BlackBerry Z30
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Let's focus on the Blackberry Z30 for what it is. Some things could've been better obviously but there's good stuff too. To begin with, the handset somewhat fails to deliver the unapologetically premium look and feel one has every right to expect from a Blackberry. But it's a solidly built and well-handling phone. A bit too heavy perhaps.”
“The Canadian manufacturer does not give up, and consistently tries to establish itself on the smartphone market. That is certainly not easy considering the strong competition and their short product cycles. The Z30 has grown by 0.8 inches, its processor has been upgraded to 1.7 GHz, and the working memory has also been expanded to 2 GB. The hardware is compelling because the smartphone features a high-quality build, and the properties of the Super AMOLED screen is satisfactory. However, not much has changed compared with the Z10, and profound innovations are not discovered.”
“Long battery life and solid OS improvements are much appreciated. But the as the company’s troubles continue worsen, it’s hard to recommend.”
“Make no mistake, the BlackBerry Z30 is a good smartphone, but in today's competitive market, good simply isn't good enough. Like some of Nokia's recent offerings, the Z30 feels like a solid piece of hardware that's let down by the software running on it. We enjoyed our time with the Z30, but it won't be too difficult to say goodbye.”
Watch before you decide
What people say
Only a few ratings so far, not enough to show a trend yet.
7 ratings so far
Blackberry is back in the game with the Z30. The sound quality of the phone is excellent. Texting a is as good as any Samsung or iPhone I have tried. The Z30 excels with the reliable long battery life which is critical in an office setting. The web browser is as quick as any I have used on any ce...
Although mine only has an above average battery life, I found the HUB and swipe much more fluent than other phones I've had. The browser is very fast and it surprised me by the quality of the screen. All in all, I would defiantly recommend this phone to friends and colleagues alike.
If you are looking for a communication device rather than a camera then do not overlook the Z30. The upgraded platform is app friendly and I love the Hub, where I can get all my messages in one convenient spot. Most of all, being a Canadian, I get to support a national company.
In Depth
The Z30 is Blackberry’s fourth smartphone based around the BB10 operating system. It features a larger screen than its predecessor, measuring in at 5 inches. The screen itself offers 1280 x 720 resolution which, while HD, is not quite as high as some other phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4. Despite the slightly lower quality, most reviewers agree that the screen offers crisp details and excellent viewing angles. While Phonearena does mention that the screen could be a tad brighter, they go on to say that the display offers excellent visibility in direct sunlight and excellent contrast.
With the larger screen comes slightly larger dimensions as well. The Blackberry Z30 measures in at 5.53” x 2.83” x 0.37” and weighs 170 grams (5.99 oz). Many reviewers find that the dimensions are actually quite comfortable in hand and fit well in most pocket sizes. Engadget does note, however, that it is difficult to use the device one-handed due to some design decisions such as not having a dedicated home button. Users must rely on the up-swipe gesture to work or shift hands in order to hit the sleep/wake button.
Under the hood, the Z30 sports a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. Although most experts agree that the specs aren’t entirely impressive, they do note that the phone generally excels at multi-tasking though they have also noticed a couple glitches that require hard restarts to fix.
One of the most impressive features of the phone is its battery. According to BlackBerry, the battery should last 25 hours of mixed use and 16 days on standby. One downside noted by ZDNet was the positioning of the charging port which they found to be in a bit awkward position. They also noted that the battery itself takes a long time to charge.
In addition to hardware upgrades the Z30 also offers new software, most notably the BlackBerry Priority Hub. According to BlackBerry, Priority Hub will learn over time what messages are important to you and highlight them for quick access. Forbes notes that this feature could “prove useful to the busy Z30 user.” Aside from the BlackBerry’s homegrown software, the Z30 still suffers from a lack of apps available to users such as Netflix and Instagram.
Most reviewers agree this is a solid phone that offers more than its predecessor, the Blackberry Z10. Crackberry notes that “it’s a perfectly capable, strong device so long as you don’t care about missing a few token apps.” Engadget is a bit more reserved with their recommendation noting that it “isn’t a bad device by any means, just one that falls short of what we expect from a 2013-2014 flagship.”
The Good: Excellent battery life, ergonomic design, excellent display viewing angles.
The Bad: Very few native apps, low screen brightness, difficult to use one-handed.
What people actually want to know
When was the BlackBerry Z30 released?
The BlackBerry Z30 was released on September 30, 2013.
How long does the battery last on the BlackBerry Z30?
The BlackBerry Z30 has a 2,800 mAh battery.
Does the BlackBerry Z30 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the BlackBerry Z30 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the BlackBerry Z30 have NFC?
Yes, the BlackBerry Z30 has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I download the BlackBerry Z30 manual?
You can view and download the BlackBerry Z30 manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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Hi Dave. Best use self timer if Bluetooth or using volume buttons won't work to take photos.