REVIEW: Blackberry Q5 in 2020, A Lite Blackberry Classic (BB 10)! Still Usable?!

Throwback review of the Blackberry 10 powered Q5 in 2020.

Details:
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G Network: HSDPA 800 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
3.1" IPS LCD Capacitive Multi-Touchscreen (720P); BlackBerry 10.2 upgradable to 10.2.1
Dual-Core 1.2 GHz Processor, Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4
5 Megapixel Camera (2592 x 1944 pixels) w/ Autofocus, LED Flash + Front-Facing 2 Megapixel Camera
Internal Memory: 8GB, 2GB RAM + microSD Slot Expandable up to 32GB

The BlackBerry Q5 features a classic BlackBerry Keyboard with discrete keys that are elegantly deisgned to help you type fast and accurately.

Explore, create and share anywhere! Act on your ideas in the moment with a fast, effortless experience that flows with you. Cool apps, hot games, and more music and movies than ever are all waiting for you on the new BlackBerry Q5.

The BlackBerry 10 platform includes a variety of new features and improvements. The new BlackBerry Hub allows you to peek at your inbox from any app without having to stop what you're doing. The touchscreen BlackBerry Keyboard learns your writing style and suggests words to help you type faster, more accurately. And you'll be able to share content and apps right from your device using BBM Video with Screen Share.

You'll be able to outfit your BlackBerry Q10 with a wealth of apps downloaded from BlackBerry World -- games, music, videos, books, magazines and more. You can also browse and preview millions of high-quality DRM-free songs from your favorite artists, as well as download or rent movies and TV shows at BlackBerry World. Plus, the new BlackBerry World storefront gives you recommendations so it's easy to find something new.

The BlackBerry Q10 also features Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) networking, Bluetooth 4.0, and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology -- enabling you to make mobile payments, add a BBM contact, or swap photos with just a tap of your phone. Additionally, this phone is Global Ready--enabling you to call, text, and access the Web from more than 205 countries around the world.

Camera with Time Shift Mode
Take great shots with the 5-megapixel camera, or switch to the front-facing camera and be part of the scene. Crop, enhance, and apply artistic filters, then display your masterpiece on the big screen for all to see. Simply connect to your TV via HDMI or tap Play on to link wirelessly through DLNA.

Using the camera's Time Shift mode lets you take a picture using an ultra-short video -- capturing milliseconds before and after your photo -- so you can choose the exact moment in time when your subjects look best to create the ideal shot. It lets you select different areas in the same photo, choose the best expressions and poses, and then combine them to create one great shot. Once your photos are the best they can be, use Story Maker to weave them together and make a movie with music to share with the world.

Send a BBM message, schedule a meeting, update your social networks, or open an app when your hands are full -- just by using your voice. Voice Control recognizes natural speech patterns, so you can talk naturally and always be understood. You can use Voice Control anywhere you can type, so it's easy to dictate a document, compose an email or search your smartphone.

BlackBerry Hub. More than just a universal inbox, BlackBerry Hub is a central repository for all messages and notifications (email, text, BBM, social media, and updates from third-party apps).

BlackBerry Flow. Complete tasks effortlessly and efficiently. For example, tap the thumbnail of a picture you just took to launch the Picture editor and quickly share it with your contacts.

Multitasking. When you launch an app, it runs in full screen. When you want to launch or switch to another app, a swipe up from the bottom of the display will minimize the app.

Active Frames. The Active Frame panel shows you all the apps you're running (you can have up to 8 running at one time), and it automatically appears between the BlackBerry Hub and the application grid.

BlackBerry Keyboard. An effortless typing experience, the BlackBerry Keyboard learns your writing style and suggests words to help you type faster, more accurately, and with the least amount of effort.

BBM Video with Screen Share In addition to supporting text messages and voice calling, BBM now gives you the ability to engage in video chats. And you can use the new Screen Share feature to show photos, your browser, or review a business document.

[tpf]

having fewer major OS platforms is good for developers, but not so good for customers, I miss those other dead platforms like BlackBerry OS, Windows Phone, and MeeGo/Sailfish

[mikeylejan]

I just hope that Amazon takes the mantle of manufacturing BlackBerry Phones

[MegaZeeeh]

This is the form factor that KaiOS could go for.

[EKnee]

Blackberry was so ahead of the times. The swipe gestures are only now on phones. The camera had a smart pic where you could change the way your face looked incase you had accidentally blinked, on more than one person. I miss blackberry

[armaansaumya]

Would be great if could throw some light on the battery life.

[KenneyCmusic]

I have one of these. Grandparents gave me some old phones. Wonder how it'd hold up in 2023?

[harithhumam]

Great review. What is the best Blackberry phone with BB10 today's

[alezy]

2023, saw it on Alibaba, will it still work now ? It's claimed to be 4G. Anyone help I am looking for a basic phone but 2G has been shut down in my country.

[Maheshraana]

How to use internet.... How to Direct sim internet use or any blackberry internet buying ???

[VivekMGawande]

Mine ain't detecting sim what should I do 😭

[prima]

Can bb10 also use for facebook messenger viber?

[dumdum]

Hello does anyone know how to fix "camera can't be started "

[muhammadalkindi]

I don't know what's wrong with blackberry company they always give us small screen

[JamesDory]

My country will terminate GPRS, 2G, 3G simcard in the end of 2024. So basically It gonna be useless soon.