BlackBerry Q5 Pro Reviews

The BlackBerry Q5 isn't a bad handset, but it carries the weight of disappointment when you realize that it's not just a stripped-down Q10. Had it been, we'd probably be far more appreciative of the hardware, but as it stands we have two objections we simply can't get past. First things first, the price. We've labored this point already, but it's worth repeating that unless you specifically want a phone with a physical keyboard, for the same sort of money you can pick up a 2011 / 2012 flagship that'll pack more of a punch. Stick the Q5 beside a Galaxy S III and you can imagine who will come off the victor nine times out of 10. Then there's the issue of the keyboard itself, which is terrible. Remember that having a physical keyboard and BlackBerry 10 at a mid-range price is the entire point of the Q5's existence, so why hobble it with a bad one? We have a sneaking belief that some executive, worried that using the company's premium keyboard would eat the Q10's lunch, insisted on resurrecting the island-style keys that plagued the Curve series. It's corporate cynicism of that caliber that means we're struggling to recommend the Q5 as your next smartphone.

The BlackBerry Q5 looks like the classic work phone - it's not fancy, not even pretty, but it gets the job done, plain and simple. Considering where the market is heading though, a Z5 would've made more sense. You know, an affordable full-touch phone to probably try and compete with Android and Windows Phone in the midrange. People would often spend a small fortune to make a statement and be different - the Q10 is the phone for them. The Q5 obviously struggles to match Android and Microsoft prices even without the premium vibe of its bigger sibling. With QWERTY messengers reduced to an even smaller niche, it would've made sense for BlackBerry to make it an exclusive, premium niche. Once bitter rival Nokia had to make an even tougher decision, when it killed the other major player in the QWERTY field - Symbian.

The Blackberry Q5 lines in seamlessly in the current smartphone family and reaps in a good rating of 87 percent. What does it lack for a "Very Good"? First, we have to mention the backlit QWERTY keyboard positively. It does not quite match the Blackberry Q10 but it nevertheless conveys a great typing feel. The other controls are also well-conceived. The strong 2180 mAh battery provides really good runtimes. The Blackberry OS is very instinctive after a bit of familiarization and always runs smoothly. This adds a big plus, just like the perfectly separated business features via Blackberry Balance. The biggest pro argument beside the keyboard is ultimately the extremely bright, high-contrast IPS LCD screen that scores with its decent subjective color reproduction. We also liked the extensive connectivity which is rare in this category with LTE, NFC and the standard communication modules. The available performance is also consistently good although the smartphone's cold start seemingly takes an eternity with almost 1.5 minutes. We did not like the material's cheap impression although the Blackberry Q5 features decent workmanship. The casing is very susceptible for fingerprints and is not very comfortable to hold. The non-removable battery is just as adverse because it cannot be exchanged. The flap for the micro-SD and SIM card slot is unstable and does not make a trustworthy impression. But it is usually not opened very often anyway. The screen is quite small due to the keyboard and browsing or multimedia use, such as with movies or games, are not much fun in the 1:1 aspect ratio. The main point of complaint relates to the poor camera modules that usually make noisy pictures with falsified colors.

It's a mixed bag when it comes to the BlackBerry Q5. It's cheaper than both the BlackBerry Q10 and Z10 and a lot of its hardware specs are better than we expected. However, build quality isn't inspiring and while BlackBerry 10 is smooth with good features, a shortage of apps remains a downfall.

A competent and cheaper way to enjoy BlackBerry 10's superb messaging features

While the BlackBerry Q5 isn't necessarily a bad phone, we can't imagine seeing it fly off the shelves. That's because it targets a very specific demographic, namely people who aren't yet ready to give up on the hardware keyboard, and/or folks who haven't yet made the switch from BBM to an alternative mobile messaging app. And the number of people belonging to either or both of these groups are slowly decreasing. But as we said, the BlackBerry Q5 isn't a bad device as it is fast and responsive, with a good hardware keyboard that is ideal for heavy text-based communication. The trade-offs associated with sticking to the traditional BlackBerry form factor, however, cannot be ignored. Among them is the 3.1-inch screen, which is pretty small by today's standards, spoiling the fun of every-day things like surfing the web, playing games, or watching video. The camera is also of below average quality, so don't expect to capture any masterpieces with the BlackBerry Q5. Nevertheless, folks who absolutely must have a hardware keyboard should be happy with a BlackBerry Q5. Chances are they won't be able to find a better alternative anyway, other than the pricier BlackBerry Q10. Those who don't need one, on the other hand, better look elsewhere. The HTC Windows Phone 8X and the Nokia Lumia 720, for example, are both good, compact phones that also runs a platform as fluid and responsive as BB10. If you prefer Android, the Sony Xperia SP or HTC First would be great alternatives as they offer larger screens for richer multimedia experience, without being much bigger physically than the Q5.

A great value messaging phone – brings BlackBerry 10 OS to the masses

BlackBerry's rebirth in 2013 hasn't got off to the strongest start. The Z10 feels like the poor cousin to the flagship devices of rival platforms. The Q10 is great as the Qwerty messenger, but again, the user experience just doesn't feel as exciting as you'll get elsewhere. That leaves the BlackBerry Q5 with something of a problem. It's like the BlackBerry Q10, but not quite as good. That would work if this was going to be available at pocket money prices, but it isn't. It's on offer on a contract at £21 a month. That's the same price as the Huawei Ascend P6 and only a few pounds a month less than the BB Q10. All these things, the slightly sluggish performance, the generic design and a price that's not all that compelling make the BlackBerry Q5 a smartphone that's difficult to get excited about. It's not without merit, but it doesn't feel like the cheap and cheerful Curve replacement we want it to be.

There’s an over-aching sense, about the Q5, that it’s not for us; the common smartphone user at large. Instead, it’s more like BlackBerry’s play for the mainstream enterprise: the market that has sustained the Canadian company for so long. BlackBerry 10 is making slow inroads there – the company claims a large chunk of the Fortune 500 is at least trialling the OS, with a few firms signing up to a few thousand Z10 and Q10 sales – but what’s needed is a relatively affordable model, something big businesses can roll out to the legions of middle-management.On that level, the Q5 does make some sense. BlackBerry’s attitude to pricing is likely to be mighty flexible – worn down by a challenger’s position in the segment – if you’re looking to outfit a couple of thousand people with the touch-and-type handset. For everyone else, though it’s a less compelling proposition. What gives us most pause about the Q5 is its price. It may have half the name of the Q10, but it doesn’t have half the RRP: in fact, SIM-free in the UK where sales have already begun, the Q5 is £320 ($477) including tax, versus £480 ($715) for the Q10. Sign up to a contract, and you’ll spend just £8 ($12) per month more for the Q10 than the Q5. We’d argue not only that the Q10 is still too expensive for what you get – though we’d prefer it over the Q5 – but that the Q5 isn’t as cheap as it really needs to be. If you’re determined to get a BlackBerry and must have a keyboard, then the Q10 should be your choice; everybody else will likely find more rewarding devices running Android or iOS.