Consensus
This is really the only option for those that want a Android smartphone with a physical keyboard. But it did not win over the majority of reviewers.
Average Overall Rating
★★★★★★★★★★
3.43 out of 5 stars (6 reviews)
Critics Reviews (Around the Web)
Therein lies the beginning of the true story about the Priv. This thing is chock-full of really good ideas, badly executed. Read full review →★★★★★★★★★★
3.7 out of 5 stars
– The Verge · Nov 9, 2015
The Priv is a remarkable comeback for BlackBerry, and the best Android phone if you like a physical keyboard. Read full review →★★★★★★★★★★
3.5 out of 5 stars
– Digital Trends · Nov 7, 2015
The Priv is a good-looking Android phone with three unusual perks: Much better security than most Android phones, a glorious legacy of clever shortcuts and efficiencies, and a slide-out physical keyboard. Read full review →
– Yahoo! · Nov 6, 2015
I wouldn’t [buy it], for myself, my friends, or even my worst enemy. I suppose there is a kind of person who might want a flagship quality phone that has a keyboard, even if the keyboard isn't totally useful. Read full review →
– Gizmodo · Nov 6, 2015
As it stands now, it's a good effort and with the best of intentions. But with so much room for improvement, it's a tough sell for its high price point. Read full review →★★★★★★★★★★
2.5 out of 5 stars
– ZDNet · Nov 6, 2015
The Priv feels like a first step toward a device that could bridge the work-play gap -- a promising first step, but one the company really should have taken years ago. Read full review →★★★★★★★★★★
3 out of 5 stars
– WIRED · Nov 6, 2015
For physical keyboard devotees, there’s not much choice in the smartphone world right now, but BlackBerry does a decent job with the Priv. The high price will deter fair-weather buyers, but if you can’t stand typing on glass, this is your only option. Read full review →★★★★★★★★★★
3.85 out of 5 stars
– Engadget · Nov 6, 2015
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. It will divide opinion, but this is the best BlackBerry in years. Read full review →★★★★★★★★★★
4 out of 5 stars
– TechRadar · Nov 6, 2015
Pros
- Clever software optimizations
- Solid build quality with gorgeous display
- Runs Android and Google Play Store!
- Wireless charging and Android Pay capable
- Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
- Best phone with hardware keyboard
- Good battery life
- Hardened kernel and strong security features
- Mixes the best of BlackBerry and Android
- Good-looking device, comfortable to hold
- Decent camera
Cons
- Software bugs
- Slow camera
- Camera is noisy in low-light
- Productivity Tab should do more
- No backward compatibility with BB10
- Does not actively mitigate privacy incursions
- Performance can suffer at times, sometimes insufferably
- Keyboard isn't great
- Ships with Android Lollipop
- High price
Our Final Conclusion
The Priv will likely be BlackBerry's last smartphone. It is a tweaked, suped-up Android phone that just happens to have the BlackBerry name, which is now almost meaningless. The company has been trying to sway users they need a real keyboard, but world has moved on.
Product Overview
November 3, 2015 - For those who want a physical keyboard to go with their Android phone, BlackBerry announced PRIV -- their first smartphone powered by Google's Android operating system (Android 5.1.1 Lollipop) that claims to be more secure. The BlackBerry PRIV features an elegant, slim design with both a slide-out physical keyboard and touchscreen keyboard, 5.4-inch dual-curved Corning Gorilla Glass 4 screen and powerful 18-megapixel Schneider-Kreuznach certified camera. The BlackBerry PRIV comes with 32GB storage along with micro... Read product announcement →
- Type:
- Smartphones
- Released:
- Nov 6, 2015
