Instead of always coming out with new gimmicks, Blackberry Classic is packed with features that make work increasingly efficient. That is how it promises success at work - for many a particularly satisfying type of fun.
If you want a good career, you shouldn‘t waste time - that goes with out saying. But many modern smartphones entice you to do just that; they entertain us more than they support us in our work. In this regard, even the - overall very good - Blackberry Q10 can be seen as a step backwards compared to the older Bold 9900. Because by not using the trackpad, function keys and the sophisticated system of shortcuts previously common with the Canadians, many ways to increase effectiveness were omitted with the Q10.
With the Classic for 429 euros, Blackberry has ironed out these wrinkles and combined the past focused on efficient work with the touch operation issues so challenging in the present. Has the bridge building been successful?
Excellent office tool
The basic design of the Classic cannot deny its similarity to the Q10. The distinctive keyboard, the square display and the stainless steel frame, electronics and display are protected from dangerous deformations. When comparing them, it becomes clear that the Classic has grown in every way and has increased in weight by 30 percent.
One reason for the increase is the reintroduction of the bar with touchpad and navigation buttons between the keyboard and display already known from the Bold. The touchpad in particular makes operation easier when it becomes necessary to subsequently remove errors from an e-mail - after all, flawless e-mails are important for a good career. The rapid execution of orders is also nothing to sneeze at, and the practical hub containing communication via SMS, MMS, e-mail, social media and the like is a big help.
The shortcuts offered now also result in higher speed. Holding down a button is enough to recall a frequently used function, such as switching between silent and normal notification with the „Q“ key. Non-preconfigured printers can be assigned according to your requirements, for instance when an app is started, when writing a message, dialing a number and a lot more. After the learning phase, this greatly accelerates operation and relieves the owner of annoying recurrent operating procedures.
Operation with the ergonomic keyboard with keys curved for optimum accuracy and with crisp tactile feedback and the touchscreen, which has grown a bit from 3.1 to 3.5 inches, is quite pleasant. The resolution has remained the same, but the brilliant stable angle display now uses LCD rather than OLED technology, which results in a big jump in brightness from 150 to 500 candela per square meter. In bright sunlight, the Classic is clearly superior to the Q10.
The excellent processor from the Q10 and the wellknown extensive memory equipment, including a micro SD slot, contribute to the smooth operation. Why should Blackberry change a winning team here? Some would have liked an upgrade of the camera: higher image quality would make the Classic more universal.
Corpulence pays
When passing through the connect test labs, the Classic has one more trump to play for its size. A part of the increase in size is due to the battery: the typical endurance has increased from about six to seven hours. The Classic can even beat the already excellent conversation time of the Q10. However, the buyer has to go without the exchangeable battery.
The radio performance is impressive: with GSM and UMTS, the Classic gets the highest score, with LTE it missed only one point. With the Classic, it again seems it was profitable that Blackberry acquired high frequency specialists Paratek in 2012.
Even with the acoustics, the smartphone from Canada knows no compromise. Worth mentioning here is how well the Classic succeeds in suppressing complex background noises when calling from a loud bar. The Classic is thus an improved successor of Q10 which combines the business savvy of previous generations with the modernity of the Blackberry 10 OS world in a top smartphone.
Spoilt for choice
However, with the Blackberry Passport, you get competition from the same company. The Passport has an even larger keyboard with trackpad function and a screen that could be used on pure touchscreen devices. In addition, it has a much better camera and more memory with otherwise comparably high performance. But these advantages cost about 100 euros extra and make a bigger dent in the wallet than other smartphones. If you would rather not have such a huge device, the Blackberry Classic is a work tool that is great for private use as well. BERND THEISS