After having my Galaxy S for about three and a half years, the time came to get a new smartphone.
Originally I was planning to buy the Nexus 5 as it is a bargain for what you really get, but a great deal came along on the Blackberry.
At first I wasn't sure I should get it with their new OS and gesture based operation, but after spending a week with the device I must say it is fantastic.
It's pretty big at 5 inches, but nothing really different from the competition. Coming from a 4 inch device it took me a while to get used to the size, but now I see that a bigger screen has its advantages, like being able to write this review using the device. There is also the Z10 for people that want a smaller phone.
The screen is nice and sharp at 295 ppi and you can adjust how warm or cool the whites look. It's a small thing but makes reading less tiring at the warm setting.
It has a huge 2800 mA, although non replaceable, battery that lasts easily two days with moderate use and one day with heavy use, something that other flagship phones have a hard time achieving.
The rest of the device is solidly made with that simple, but elegant look to it, the carbon fiber back cover is a nice touch and is not slippery.
This device, aside from power, volume and voice activation buttons, has no other buttons to help and navigate the OS. Everything is done by touching or gestures. This may sound silly and complicated, that's what I thought at least, but is extremely easy and intuitive once gotten used to. I was surprised how well it works.
Then there is "The Hub". It is probably the single most powerful feature of this phone. This is how the notification is supposed to be done and it makes Android look like a device for kids and let's not even talk about iPhone.
Your emails, texts, BBM, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, calendar and other notifications are all under one roof available at your fingertips at all times, just one swipe away, no matter what app you're in. The Hub extends to the lock screen where you can preview the notifications and open them right from the screen.
The keyboard and the correction software is also fantastic on this thing.
Another great feature is their lock screen protection. Truly innovative stuff that no casual onlooker will be able to guess, unlike a pattern or a pin.
The rest of the OS is nice and smooth with no hiccups despite lesser processing power than android flagships.
I really like what blackberry has come up with. This phone is not exactly aimed at the app hoarders or gamers, although it is more than capable of doing so, but instead it is a great tool with clear emphasis toward productivity.
Originally I was planning to buy the Nexus 5 as it is a bargain for what you really get, but a great deal came along on the Blackberry.
At first I wasn't sure I should get it with their new OS and gesture based operation, but after spending a week with the device I must say it is fantastic.
It's pretty big at 5 inches, but nothing really different from the competition. Coming from a 4 inch device it took me a while to get used to the size, but now I see that a bigger screen has its advantages, like being able to write this review using the device. There is also the Z10 for people that want a smaller phone.
The screen is nice and sharp at 295 ppi and you can adjust how warm or cool the whites look. It's a small thing but makes reading less tiring at the warm setting.
It has a huge 2800 mA, although non replaceable, battery that lasts easily two days with moderate use and one day with heavy use, something that other flagship phones have a hard time achieving.
The rest of the device is solidly made with that simple, but elegant look to it, the carbon fiber back cover is a nice touch and is not slippery.
This device, aside from power, volume and voice activation buttons, has no other buttons to help and navigate the OS. Everything is done by touching or gestures. This may sound silly and complicated, that's what I thought at least, but is extremely easy and intuitive once gotten used to. I was surprised how well it works.
Then there is "The Hub". It is probably the single most powerful feature of this phone. This is how the notification is supposed to be done and it makes Android look like a device for kids and let's not even talk about iPhone.
Your emails, texts, BBM, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, calendar and other notifications are all under one roof available at your fingertips at all times, just one swipe away, no matter what app you're in. The Hub extends to the lock screen where you can preview the notifications and open them right from the screen.
The keyboard and the correction software is also fantastic on this thing.
Another great feature is their lock screen protection. Truly innovative stuff that no casual onlooker will be able to guess, unlike a pattern or a pin.
The rest of the OS is nice and smooth with no hiccups despite lesser processing power than android flagships.
I really like what blackberry has come up with. This phone is not exactly aimed at the app hoarders or gamers, although it is more than capable of doing so, but instead it is a great tool with clear emphasis toward productivity.