Introduction
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It’s amazing how things can quickly go to hell for some companies in the mobile space, where one day they’re a top-tiered contender, to being overlooked as an antiquated player who can’t seem to innovate. One company in this particular predicament is BlackBerry, who is still to this time trying to stay afloat amidst the stiff competition that’s around.
Interestingly, it’s been nearly 2 years already since BlackBerry launched the Z10 – an all-touch smartphone running the company’s contemporary BlackBerry 10 OS, which aimed to bring the company back into good light. Sadly, though, that wasn’t the outcome, as the company continues to struggle to be a relevant player.
From the looks of it, they’re going back what they’re most noteworthy for bringing to the smartphone world. Touch is all nice, but theBlackBerry Passport sports a familiar form factor that builds upon the reputation of the company. Paired with a physical keyboard, a standout and iconic feature of past BlackBerries, the Passport is the modern BlackBerry reincarnated. Will paying homage get consumers excited for it?
The package contains:
- microUSB cable
- Wall charger
- Stereo headphones
- Start guide
- Product safety and warranty information user manual
Design
Reinventing the look of a BlackBerry, the Passport is beautifully crafted and designed to exude a modern finish that looks good.
This is a beautifully designed, solidly constructed phone that’s very different from the usual slates we’re accustomed to seeing nowadays. At the same time, it bears a faint familiarity to past BlackBerry smartphones, but its edgier look gives it an elevated, contemporary design that’s unique in the space at the moment.
Small design choices, like its stainless steel frame, tells us that the company invested a lot of time and care to designing the Passport. If there’s one qualm we have about the device, it’s that it’s pretty wide – to the point that it’s almost unwieldy to hold for those with smaller hands. Heck, it’s wider than the iPhone 6 Plus! Call it ironic, but the Passport nearly matches the dimensions of an actual passport.
All of the handset’s ports and buttons are placed along the stainless steel frame. They include the power button, 3.5mm headset jack, microUSB 2.0 port, left & right speakers, microphone, volume control, and a quick key button placed in between the volume control that acts as a pause/play function, as well launching BlackBerry Assistant with a long press. Part of the rear cover can be removed to access its nanoSIM and microSD card slots, but the battery is not accessible.
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