BlackBerry Passport

Finding a way out of the doldrums has become a do-or-die for BlackBerry, time perhaps to do something different than just do better. Not that the Z-series did anything wrong. But if the mindset back then was all about catching up to Android and iOS, the BlackBerry Passport marks a return to an identity that's authentically Blackberry's. And the Passport is nothing if not different.

The Passport's unconventional dimensions are polarizing from the get-go. read more →

The Passport is an odd duck; it's difficult to bestow one final judgment that applies to everyone. It's your only choice if you want a high-end phone with a physical keyboard, and it's the best-performing BlackBerry in the lineup. But it also feels niche, thanks to its peculiar shape and keyboard layout. No doubt, the Passport takes some getting used to.

Once you do, however, it's actually a surprisingly good handset -- the best BlackBerry 10 smartphone so far. read more →

Visually, the BlackBerry Passport is a delectable treat – one that not only pays homage to the BlackBerry smartphones of yesterday, but it oozes with a modern design to die for. For all of its attractiveness, we’re confused by the company’s decision to go with an entirely different keyboard layout. Quite simply, it’s less productive than the experience we get from an all-touch keyboard! We know, it’s crazy to say, but it’s true.

Aside from the keyboard, BlackBerry 10.3 just doesn’t have the completeness we’d get from other rival platforms. read more →

The BlackBerry Passport is a fantastic phone, and I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I like it. The sturdy finish makes me feel like a proper professional, and the clever keyboard makes short work of text-heavy tasks. BlackBerry also does a great job of other types of communication, and I'm sure my friends and colleagues noted a marked improvement in my email response time while I was on the go with the Passport. read more →

The BlackBerry Passport is the first smartphone I've reviewed in years that I really didn't want to carry. Part of me liked having a physical keyboard again, but I couldn't type quickly enough on the wide layout. Worse, the heavy and awkward design made taking this device out and using it feel like work -- which is tragically ironic, given the productivity benefits the Passport's wide display, long battery life and smarter new BlackBerry 10.3 OS provide.

If you really like BlackBerry and you don't want to let go of the brand, you don't have to settle for what may go down in history as the New Coke of smartphones. read more →