Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
BlackBerry has announced a smaller version of the Q10 yesterday, the Q5. Reminiscent of the Curve models (with a bit of Bold blended in) the Q5 is a top spec but mid-range smartphone that should come with a smaller price tag than its larger sibling. According to BlackBerry, the new handset will be released in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America in early July. The price has not yet been confirmed.
Let’s get down to it – what are the specs?
The BlackBerry Q5 features a full QWERTY keyboard and a 3.1 inch 720p resolution LCD screen. Powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor running the latest BlackBerry 10 OS and carrying 2 GB of RAM, the Q5 has very similar specs to the Z10 and Q10. It comes with only 8 GB of internal memory but this can be expanded through the use of a microSD card. The front and back cameras are decent but not impressive. In the back you’ll find a 5 MP camera with autofocus and an LED flash while in the front there is a 2 MP camera.
BlackBerry Q5 versus BlackBerry Q10
At the beginning of this post I called the Q5 a “top spec but mid-range smartphone” – you may be wondering why? While the Q5 definitely packs a punch in terms of specs, BlackBerry has clearly targeted the mid-range smartphone market as cheaper materials have been used for the Q5 as compared to the Q10. The Q5 is also available in a wider variety of colours including red and pink which shows that BlackBerry is targeting a younger audience with this model.
The 3.1 inch screen on the Q5 is the same size as the one on the Q10, however, the Q10 features a Super AMOLED display while the Q5 uses a lower-cost LCD screen.
Polycarbonate is the main material used for the Q5′s body while the Q10 is made primarily from fiberglass and aluminium. On the plus side this makes the Q5 19 grams lighter than the Q10.
According to first hand reviews from a wide range of sources, the QWERTY keyboard is more similar to the old Curve setup than what is featured on the Q10 flagship model: a less-premium, flatter keyboard that provides a decent typing experience but leaves much to be desired when compared to the keyboard on the Q10 which has precisely angled keys, excellent feedback and a quick response.
Awesome or awful?
Awesome (and very much so). BlackBerry is trying to bring back the old Curve experience. Remember when everyone had a BBM PIN and all the kids were typing away on their BlackBerries: “clickety clack, clickety clack”? We may just see that fashion re-emerge.
All in all the Q5 looks very promising. A fun, trendy smartphone with great specs at a (hopefully) affordable price. I’m very much looking forward to it – are you?
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
BlackBerry asks: touch versus type? If you’ve gone for ‘type’ odds are you’re reading this on your BlackBerry Q10 and loving it. I imagine so as browsing the web on a handheld device with a great QWERTY keyboard, 2 GB of RAM and a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor is a breeze.
So you’re the proud owner of a Q10 or are looking to get one in the near future and want to make sure it’s protected against bumps and scratches, or in other words, your cat or your clumsy hands? You’ve come to the right place – here are three of the best cases for the BlackBerry Q10, guaranteed to provide great protection without compromising on functionality.
3. FlexiShield Case for BlackBerry Q10
The FlexiShield case is great as it’s easy to put on, is slim fitting and offers access to all of the Q10′s ports and features. It comes in a choice of black, white and purple and at a great price!
The flexible silicone material offers great protection against bumps and scratches and helps improve grip. A very good option.
2. BlackBerry Q10 Hard Shell
The Genuine BlackBerry Q10 Hard Shell has excellent build quality and, as the name suggests, it is a hard shell meaning that it will offer more protection against drops than the FlexiShield. It doesn’t, however, improve grip quite as much as the FlexiShield.
The hard shell also has cutouts for all ports and features including the camera, charging port and volume controls and features a BlackBerry logo on the back, just like the one on the handset.
1. BlackBerry Q10 Flip Shell
The BlackBerry Q10 flip shell is a genuine BlackBerry product. Designed specifically for the Q10 it covers the back, sides and corners of the smartphone and features a front flip that protects the screen when the phone is not in use. It gives users full access to all major functions and features so it never needs to be removed.
The flip shell is very thin and it even features a built-in proximity sensor which helps save battery life. When the front flip is closed the Q10 automatically shuts down the screen so that no unnecessary power is used.
All in all a great case but it can make it a bit tricky to use the phone due to the front flip. In my opinion, the advantage of having your screen protected while the phone is in your pocket or purse outweighs this small inconvenience; the Q10 will also take less damage if dropped as the flip shell offers 360 protection.
