete with other smartphone leaders.

The BlackBerry Q10 is the phone that most BlackBerry users think they want. It's the phone that best represents BlackBerry's iconic status as a messaging machine, and it also has the better battery performance of the two current BB 10 models. However, I'd argue that it's not necessarily the best phone. If you're someone who lists a physical keyboard as a must-have when purchasing your device, this is the phone to buy. Anyone who has mastered text input on a virtual keyboard has no reason to consider this device. The smaller screen, fewer app options, and final package make the Q10 more challenging than rewarding for non-QWERTY loyalists. The Q10 dominates its niche without any real rival because it's a classic car with a new engine and a fresh coat of paint. There's definitely value in the classics and plenty of people who will enjoy it, but most users will find more joy and comfort getting behind something newer and built for the new age.

I certainly don’t dislike the Q10, but I’m not sure I could go back to a physical keyboard after I’ve been using touchscreen-based keyboards for a few years now. However, the Q10 is still a great device, and it’s definitely the BlackBerry handset to get if you want a physical QWERTY keyboard on your next smartphone. Plus, the Q10 features the best of both worlds: a physical keyboard and a touch screen, which almost seems like too much to ask for, but BlackBerry was like, “No problem.” It’s not a completely solid medley between the two, but it definitely still works out great.

The BlackBerry Q10 smartphone is a laser-focused niche product for messaging enthusiasts.

BlackBerry did a fine job with the Q10. The hardware is top-notch, the keyboard is great, and the screen looks really nice. The phone managed to always perform well on AT&T's network, though voice quality could be better. Battery life is quite good, and bests most other devices I've tested in recent months. As good as the keyboard is, I found the small screen frustrating. I've used all-touch phones for too long and a device such as the Q10 simply isn't for me. That said, anyone who's interested in the Q10 knows that's the deal they're getting with this form factor and likely doesn’t need a phablet-size display. BlackBerry 10 is a fine operating system, but it still has plenty of weaknesses compared to Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. The lack of marquee apps is frustrating and the lack of apps such as Chrome, Google+, and so on is a bit of a let-down for someone entrenched in Google's various services. Again, this is another trade-off you're making by choosing the Q10 and BlackBerry 10. For what it is, a QWERTY-equipped smartphone, the Q10 earns solid marks, but still misses the mark on occasion.

In terms of where the market is heading and where BlackBerry want to be, we cannot help the thought that they'd rather have the Z10, and its successors, up there with the best than keep the messenger concept on life support. On the other hand, it's QWERTY messengers that have shaped the company's identity. It's a tough one, finding the right balance between what the market wants and respect of tradition.

The Q10 combines the best of BlackBerry’s new operating system with a keyboard, but it’s expensive and apps are lacking

In a nutshell, the Q10 delivers everything RIM should have offered three years ago. I was surprised how much I got along with it. For all its quirks, the Q10 deserves high marks for ease of use and performance. The design and pricing are clearly high end, and it is intended to compete with the latest and greatest full touch devices on £35-£40 contracts. Yet people looking for a more practical device with a clear utility aren't well-catered for today. Not everybody wants or needs glitzy, high-spec techno porn. Nokia has recognised that need and I imagine with future models, BlackBerry can pull off the same trick. As it is, the Q10 offers a lot of convenience. Another reason to consider the Q10 is that the market has changed subtly over the past year with the advent of low-cost tablets, in ways that haven't really been fully appreciated yet. You can "do media" (eg, watch NetFlix) much better on an affordable 7-inch Nexus, Kindle Fire or Apple iPad Mini. That frees you, as a punter, to be more discerning with your choice of phone. My daughter's description of the QWERTY BlackBerry as "half a phone" is no insult - and it might just suit some people down to the ground.

The BlackBerry Q10 is every inch a BlackBerry. It has the traditional BB form-factor and, more importantly – the physical QWERTY keyboard that's coveted by so many BlackBerry fans. This, however, is a device that's exclusively targeted at existing BlackBerry users, we don't think the Q10 is capable of attracting new ones. As a niche smartphone, the BlackBerry Q10 is a pretty decent performer. It can do anything a diehard BlackBerry user would want it to do and more. The QWERTY keyboard is very good, while the BlackBerry Hub with excellent email and BBM integration will surely delight those heavy texters. As a regular smartphone, though, the Q10 falls short in almost every area when compared to a decent Android smartphone, an iPhone, or even a Windows Phone, mostly due to the small screen with 1:1 aspect ratio, which makes activities like web browsing and multimedia consumption way more unpleasant and difficult.

The BlackBerry Q10 is, for the most part, exactly what we expected it to be: a Z10 with a smaller display and a physical keyboard. There's not much between the two phones when it comes to performance or aesthetics and, while the improvement in battery life is nice, both still fall into the "average" category in that regard. Unsurprisingly, then, which of the two is right for you boils down to a single question: how badly do you hate typing on glass? Again, our testing found text entry to be faster on the Z10 than the Q10 in most situations, but speed doesn't always equate to satisfaction. All things being equal, we'd prefer a physical keyboard to peck at than a piece of glass to smudge, but here we'd choose the Z10 just for that larger display. And what of the broader question, of whether the $249 Q10 can help BlackBerry get its groove back and compete with the rest? There are certainly those who won't buy a phone without a keyboard, and the Q10 is unquestionably the best phone with a keyboard on the market. However, given how weak the competition and demand there has become, we're not sure cornering that market will move the needle very far in BlackBerry's favor.

A fantastic keyboard and BlackBerry OS 10 make this a great phone for messaging, but it’s not up to scratch in other areas

Choices are slim if you’re in the market for a smartphone with a physical keyboard. The rise of all-touch, the flexibility of a big display, and the growing accuracy of on-screen keyboards means that the usability arguments for taking up half your fascia with a QWERTY layout are slimmer than ever. That’s not to say the audience is nonexistent, but it’s certainly smaller than it once was, and physical buttons no longer mean the most productive device.BlackBerry is a company still very much in transition, and trying to find its feet in the process. For existing users, the Q10 is an obvious upgrade: it’s the best QWERTY BlackBerry to-date, BlackBerry 10 is a solid step up from what came before it (even if there are still plenty of rough edges), and the tactile key-feel they covet is there in spades. For that group, only the combination of BlackBerry software and a hardware ‘board will do.

The BlackBerry Q10 is the BlackBerry of BlackBerry users. It retains the keyboard that BB owners know and love, sticking to the tried and tested route, rather than taking on the big rivals from Apple and Samsung with a touch-only device. With the BlackBerry Z10, that is exactly the aim. A brand new platform, with a brand new device, that looks to offer all the consumer joy of other large-screened devices, while retaining much of what BlackBerry holds important. The BlackBerry Z10 has some shortcomings: the battery isn't great, there are some UI holes that make the experience feel a little more fiddly than you might want it to, and there's nothing that's really distinct, that you can't already get on other platforms, all compounded by slow adoption of apps.

How compelling the BlackBerry Q10 is really hinges on whether you believe that the ideal mobile device needs to be an efficient messaging machine first and a gadget for running apps second. If so, and I admit you're in the minority, then the Q10's superb keyboard and message-handling capabilities make it a perfect match. Its long battery life and comfortable keyboard may be what you've been holding out for, and the inclusion of BlackBerry 10.1 is extra icing on the cake. Those who want a phone tied to a bigger ecosystem and one that offers a wider selection of apps and services, however, should look elsewhere.