BlackBerry phones evoke a sense of nostalgia for many, representing a bygone era of secure communication and physical keyboards. Today, we pit two distinct BlackBerry models against each other: the straightforward BlackBerry Classic and the luxurious BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983. Let's see which one offers the better experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Porsche Design P'9983 edges out the Classic due to its slightly more powerful chipset and premium materials. While both offer the classic BlackBerry experience, the P'9983's design and subtle performance boost make it the preferred choice for those seeking a luxury device.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EU, EMEA |
| 4G bands | 4, 13 | 3, 7, 8, 20 - EU, EMEA |
| 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 | 2, 4, 5, 17 - North America |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, February. Released 2015, March | 2014, September. Released 2014, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 131 x 72.4 x 10.2 mm (5.16 x 2.85 x 0.40 in) | 119 x 67.1 x 10.6 mm (4.69 x 2.64 x 0.42 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 140 g (4.94 oz) |
| | Optical trackpad | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~291 ppi density) | 720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~328 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.5 inches, 39.5 cm2 (~41.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.1 inches, 31.0 cm2 (~38.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro |
| GPU | - | Adreno 225 |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 10.3.1 | BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 2GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 2 MP |
| Video | - | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (SlimPort) | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, 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 | HDMI port
BlackBerry maps
Organizer
Document viewer
Photo/video editor
MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+/FlAC player
DivX/XviD/MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Voice memo/dial
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 45 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h (3G) | Up to 288 h (2G) / Up to 288 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 22 h (3G) | Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 430 EUR |
| SAR | 1.41 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) | - |
BlackBerry Classic Non Camera
- Classic BlackBerry OS experience
- Physical QWERTY keyboard
- Affordable price
- Durable build
- No camera
- Basic display
- Less powerful chipset
- Outdated software
BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983
- Premium Porsche Design aesthetics
- Slightly better performance
- Physical QWERTY keyboard
- 7MP Camera
- High price
- Outdated software
- Small screen
- Limited app availability
Display Comparison
Both devices feature 3.5-inch displays, but the Porsche Design P'9983 often boasts slightly better color accuracy and brightness due to its higher-quality panel. The Classic's display is functional but less vibrant. Resolution is similar on both.
Camera Comparison
The BlackBerry Classic lacks a camera entirely, a significant differentiator. The Porsche Design P'9983 features a 7MP rear camera, allowing for basic photo capture. Image quality on the P'9983 is adequate for its time but doesn't compare to modern smartphone cameras.
Performance
While both have dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processors, the Porsche Design P'9983 utilizes the Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, which generally offers slightly better performance and efficiency compared to the Classic's chipset. Expect marginally faster app loading and smoother multitasking on the P'9983.
Battery Life
The Porsche Design P'9983 typically has a slightly larger battery capacity (1800 mAh vs. Classic's 2500 mAh), but the Snapdragon chipset's efficiency often results in comparable or even slightly better battery life on the P'9983 under moderate usage.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Classic Non Camera is ideal for users prioritizing a budget-friendly, no-frills BlackBerry experience with a physical keyboard. The BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 is for those who appreciate luxury design, premium materials, and are willing to pay a premium for it, while still enjoying the BlackBerry OS.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the BlackBerry Classic worth buying in 2024?
It depends on your needs. If you're seeking a pure BlackBerry experience and don't need a camera, it can be a fun retro device. However, be aware of its limitations and lack of modern features.
❓ Why is the Porsche Design P'9983 so expensive?
The high price is primarily due to its limited production run, the Porsche Design branding, and the use of premium materials like stainless steel and glass.
