BlackBerry Priv
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“The handset's many positive qualities are unlikely the reason that Blackberry has not yet had any major success in sales with its Priv: The accurate touchscreen, the non-slip casing material, and the high-resolution screen please in everyday use. The various software modification and decent primary camera are also handy. Although the performance of the Snapdragon 808 rarely can keep up with the more modern competition in comparison, it is enough for a smooth user experience. An expense of the relatively slim build despite sliding mechanism is the proneness to overheat. Furthermore, the device does not offer a fingerprint scanner or a better front-facing camera to draw level with other premium models.”
“With Google, Motorola, Xiaomi, and OnePlus pumping out high-end devices in the $300-400 range, pricing your Android phone at $700 is a boastful statement that you've made a kick-ass, no compromise device. The BlackBerry Priv can't back up that kind of bragging, though, and that's why it's a failure. Other than the subpar keyboard and camera, everything on the Priv is merely passable. It's a C student, but the price demands we grade on a curve that flunks the Priv.Even at a competitive price of $400-$500, we'd be hard pressed to buy a phone with a hardware keyboard when the hardware keyboard is bad. The keys are small and flat, the keyboard is cramped, and hardware keyboard autocorrect is shoehorned into an operating system layout where it clearly isn't welcome. Closing the Priv and using the more spacious software keyboard wasn't just faster, it was a relief. That's the real deal-breaker for the Priv—the hardware keyboard needed to be spectacular, and it isn't.From BlackBerry's perspective, the company is in way better shape with the Priv than it was with any of its BB10 devices. The Priv can't stand up to the competitive Android smartphone market, but it is at least a livable smartphone that you could make do with. Maybe BlackBerry will convince some enterprise customers to buy a few Privs for their business, but for normal consumers, there is nothing compelling here. The Nexus 6P has better specs, a better camera, an aluminum body, and stock Android with updates direct from Google. It's also $200 less than the Priv. There is still no reason to buy a BlackBerry.”
“As for the Priv in its current state of infancy, you should definitely not miss on buying it if you already have a complete BlackBerry collection of your own or you use BlackBerries throughout your entire company. But we guess, you wouldn't be reading this if either of these options was the case. For pretty much every other end user looking to get a high-end Android device, it seems wise to sit this one out, or at least wait for some signs of maturity and a more reasonable price tag.”
“In these very privacy-conscious times, BlackBerry is a brand that rings true. The company's smartphones are trusted by governments, and they infuriate governments, because BlackBerry communications are as secure as BlackBerry wants them to be. That's a strong brand to bring over to the notoriously information-porous land of Android, and BlackBerry is doubling down by calling its new phone the Priv, short for privacy.But while the unlocked Priv is a blessed oasis for physical keyboard fans, its privacy-centric features are only a notch above Google's Nexus line, and you pay in dollars, size, and weight for everything else. That makes the Priv a niche device for keyboard addicts, and not the broadly ideal Android device for the post-Snowden era.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
BlackBerry used to be the biggest name in the smartphone market. That was until touch screen came along. Now it is ranked fifth in worldwide market shares. BlackBerry hopes to regain some momentum with the release of the Priv – their first smartphone that runs on Android. Staying true to their roots, the Priv comes with a physical keyboard that slides out from behind the screen. Experts were split on the keyboard with some finding the experience enjoyable while others describe it as too small to type on easily. Luckily, there is the option of a touch screen keyboard, which worked well for critics. Design-wise, BlackBerry opted for a glass-weave. While this provided experts with a good grip, they also noticed the back had a good amount of give when pushed.
On the front is the 5.4-inch curved AMOLED display, a size many experts find to be “just right” for viewing PDFs and presentations. It boasts a resolution of 2560 x 1440 for a pixel density of 540ppi. As expected, experts found the screen to be very crisp and sharp. They add colors were very rich and accurate. They were a bit disappointed with BlackBerry’s choice to go with a curved screen as it ended up distorting edges of apps and taking away from their overall experience.
While not top-of-the-line, the Priv does come with a 1.8GHz hexa-core processor and 3GB of RAM. On paper, performance was on par with other Android phones like the Nexus 5X. For the most part reviewers did not experience any stutters or lag though a few did run into the odd slow-downs in certain apps and the occasional missed input on the touch screen. It managed to last experts a full day as well thanks to the 3,410mAh battery. It is also comes equipped with 32GB of internal storage, which is expandable via microSD slot. And since this runs Android OS, users have access to all of the apps available in the Google Play store and can even turn off the BlackBerry features for a full Android experience.
The biggest feature of the Priv is its security (the Priv stands for privacy). BlackBerry has augmented Android’s privacy and security capabilities by bring in their own Root of Trust – a process that utilizes cryptographic keys into the hardware. They then added verified boot and secure bootchain and the new DTEK warning system app to rate each security feature. It also utilizes the picture password featured on BlackBerry 10, which allows users to unlock the phone by placing a finger on the screen and moving across a grid to input the pre-selected numbers. While experts appreciated the extra level of security, they found the picture password required almost too precise.
Armed with an 18MP sensor with optical image stabilization and dual-LED flash, experts agree the Priv’s camera is far and away better than any found on its predecessors. With that said, they add it cannot compete with the likes of the Nexus 5X or iPhone. In good lighting situations, they were able to take fairly detailed and accurate pictures. Their low light pictures, on the other hand, tended to be grainy with very low-contrast and details. Another issue some critics had was with the slow speed of the shutter. It would often take a full second between the time they pressed the shutter to the time the camera took the shot and saved it to their gallery, with HDR mode taking up to five seconds.
Reviews are mixed for the BlackBerry Priv. On the one hand experts appreciate the changes BlackBerry made in order to remain competitive. On the other hand, many feel like they fell short. Ars Technica states, “Other than a subpar keyboard and camera, everything on the Priv is merely passable…Maybe BlackBerry will convince some enterprise customers to buy a few new Privs, but for normal consumers, there is nothing compelling here.” The Verge adds, “This thing is chock-full of really good ideas, badly executed…” On the other hand Crackberry states, “It’s a solid device that brings a lot together in a pretty compelling package…”
What people actually want to know
When was the BlackBerry Priv released?
The BlackBerry Priv was released on November 16, 2015.
How long does the battery last on the BlackBerry Priv?
The BlackBerry Priv has a 3,410 mAh battery.
Does the BlackBerry Priv have a headphone jack?
Yes, the BlackBerry Priv has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the BlackBerry Priv have NFC?
Yes, the BlackBerry Priv has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I download the BlackBerry Priv manual?
You can view and download the BlackBerry Priv manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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Yes, BlackBerry Priv is an Android in which both Netflix and Hulu supports.