In the mobile electronics sphere, the release of the latest BlackBerry smartphone lineup is the biggest story since Microsoft debuted its Surface tablet. The new QNX-based BlackBerry 10 operating system took forever to roll out but the results were worth the wait. Many have already deemed the new Z10 handset to be too little, too late to save a once-dominant technology powerhouse like BlackBerry. However, the Z10 may be exactly what they need to regain a decent share of the mobile market. Only time will tell if it’s enough.
Z10 Hardware Specs
Much like the iPhone, the Z10 sports an angular candy bar profile. Within its visually subtle exterior shell you’ll find a dual-core, 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Krait CPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It’s also got microSD, Micro-USB and a Micro-HDMI port for good measure. The display is a 4.2-inch, 1,280 x 768 pixel unit good for 355ppi. At only 9.33mm thick and weighing a paltry 137.5 grams, the Z10 is every bit as lean and mean as any other smartphone currently available. In addition, it boasts an 8MP AF primary lens and a 2MP front-facing web camera.
BlackBerry 10 Features & Apps
With the Z10, the obvious star of the show is the new BlackBerry 10 OS. The UI revolves around the BlackBerry Hub, which intelligently organizes your notifications and incoming communications. Beyond the Hub, the Z10 boasts BBM Video with Screen Share, improved Contacts, the BlackBerry Browser, BlackBerry Calendar, Remember, Docs To Go, Story Maker, BlackBerry Maps, Voice Control, BlackBerry Connect for Dropbox, Print To Go and Adobe Reader. Furthermore, roughly 70,000 additional third-party apps can be downloaded from the BlackBerry World app market. Considering the fact that BlackBerry 10 can even run Android apps, the Z10 hardly suffers from a shortage of software.
Performance and User Experience
Thanks to its dual-core CPU and a heaping helping of RAM, the Z10 is quite responsive in everyday usage and boasts up to 10 hours of battery life. As for networking capabilities, it supports 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.0 and GPS. BlackBerry Hub allows users to easily manage incoming emails, text messages, Calendar notifications and social media blasts one-handed. From within any app, one can “Peek” at the Hub with a thumb swipe and jump to another program. For the security conscious, BlackBerry Balance makes segregating user profiles from work and personal data a breeze.
Pros & Cons
On the one hand, the Z10 has basically everything that a contemporary smartphone user would look for when buying a new device. It boasts NFC, tons of power, loads of ports and a brilliant new operating system. The major downsides include fewer apps in the BlackBerry World market than in iTunes or Google Play, no Google Calendar support and the uncertain future of BlackBerry itself. For the average Android or iOS user, the Z10′s navigational scheme will take some getting used to. Ultimately, the BlackBerry faithful will be pleased with the Z10. Attracting new customers will no doubt require more effort.
Yeah or Nay?
Whether or not the BlackBerry Z10 is a good fit for you depends on many factors. For the enterprise user that values security above all else, the Z10 is tough to beat. If you use your phone for business rather than pleasure, the expected $199 on-contract selling price of this BlackBerry is worth it to get a polished and versatile device. The real question is whether those accustomed to Android or iOS will give the new Z10 with BlackBerry 10 a fair shake.
This article was written by Daniel Watson, a blogger for www.InternetServiceProvider.net. He enjoys writting about new technology, social media and current affairs.
