BlackBerry Z10 Review: Too Little, Too Late?
The new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone recently launched through AT&T and the carrier provided The Christian Post with an opportunity to test out the device and see if it will be able to revive BlackBerry. The time spent with the device shows that it has potential, but the biggest issue with the Z10 seems to be the lack of confidence both fans and developers have for it.
Display
The BlackBerry Z10 features a 4.2-inch 1280 x 768 display. The screen was satisfying enough. It wasn't anything groundbreaking or as vibrant as the Galaxy Note 2 or iPhone 5, but it also wasn't as dull as some of the higher-end smartphones from 2011. You could almost tell this device was originally meant to launch in the beginning of 2012, but it takes nothing from it. The display on the Z10 gets the job done and sets the new standard for BlackBerry phones as displays on future devices will only get better.
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Design
The BlackBerry Z10 happens to resemble the iPhone. However, it comes with the signature leather backing that is found on older BlackBerry models. The smartphone is solid, and is also a bit heavy. It seems like it could take some falls and is nowhere near a delicate as an iPhone, or as plastic feeling as a Galaxy S3. It falls somewhere right in the middle.
Software
BlackBerry 10 OS is convenient and efficient overall. The default keyboard is probably the easiest to use in the entire touch screen market and was reminiscent of the efficient physical keyboards on older BlackBerrys.
Task managing is also easy as the software minimizes different apps and places them in a side menu where they all can be accessed separately. In the middle of writing a status on Facebook, you could easily minimize it and navigate to a text that you just received with an up swipe. The company's choice for touch commands might be a little confusing at first, but after getting used to them BB10 became more convenient than Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.
The Hub, a feature that puts all your messages in the same place, was a bit annoying. It constantly alerts you when a Twitter post, FB message, email, or text is sent. In order to stop the notification light from blinking, you must check the message, which can be a bit of a pain in the middle of a conversation, writing an email or for a new BlackBerry owner getting used to the software.
Speed
The BlackBerry Z10 features a good marriage of hardware and software. The phone is quick and efficient and loading up HD videos on YouTube with AT&T's LTE was quicker and easier than on many other devices. Very little lag was shown while running multiple apps, making the handset quite solid in terms of performance.
Conclusion
The BlackBerry Z10 is a great smartphone, but its biggest drawback is its lack of common applications such as Hulu, Temple Run, Netflix, and HBO Go. This is probably the reason some would consider not purchasing the device. In terms of smoothness, it's in the same league as the Nexus 4 and iPhone 5. However, its specs aren't quite as impressive as what is found on those devices. If you are a BlackBerry fan, you should definitely pick up the Z10, but if you care more about apps, an Android or Apple smartphone would be a better choice.
