BlackBerry Q10 review | Engadget

You can't please everybody all the time, and if there's any company that knows this better than others right now, it's BlackBerry. At the showy launch for BlackBerry 10, the company finally unveiled its new stable of smartphones with which it would fight the likes of Apple, Samsung, HTC, Microsoft, Nokia and Google. No simple task, that, and so BlackBerry rolled out not one, but two weapons: the all-touch Z10 and the portrait-QWERTY Q10.

Engadget provides the web's best consumer electronics & gadgets coverage. Launched in 2004 by former Gizmodo editor and co-founder Peter Rojas, Engadget now covers the latest mobile devices, computers, TVs, laptops, personal electronics, hardware, tablets, and cameras. Engadget's video property is a part of the AOL On Network.

Get More Engadget:

[Engadget]

We hear you, thanks for pointing that out!

- David

[gummybear]

I lost my iPhone a couple of weeks ago which turned out to be a mixed blessing. I ordered one of these as my replacement phone and am very pleased with my decision. I'm excited to have a keyboard again!!

[Mthoroughbred]

Like seeing what BB get back in the game. I'm an iPhone user and even though I won't switch my iPhone I still like how BB10 has come out swinging. Like the looks of the hardware and how smooth the OS seems to be.

[nickcanada]

although Engadget left out must of the best features of the phone this is still probably there most generous blackberry review they ever did. this phone must be the best.

[MassagemPro]

I'm looking for a review that shows the camera capability of taking awesome close up to details photos like the 'old' 9810 or 9780. I had a (very) bad experience with the camera of the 9900 (which I sold because of). On my main business I have to take detailed precision photos of defects in parts and send them immediately to the suppliers. As said, the 'old' 9810 or 9780 took totally awesome photos compared to the 9900. Question: The Q10 camera takes detailed photos or what? Appreciated the help

[jezzyby]

/at 1:46 when you are texting, you are seeing your text full screen, how did you do that? When i use mine i can see 2 rows at the bottom, and when i type beyond that, i have to drag the text up so i can see if i made mistakes?
I also want to know if i can load up my own apps to this phone which is supposed to be a windows phone. I want to load an old windows version of tomtom satnav, can this be done? No mention in the online manual and trying to get hold of anyone at Blackberry is impossible. Also if i use the satnav that comes with the phone, will i be using up credit time whilst the maps are running, or are the maps already on the phone? With my old phone, i never paid anything to use my tomtom satnav with the phone as the data is on the phone, and it's just getting the signal from the cell towers for positioning.

[jackishao]

got this phone for my dad. he loves it. I think Bb is smart to have the physical keyboard phones available to people who are just not interested in having a full touch phone. I personally use a Lumia 920.

[BrentODell]

They make really solid phones, and they have awesome keyboards, which some people still love. I hope they don't stop any time soon.

[Monil]

Yes I had the same problem with my 9900. The lack of close up detail on the 9900 is because the camera module lacked auto focus. From what I had heard, It was a trade off they made at the time to ensure the slim form factor. Other BB phones do have auto focus such as 9810 or 9780 as you mentioned. Also to answer your question yes the new BB phones (Z10 and Q10) have auto focus and can capture details in close up photos.

[mro]

great short review!! exactly what I needed!

[Virgofenix]

Having a physical keyboard on the face just reduces lots other features like video playback and web browsing. A better form factor would be a slide out keyboard like the T-Mobile Sidekick.

[Diskusor]

When comparing the keyboard with the one of the 9900 you forgot to mention some major lacks: Blackberry 9900 has keys for the phone call functions as well as the 5-way-button. And these I will miss on the Q10 keyboard!

Also since this is a phone it would be nice to hear something about the phone funktions. Does it have Smart Dial (entering names and numbers with the keyboard at the same time)? How to catch/end calls? Possible to record calls? (like on Symbian)... Sync functions?

[starlon]

Got mine last week, really well built in comparison to Samsungs, ok not as many apps but as a business phone it does exactly what I need, and the keyboard is amazing!

[oreo]

I wish Engadget would have shown the other benefits of the physical keyboard. All the shortcuts that BlackBerry installed in the physical keyboard are just as important to me as the typing experience. IE "T" key takes you to the top of a page and the "B" key takes you to the bottom.

[davidheseltine]

Normally arguing with people on the internet is futile, but your comedowns were 1st class!!

[itogrr]

9900 is awesome and I thought that it was better at first, but I'm growing fond of the frets, straight keyboard layout, the weaved glass on the back, bigger screen. But, bottom line, 9900 isn't getting BB10.

[RyanGoolevitch]

Yes, its available for most versions of BlackBerries, including BB10 / Q10. Check out BlackBerry World

[MissyStylee]

YES!! FINALLY! Sorry Torch, You been with me for so long but I have to ditch you for a Q10! I'm so happy that Blackberry is still keeping its trademark keyboard! I was so dissappointed with its other BB which only contains a touch-screen! Not the keyboard! But You amaze me!

[mohammedmanjang]

I like how blackberry is still proud of using buttons in 2013
good job

[freaker]

I have been using the q10 for almost 2 wks now and it's beautiful. New os 10.1. Nice albeit squarish screen but really big enough to play games and watch videos. You can check your emails and social updates all in one peak. If you're tired of the android or iOS phone then def checkout the z10 or q10. Q10 are mostly for people who love keyboard that's about it.