BlackBerry launched 4 smartphones in 2014, with Classic being the last one it launched. The BlackBerry Classic comes with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, which features a 720-by-720 pixel resolution and 294ppi pixel density.
The BlackBerry Classic retains the signature BlackBerry design. The phone itself is 5.1 inches tall, 2.8 inches wide and 0.4 inch thick. If you liked the BlackBerry Bold, you will certainly like the Classic. The BlackBerry Classic also comes with a four-line physical QWERTY keyboard that sits below the screen, with the two separated by a strip of navigation keys.
The BlackBerry Classic features stainless-steel frame that borders the full length of the phone. On the right edge of the phone, you will find three buttons such as the volume controls and the mute button, which also doubles up as the BlackBerry Assistant when you press and hold it. The SIM card and SD card slots meanwhile sit on the left side of the phone.
The BlackBerry Classic accepts nano-SIM cards and SD cards up to the storage capacity of 128GB. The BlackBerry Classic runs BlackBerry 10.3.1, and the experience here is pretty much identical to the one we saw on the BlackBerry Passport.
In terms of app support, the BlackBerry Classic allows you to install apps from both – the BlackBerry World app store and the Amazon apps store. If you need secure and enterprise level apps, turn to BlackBerry World.
In addition, the Amazon app store is always there if you want Android apps on your BlackBerry Classic. You can also install any Android app as long as you have an APK file for the app you want to install. The Classic as mentioned before, sports BlackBerry Assistant, the virtual assistant that works just like Siri or Google Now. Ask a question or give it a task, and it’ll do it. You can also type in your request if you’re, say, in a meeting.
The BlackBerry Classic also boasts BlackBerry Blend, which is a sort of command center for BlackBerry users. Once you’ve downloaded the app onto a PC, Mac, or mobile device running iOS or Android, you’ll have nearly full control over your BlackBerry phone – just connect it to your computer with a USB cable or with any of your devices over Wi-Fi or a mobile network.
Blend allows you to write emails, BBMs, and text messages, and respond to all of your messages right through the app, and check out the calendars and contacts synced with your device – no data is stored on the PC or tablet you’re connecting to with Blend, so there’s less worry about data security.
The Classic comes with an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera, and a basic 2-megapixel camera in the front. Under the hood, the Classic comes with a dual-core, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor and 2GB of RAM. A total of 16GB of internal storage space is also included, which can be further expanded to up to 128GB using a microSD card.
With a good overall design build quality and design, a great physical keyboard, the BlackBerry experience you love, and a taste of Android, the BlackBerry Classic is a god upgrade for those who are already on a BlackBerry.
Price: AED 1799
