The BlackBerry Q10 is the flagship BlackBerry phone with a physical keyboard. It offers a similar BlackBerry 10 experience to its touchscreen cousin the BlackBerry Z10, but looks and feels much more like a traditional BlackBerry handset. As such it should prove popular with long-term BlackBerry users. But how does it stack up against other high-end smartphones?
BlackBerry Q10: build and design
The Q10 is a small and light device, relatively thick for a modern phone, weighing in at around 140g and measuring just 119.6×66.8mm, but a relatively fat 11mm thick. Available in white or black it is principally constructed of plastic, with a silver metal trim. The front of the BlackBerry Q10 is dominated by the screen at the top, and the physical qwerty keyboard at the bottom. At the very top is the BlackBerry logo, as well as a speaker and the front-facing camera lens.
Taking a look at the Q10’s silvery edges, around the left-hand side you find USB ports, and on the right are the volume rockers. At the top is the 3.5mm jack and on/off button and down the bottom we find a speaker. Which takes us to the back of the BlackBerry Q10. This comprises two panels of textured plastic. The BlackBerry dots are detailed in silver metal in the middle, and at the top, above a slim silver band, is the rear facing camera lens and flash.
The overall feel is of quality and a certain ability to withstand the rigours of modern smartphone use. The Q10 is relatively small and squat, and this gives a feeling not of elegance but of strength. And as your BlackBerry is likely to be a workhorse this is important. We carried around the Q10 for a few days in our key- and coin-filled pockets, and found not a scratch on it.