When BlackBerry first announced the BB10 operating system, most of us geeks approved of it as a sensible operating system. New features like the BlackBerry Hub, the swipe-gesture based interface and a few tricks with the camera make BB10 very user friendly, fun and smart.
Even the two premium devices that launched soon after, the Z10 (BB’s first tryst with full-touch interface) and the traditional Q10, are not so bad. In hardware terms, they’re quite good. So if the OS and devices are that good, why hasn’t BlackBerry managed to capture a significantly big slice of the market’s pie?
That question has a two part answer. First, smartphones thrive on their app ecosystems, and BlackBerry World just doesn’t have enough content to be able to attract users who are already hooked on to iOS, Android or even Windows Phone. And second, the pricing – agreed that the Z10 and Q10 might have been the devices planned to bring BlackBerry back to the premium segment, but that didn’t sit well with many users because they thought an iPhone or an HTC had more to offer.
Now, BlackBerry is at its third smartphone with the new OS. We take a closer look at the newly launched Q5, aimed at the middle-range, to answer the one question that has popped up with the last two BB10 smartphones – is it worth the money?
Design and build
If Q10 bore resemblance to the Bold series, the Q5 takes after the Curve models. The design is quite simplistic, with straight lines and characteristic curved edges. The BlackBerry badge sits below the 3.1-inch screen, which makes a little more room for swiping from the bottom of the screen – a gesture that is a key feature with the OS.
The back panel is non-removable – a first for BB10 phones. The micro SIM and microSD slots are accessible via a hatch on the left side, under the microUSB port. Unlike the more expensive models, the Q5 does not come with an HDMI port.
Construction quality too, reminds of the recent Curve models. At least the dull plastic back panel does. A matte rubber coating, or some texture on the plastic would’ve been good, because it feels slippery at times. The keys on the QWERTY keyboard, however are of good construction quality, and don’t have any creakiness. And just as the Q10, the ergonomics are perfect – the Q5 can be handled perfectly without any problems using both hands or one.
Specs and performance
You must be thinking that if the price is almost halved, the makers must have skimped on something. That’s the question that popped in our thought balloons too. For starters, the Q5 sports a dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm chip, as opposed to the 1.5 GHz dual-core TI OMAP processor that Q10 packs.
Primary memory remains the same, with 2GB of RAM. But in general processing, there was hardly any difference in performance. It was only when we started loading up apps simultaneously, we started seeing signs of a slightly less powered processor. But that isn’t a deterrent, because on a similarly priced Android with a dual-core chip, we would’ve found more freezes – here we found none.
Another area where skimping has been done is the screen. While the Q10 packs a Super AMOLED, the Q5 holds an IPS LCD. There is only one minor difference between the screens – brightness levels are same and outdoor readability is good on both, but the colour reproduction varies a bit. And the screen is still good enough for text and video usage (whatever video you can watch on a square screen).
The 2,180 mAh battery can deliver charge for a full work day which includes a lot of emailing, IMs, social network usage, some multimedia while travelling and switching between 3G and WiFi. That, for a mid-range phone is good battery performance.
Camera and keyboard
This less expensive BB10 smartphone comes with a 5MP rear camera with LED flash. Although low in resolution, picture quality is quite good for a 5-megger. Daylight pictures are sharp and reproduce crisp colours, and low-light pictures taken without flash show acceptable noise levels. The front 2MP camera performs decently for video calls, but isn’t advisable for self-shots as it lacks sharpness.
Unlike the Q10, the Q5’s keys are a little more spaced out. Although this does increase travel (by say, 0.002 per cent or something?) it hardly affects typing speed. The tactile response, however, is typically that of Curve models – you can feel the clickety-clack response.
Verdict
The Q5 has been launched today for Rs 24,990. And that, is asking for a bit too much for a smartphone that has nothing new to offer. Yes, it offers the touch and type experience, and all the new BB10 features that we love so much, at a much lower price.
But considering the inadequate (as compared to the competition) app ecosystem, the price is a bit high. The only people I can imagine recommending the Q5 to are those who must have a physical keyboard, or BlackBerry loyalists who want the new OS, but not at a premium. For Rs 25,000, you’d get more with a mid-range Nokia Lumia or a Sony Xperia.
Rs 24,990
Love - BB10 features, ergonomic build
Hate - Premium pricing, deficient app ecosystem