Analysis: BlackBerry Z10 [video] - Tecmundo

There was a time before iPhones and Androids, the term “BlackBerry” was synonymous with what was most modern in mobile. The devices, almost always facing the corporate world, were the dream of many users who saw the old models RIM the ideal solution for your everyday life.

Time passed and the company was slow to adapt to the world of smartphones. This is directly reflected in sales, and now the market share occupied by BlackBerry is almost negligible, with consecutive declines every quarter. The launch of the BlackBerry smartphone Z10 is a bet the company that can turn the game.

hardware weight, revamped interface and many new features for consumers, the company spent heavily to an all or nothing and wait again captivate customers, stood firm in the competitive smartphone market. Check out our full review of the product and what we consider the main positives and negatives of the device.

Approved

Design Construction

physical keyboard has always been one of the most striking features of the BlackBerry devices, but in the era of smartphones with touch screen, you need to follow the trend imposed by the market and approved by consumers. Weighing 137 grams, the Z10 is a BlackBerry device easy to handle and that molds easily to hand.

The sides are square with the corners slightly rounded, and closely resembles the frontal aspect of the HTC One The back has a rubberized finish, very similar to the Nexus 4. However, the combination of the elements reveals a harmonious and pleasant enough.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

Hardware and Performance

When an operating system is developed focusing on specific hardware, the result is always a more harmonious combination than when it is necessary to adapt it to different handset models. In this case, the BlackBerry hit with version 10 of its operating system.

transition between screens is smooth and well-crafted effects and even keeping applications running in the background, there is no compromise in performance. The processor Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core 1.5 GHz, added to 2 GB of RAM is sufficient for running all the apps available in the BlackBerry World.

During our tests, we do not perceive any kind of locking, either in applications or even the operating system is running itself, which shows that the hardware chosen fits perfectly to the proposal and the needs of the OS.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

Screen

density of 355 ppi and resolution of 1280×768 pixels, the screen of the BlackBerry Z10 is no sideshow, but it is efficient and is very satisfactory in all the functions that the device performs. The configuration options for brightness and contrast are excellent, and even in adverse lighting conditions (such as from the sun) visualization is impaired.

response to commands is also accurate, and the system haptics (confirmation that the user receives indicating that his command was understood) is not troublesome and makes use enough fluid. The screen size, 4.2 inches, is within the average of the high end smartphones from leading manufacturers.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

Camera

8 megapixel rear camera BlackBerry Z10 also meets expected, but without many additional attractions. The images captured by the camera of the handset have a good quality result, balancing and contrast, and color elements. Even in environments with harsh lighting conditions, the final result is unsatisfactory.

Operating system and interface

To present to the public the Z10 model, the BlackBerry has decided to completely remodel the interface of your operating system, featuring BlackBerry OS 10. Early on, you can see that the work followed a line quite right, with a sleek and beautiful transition effects.

If the keyboard was a difference in physical terms, the BlackBerry continued the tradition with regard to the virtual keyboard. Besides having a nice spacing between keys, the system “learns” your typing, suggesting most repeated words according to the first letter you type. Although this is not a novelty, the arrangement of words in the middle of the keyboard is a good alternative.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

Native Apps

A good operating system needs apps compatible with its potential. At this point, the work done by BlackBerry proves quite agreed with apps following a design pattern and resulting in features relevant to the consumer.

Thus, applications like the browser, for example, reveal a pleasant surprise in terms of design and operation. In addition, resources BlackNerry Hub, Story Maker, Remember and camera functions leave nothing to be desired when compared to similar tools for other OSs.

Audio

The audio quality of the BlackBerry smartphone Z10 is remarkable. Both the voice call execution as audio or video content, the result is satisfactory with no significant distortion in bass and treble, even when the volume is set to maximum.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

Connectivity

For those who want to buy a smartphone already thinking about a 4G connection, the good news is that the BlackBerry Z10 is prepared. The model is one of the 11 approved phones in Brazil (at least until the date of this analysis) compatible with this technology. The NFC is also present.