So there you have it, folks! My top three choices. Click here to see our whole range of BlackBerry Q10 cases and choose a case that fits your needs and style. Don’t fancy the Flip Shell? Drop a comment below and let everyone know which your favourite case is.
Friday, April 5th, 2013
The BlackBerry Z10 has proven popular in the UK and around the world, but many BlackBerry fans have been waiting for the first new BlackBerry with a full QWERTY keyboard. This month, that’s finally happening – the BlackBerry Q10 has appeared for pre-order. The phone boasts the same advanced new BlackBerry 10 OS and powerful hardware as the Z10, but with a physical keyboard.
The Q10 will be launched first in the UK, where it will be start shipping by the end of April. The Q10 is currently available on contract from the Carphone Warehouse, where it’s available sim-free or with a contract on O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone or EE. If you’re willing to wait, the Q10 will likely become available for pre-order from a range of retailers and networks.
Here at Mobile Fun, we’ll be stocking a wide range of accessories for the new BlackBerry 10 handset. We’ve already begun adding items to our virtual shelves – check out our first-party BlackBerry Q10 accessories like the Leather Pocket or the Flip Shell in black or white. We’ve also begun adding a range of third-party BlackBerry Q10 cases, including a Flip Case and Leather Pouch Case from PDair.
We’ll continue to add more accessories, including chargers, screen protectors, batteries and more, over the course of the month.
Thanks for reading – if you have any questions or comments, please write them below or talk to us on Twitter @mobilefun.
Monday, March 11th, 2013
A classy, professional smartphone like the new BlackBerry Z10 demands a case of the same calibre. Today, we’re introducing three excellent new cases from Zenus: The Masstige Lettering Diary in Brown, the Minimal Diary in Black and the Minimal Diary in White.
Let’s have a look at each in turn, starting with the Lettering Diary.
The Lettering Diary is a brown wallet case for the Z10, offering a classy leather cover for the back, front and sides of your phone. Despite giving you an easy place to store credit cards and cash, the wallet case is still quite thin and adds little to the bulk of the phone. Of course, by covering your phone you’ll also be benefiting from excellent scratch and drop protection – your Z10 will stay looking as new as the day you bought it. The Lettering part of the name refers to subtle writing printed on the front and back of the case, which lends the case a rather arcane air.
The Minimal Diary is a sleeker still alternative to the Lettering Diary, with a more contemporary design in black or white. The Minimal Diary also uses leather for a stylish, professional looking case that’ll set the tone in the boardroom or the coffee shop. As with the Lettering Diary, you’ll get space for your credit cards and cash as well as your phone.
All of these cases are available for pre-order now and will be available in the coming weeks. For the latest pricing and availability information, please check out the appropriate product pages linked to below:
That’s all we’ve got time for. Be sure to let me know in the comments if you’re interested in any of the cases mentioned today. Thanks for reading and have a good one!
Monday, March 4th, 2013
Are you one of the thousands in the UK that picked up the BlackBerry Z10? If so, we’ve got just the accessory for you – a stylish and functional Cover-Mate Desktop Cradle. This desk stand and charger can be connected to an AC adapter to charge the phone, or to a computer to charge and sync.
The stand is one of the nicest we’ve seen for the Z10, with a slim and stylish piano black façade. The stand supports the Z10 in a landscape layout, allowing you to easily browse the internet, play games or watch movies on your smartphone.
The stand also includes a useful LED indicator that’ll let you know when your phone is charging, and when charging is complete. This light isn’t too bright either, ensuring that the Cover-Mate can be used on bedside tables without issue.
The Cover-Mate Desktop Cradle for the BlackBerry Z10 is a simple but effective solution to keeping your phone charged up. Whether it’s sitting on your desk at work or your kitchen table, the Cover-Mate will do you right. The Cover-Mate is available for pre-order right now and we will bring you additional availability information in the future.
For more information on the Cover-Mate Desktop Cradle, click on the picture above. We also have a wide range of other BlackBerry Z10 accessories, including Z10 cases, covers, chargers and more.
If you have any questions or other feedback about the product, you can share these via the comments section below or speak to us on Twitter @mobilefun. Thanks for reading and have a good week!
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