November 2015
The Blackberry Priv is the company’s first ever Android phone, after years of pushing its own operating system, BlackBerry 10. While sporting a 5.4″ touch screen, the Priv still features a slide out version of BlackBerry’s famous keyboard. So what do the experts think of BlackBerry’s attempt to play catch up?
Well on the whole the reaction is quite positive. Pros include the uncomplicated and familiar stock version of Android, along with BlackBerry’s trademark security features. The keyboard divides opinion slightly and there is a general consensus that the design, while fairly easy on the eye, is a bit cumbersome. Reviewers would have liked to have seen a fingerprint scanner, a more attractive price point, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow as opposed to 5.0 Lollipop.
Read all of our selected BlackBerry Priv reviews below (all scores out of 10).
Tech Radar
By John McCann
“The BlackBerry Priv is the mullet of the smartphone world. It’s still business in the front, but now there’s a party in the back too.”
Engadget
By Daniel Cooper
“The fact that a company in 2015 is making a pretty decent Android smartphone with a keyboard deserves plenty of praise, because people do still crave them.”
Pocket-lint
By Chris Hall
“The Priv is a good Android phone: it’s quirky, interesting and offers things you won’t find elsewhere. But BlackBerry needs to work on refining the software and making this handset sing.”
The Telegraph
By Rhiannon Williams
“BlackBerry is back: the Priv is the best handset they’ve made in years.”
CNET
By Nate Ralph
“Android and an awesome keyboard make the Priv the best BlackBerry in years.”
Phone Arena
By John Velasco
“You get a high-spec’d phone with a physical keyboard, which by itself adds value, and is a rare occurrence in today’s landscape.”
Digital Trends
By Ted Kritsonis
“The Priv is a remarkable comeback for BlackBerry, and the best Android phone if you like a physical keyboard.”
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