For those who want to share the content displayed on the smartphone screen directly on the TV, the model also has HDMI port for direct connection. By default, the available storage space in the factory is 16 GB, but you can expand that capacity with micro SD card.

Fail

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

New interface requires learning to use

Innovation is always welcome and the fact that many devices do not bring anything new just leaving some consumers disappointed. However, the Z10, the BlackBerry opted some control commands for touch, like sliding upwards to return to a screen with the last open applications and then get to the applications screen.

“new” system confuses the first time and does not seem as intuitive. Moreover, it requires a time of learning until you become accustomed, a situation that does not happen in other operating systems. To be less intuitive, many people may not like the news. Obviously it is possible to adapt quickly, but there must be willingness on the part of the consumer.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

No headphones

is not surprising that any smartphone today does not come accompanied by headphones. After all, most of them have audio and video capabilities and let you listen to music, watch movies and still serve for videoconferencing. In the case of BlackBerry Z10, this fact draws even more attention because it is a top of the line smartphone.

is known that the headphones are not responsible for the more expensive product. Therefore include one of them, albeit in a simple version, is the minimum that consumers can expect from a product that costs almost £ 2500. The absence of the accessory is a negative product.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

Cost-effective

Costing R $ 2,449, according to official information from BlackBerry, the smartphone Z10 stands with one of the most expensive in the market, competing on price directly as models iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4. Because of this, it is natural that consumers expect too much from a device in this range.

If

in terms of performance the Z10 is able to fight almost equal, the same can not be said in relation to the ecosystem and the amount of applications. Besides the two mentioned models, devices like the Nokia Lumia 920 and Sony Xperia ZQ also offer more features for the consumer than the top of the line BlackBerry.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

Third-party applications with low quality

same care that the BlackBerry had in developing its operating system and its proprietary applications, unfortunately, is not taken seriously by most developers. The amount of bad applications or interface that goes beyond the standard OS is great and the result may disappoint the consumer.

Many applications have been adapted from earlier versions of the OS and, in some cases, are not consistent with the proposed modernity of the BlackBerry OS 10. Thus, even in the face of a powerful smartphone with many features, you can get that feeling that you bought something new, but it took something old home.

Remember that every OS applications have bad or little use. However, due to the lower number of apps available in the store and the largest amount of adapted content in BlackBerry Z10 this feature ends up being highlighted.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

removed the battery? Sit and wait

If you need to remove the battery to move the micro SD card or SIM card, be prepared to wait. The boot time of the smartphone can be another minute with a cumbersome loading screen is displayed, giving the feeling that something went wrong and the system crashed.

Switch off the appliance is not something that happens so fast. In our tests, often had to wait up to 30 seconds after closing so that the unit was completely off.

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

battery life

Unfortunately, this was another point that caught our attention in a negative way. In our tests, the battery life was below expectations, discharging very fast over a day of use. If you choose the appliance should certainly consider always carry the charger or a second battery as in moderate use takes only 10 hours so that the load has reached a low level.

worth?

There is no denying that the BlackBerry did a great job in trying to return to the smartphone market top line. The operating system was redesigned and many applications have gained a visually attractive and modern, placing the device on an equal footing with its competitors.

With respect to hardware, the optimization between system components and also makes a difference, weighing in favor of positive Z10. However, the company forgot to pay attention to some details, starting with applications adapted from previous versions.

The new interface is less intuitive than the other models, and boot times and shutdown of the unit, at times, can spend one minute. The lack of application of weight and still developing an ecosystem are other points that weigh against the consumer.

Finally, remember that the price of the BlackBerry Z10, according to information from the BlackBerry itself, is R $ 2,449 (you can find it for around £ 2000 on the price comparison sites), which places among the country’s most expensive smartphones.

After all, the result of the return of World BlackBerry is very promising and it fixed some of the problems of this first version, it is quite possible that in the future the company is able to return to fight on an equal footing, expanding its market share.