Nostalgia for BlackBerry devices is real, and the Classic and Passport represent two distinct approaches to reviving the brand. The Classic leans into the iconic physical keyboard, while the Passport boasts a unique square form factor and enhanced features. But which one is the better choice for the modern BlackBerry enthusiast?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The BlackBerry Passport wins due to its superior performance (Snapdragon 801), larger display, and camera capabilities. While the Classic offers a familiar keyboard experience, the Passport's overall feature set and processing power make it the more compelling option for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 4, 13 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, February. Released 2015, March | 2014, June. Released 2014, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 131 x 72.4 x 10.2 mm (5.16 x 2.85 x 0.40 in) | 128 x 90.3 x 9.3 mm (5.04 x 3.56 x 0.37 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | QWERTY |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| | Optical trackpad | Capacitive touch 3-row BlackBerry keyboard |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~291 ppi density) | 1440 x 1440 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~453 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.5 inches, 39.5 cm2 (~41.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.5 inches, 65.3 cm2 (~56.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait | Quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400 |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm MSM8974AA Snapdragon 801 (28 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 330 |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 10.3.1 | BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, 30mm (standard), AF, OIS |
| Video | - | 1080p@60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 2 MP, f/2.8, 28mm (wide) |
| Video | - | 720p |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (SlimPort) | microUSB 2.0 (SlimPort) |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+/FlAC player
DivX/XviD/MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Photo/video editor
Document viewer | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 84 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h (3G) | Up to 432 h (2G) / Up to 444 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 22 h (3G) | Up to 18 h (2G) / Up to 23 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3450 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, White, Red, Black&Gold, Silver |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR | 1.41 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 73h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.595 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 76dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 76dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark X: 10682 |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.595 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 76dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 76dB |
| Performance | - | Basemark X: 10682 |
BlackBerry Classic Non Camera
- Iconic physical keyboard
- Compact and familiar design
- Classic BlackBerry software experience
- Good battery life (reported)
- No camera
- Outdated processor
- Small screen
- Limited app compatibility
BlackBerry Passport
- Larger display
- Powerful Snapdragon 801 processor
- Camera functionality
- Excellent battery life (reported)
- Unique square form factor
- Square aspect ratio requires app adaptation
- Potentially larger size for some users
- Can be harder to find in good condition
Display Comparison
The Passport's 4.5-inch square display offers a significantly larger viewing area than the Classic's 3.5-inch screen. Both boast a respectable 1256:1 contrast ratio, but the Passport's sunlight readability (2.595) is notably better. The Passport's aspect ratio is unique, requiring app adaptation, but providing a wider canvas for productivity.
Camera Comparison
The Passport includes a camera (Photo/Video), a feature entirely absent on the Classic. While not a flagship-level camera, it provides basic photography and video recording capabilities, a significant advantage for many users. Image quality on the Passport is generally better due to the more powerful processor and dedicated camera hardware.
Performance
The Passport's Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (Quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400) provides a substantial performance advantage over the Classic's Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a more responsive user experience on the Passport.
Battery Life
Both devices are reported to have an endurance rating of 73 hours, suggesting excellent battery life for both. However, the Passport's larger screen and more powerful processor might slightly impact real-world battery performance depending on usage.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Classic Non Camera is ideal for users who prioritize a traditional BlackBerry experience with a physical keyboard and a familiar, compact design. The BlackBerry Passport is best suited for those who want a larger screen, better performance, and a more modern feature set, even within the vintage BlackBerry context.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the BlackBerry Classic worth buying in 2024?
It depends on your priorities. If you're solely after the classic BlackBerry keyboard experience and don't need a camera or modern performance, it might be. Otherwise, the Passport offers a better overall package.
❓ What are the main differences between the Classic and the Passport?
The Passport has a larger screen, a more powerful processor, a camera, and a unique square design. The Classic focuses on the traditional BlackBerry keyboard and a compact form factor, but lacks a camera and has significantly lower performance.
