For anyone who knows anything about Blackberry of the past five years they know what has happened to its market share and overall brand clout. Blackberry focused articles have become synonymous with about 40 percent of the article discussing the fall of the brand and the vast majority of the remainder lambasting the device’s mediocrity. After 30 some days with the Blackberry Classic I can honestly say that this review will deviate from the cultural norm as I feel that I truly understand what the Blackberry Classic is. During Blackberry’s more prosperous days I was critical of the brand because it lacked a decent operating system and the browser was nothing to behold. Of course this was during a time when all cell phones had somewhat similar issues, so I guess I was just a futurist at heart. The Blackberry Classic is not a perfect device, nor is it a device that is for the masses, but that is exactly what the Classic was designed to be— a niche device for a niche market. With millions of people using Snapchat, Twitter, Cyberdust and the likes it is hard to recall a time when simply texting was the holy grail of communication, and Blackberry’s played a major role in the growth of sms. Now Blackberry is hoping that an innovative twist on a retro design will bring about growth once again.
The Classic holds true to its heritage with a well built construction and hints of luxury which made the Blackberry Bold the cream of the crop in its heyday. One of the best features of this device is the design with its chrome trim, textured back, and well placed keyboard complimented by a 3.5 inch screen. Of course Blackberry could have added some higher quality finishes, more specifically the back cover which would have felt more premium with a leather finish. The Blackberry Classic breaks the mould of many other devices as it has a weight to it. The weight is by no means burdensome but it has a “you can’t forget you are holding it” presence which is either a love it or hate it experience. For the Blackberry fan, the return of the navigation belt with track pad may bring about nostalgia but not much practicality. The navigation buttons combined with the touchscreen compliment each other, but after a prolonged period of using this device as my daily phone, the track pad does not serve much of a purpose anymore. It is kind of like using a mouse for a tablet— why not just use your hands to navigate. Of course my experience does not discredit the track pad as each user will experience the device differently, but some features should stay in the past. The Blackberry 10 OS has a lot of potential with its swipe to operate interface which gets better with each software update, but it still feels like there is some refinements needed to truly be a stand out operating system.
The Blackberry Classic seeks to merge iconic features from previous Blackberry models with current device specifications that are ubiquitous in the 2015 market such as fast web browsers, great screens, a respectable camera, and a plethora of apps. The Classic excels at some features — such as its web browser which surpasses the competition by being on average 3 times faster— while falling short in other important areas like its 8 mp camera which is functional but not what you would expect from a device trying to make a statement. Blackberry has come a long way with its apps selection as John Chen has done an exceptional job so far in partnering with other brands. The availability of Amazon apps and Android apps on Blackberry devices has helped the manufacturer remove one of the reasons many people have switched to rival brands. Blackberry World apps are still available as well. It is a step in the right direction but having complete access to the Google play store would enhance the experience ten fold. Judging by Blackberry’s recent collaboration with Samsung to create a highly encrypted tablet, the company’s ability to cement partnerships is not an issue so maybe the Google Play store will be accessible in the future.
The Classic is a communicator device that prides itself on having a great keyboard, good call reception, and a respectable battery life. The keyboard on the Classic made me realize why I have never written long emails on my touchscreen device before. The typing experience is simply great and with the changes to the keyboard it appears that the repetitive strain injury known as “Blackberry thumb” back in the day may be a thing of the past as the keys feel comfortable. The battery saving options is one of the best I have seen on a device as it really makes the battery life stretch. Other features such as the Blackberry hub, which allows you to access multiple messaging accounts in a central space, and Blackberry Blend, which brings content from your Blackberry to your computer, are very beneficial as well. The Blackberry Classic is not an iPhone 6 or one of the many variations of Samsung Galaxy models, it still remains a secure messaging device for those who desire a secure messaging device with an extensive update.
Similar to how it would appear absurd for a coupe owner to complain about cargo space in comparison to an SUV, non Blackberry users should not look for features in a device that in reality was not designed for those purposes. The business market was Blackberry’s bread and butter long before teens came and went and if companies would give Blackberry a try again the Classic could assist in establishing a niche market for the brand. The only true issue with this device is that Blackberry held back on features when they should have thrown the kitchen sink into this device. It should have had the best processor, screen, camera, etc that Blackberry could have attained and simply say “this is the best Blackberry we can make, take it or leave it”. But they didn’t do that, they held back when there really was no reason for it.
