Review BlackBerry Q10 Smartphone

[Redaktion]

Back to its roots. BlackBerry has successfully launched the vanguard of its new OS Blackberry 10 with the Z10 model. Now the Canadian manufacturer introduces the Q10 - a purebred business smartphone. The hardware is largely identical, but the Q10 wants to impress with a physical QWERTY keyboard and a 3.1" touchscreen. So, is this new blackberry mix tasty?

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-BlackBerry-Q10-Smartphone.95264.0.html

[cecile earle]

Is no one else having problems like I am with Q10? I've always been BB user, last one a Bold. This Q10 is awful for me. The screens don't slide easily. Getting to VM is challenge. Answering a call a challenge. Nothing slides easily as it is supposed to. Been using over a month, trying everything to get the knack of it and it isn't getting better, I can't wait to get an easier device to use. Emails don't send, calls drop (never happened with the Bold).

[Joe12390]

DO NOT buy this phone. I was Blackberry's biggest fan, sick of trying to type on the iPhone, so I left Sprint and switched to Verizon just to get this phone. It turns itself off randomly, bluetooth doesn't work properly with my car, certain things take ages to load (such as the Settings menu). Verizon can't find anything wrong with it, Blackberry will not stand behind it, and simply doesn't call when the schedule callbacks to walk me through reloading the software. Steer clear - Blackberry is dead, unfortunately.

[Bender's Q10]

My first week with Q-10 (Sprint) today. Trying to resolve "overnight low-dead battery issue" with replacement battery (ordered by Sprint) at the moment. New battery was dead and is recharging right now (not a good sign). Got my email to work by using the Sprint support page for the Q-10 by entering my email address and following the setup procedure for the server settings (after spending hours searching the web without finding an intelligent solution)...kudos for Sprint. Got the BIS email to forward to my new email using Blackberry KB33260, the first part didn't make sense to me, so I skipped directly to just entering my BIS email address and forwarding to my new email. The KB article is confusing and doesn't list the Sprint BIS carrier, so I entered "sprint" in the body of the URL address and went ahead and it worked...demerit for BlackBerry.

Yes , the new UI is really poor for productivity, the touch screen sensitivity is all over the map with different functions and is not left hand friendly if you keep your device on your left hip.

The Video player won't play certain formats that worked in the old OS, so now I have to convert those files.

I would really prefer a souped-up Bold with the old OS and new 4G radio over this PITA...that said, I hope OS11 is improved and can retro-install like the iPhone.

Unless you need a QWERTY keyboard, a smartphone that fits and carries well in hand and on hip, are anti-Google (Android), want to manage your device on your PC - not in someone's Cloud, and are tech-oriented, STAY AWAY FROM BLACKBERRY.

[Bender's Q10]

Second week with Q10. It seems the BB10 OS is adaptive and needs a "learning" period like modern cars, as the battery life has improved and settled to about 2-percent per hour discharge rate when idle with only a battery monitor app running in the background. The radio toggles from 3G with 3-bars to 4G with 2-bars at my location and all other radio links and location service are off for now. Will start evaluating battery life with all radio devices enables this week. The original and (free) replacement battery (thanks Sprint) are now performing properly. Sprint hasn't delivered 10.2 update yet for those who like the "dark theme". The QWERTY keyboard for me is essential, but the loss of the track ball/pad makes this a two hand device unless your thumb is 4-inches long. The "Task Bar" at the bottom helps with one-handed operation but is difficult to use as the screen operations are too close together and are not set into discrete "buttons". When frustration with the UI sets in, I can play "Road Rush Racing" (free) to regain appreciation of the touch screen UI. The Otterbox Defender case and holster is a must and if you don't need the screen protector (recommended) it can be had for $25 USD at ATT (BlackBerry "clearance" sale apparently). While the Q10 may not bend in your pocket, it still needs substantial protection from drops that cosmetic cases may not provide because of it's hefty mass. The Voice Command works surprisingly well, if it could read my messages to me that would be "neat!". Like Windows 8, BlackBerry users can only hope for the OS update that returns the lost convenience and functionality the prior OS had.