Nostalgia for physical keyboards and BlackBerry's heyday is real. The Classic and Q10 represent two distinct approaches to that era. But which one offers the better experience today? Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The BlackBerry Q10 edges out the Classic. While both offer the beloved physical keyboard, the Q10’s Snapdragon chipset (LTE version) provides a noticeable performance boost, and its camera capabilities give it a slight advantage. The Classic's simplicity is appealing, but the Q10 is the more capable 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 / 1900 / 2100 - SQN100-1 |
| 4G bands | 4, 13 | 2, 4, 5, 17 - SQN100-1, SQN100-5 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, HSPA, LTE (market dependent) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 25 - SQN100-4 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, February. Released 2015, March | 2013, January. Released 2013, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 131 x 72.4 x 10.2 mm (5.16 x 2.85 x 0.40 in) | 119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4 mm (4.71 x 2.63 x 0.41 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | QWERTY |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 139 g (4.90 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, | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait (LTE version)/ Cortex-A9 (Non-LTE) |
| Chipset | - | Snapdragon S4 (LTE version)/ TI OMAP 4470 (Non-LTE) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 225 (LTE version)/ PowerVR SGX544 (Non-LTE) |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 10.3.1 | BlackBerry OS 10, upgradable to 10.3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 2 MP |
| Video | - | 720p |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (after SW upgrade) |
| 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, 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 |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h (3G) | Up to 360 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 22 h (3G) | Up to 10 h (2G) / Up to 13 h 30 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, White |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | 1.41 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) | 1.16 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.41 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -82.7dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 56h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.856:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
|
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -82.7dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 56h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.856:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB |
BlackBerry Classic Non Camera
- Pure BlackBerry experience
- Physical keyboard
- Simple and straightforward
- Good battery life
- No camera
- Outdated processor
- Limited app support
- No LTE
BlackBerry Q10
- Physical keyboard
- Camera (photo/video)
- Potentially better performance (Snapdragon LTE version)
- LTE connectivity (LTE version)
- Good battery life
- Outdated processor
- Limited app support
- Display showing its age
- Can be difficult to find in good condition
Display Comparison
Both devices feature 3.5-inch displays with a 480 x 768 resolution. The contrast ratio is listed as 'Infinite (nominal)' which is essentially a marketing term, with a practical sunlight contrast of 2.856:1 for both. Visual quality is comparable, though both displays are showing their age by modern standards. The Q10's slightly better processing power *might* result in marginally smoother scrolling, but it's unlikely to be a significant difference.
Camera Comparison
The Q10 has a distinct advantage here. It features both a rear-facing camera for photos and video, and a front-facing camera. The Classic, as the name suggests, has no camera at all. This is a significant difference for users who want to capture photos or video.
Performance
Here's where the Q10 potentially pulls ahead. The LTE version of the Q10 uses a Snapdragon S4 chipset with a 1.5 GHz Krait dual-core CPU. The Classic uses the same Krait CPU, but without LTE capabilities. The Snapdragon chipset generally offers better overall performance and efficiency. The non-LTE Q10 uses a TI OMAP 4470, which is slightly less powerful than the Snapdragon, but still generally better than the Classic's configuration. Expect slightly snappier app loading and multitasking on the Q10.
Battery Life
Both devices boast an impressive endurance rating of 56 hours. Real-world battery life will vary depending on usage, but both should provide solid all-day performance, especially given their relatively low-powered hardware.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Classic Non Camera is ideal for purists who prioritize a simple, no-frills BlackBerry experience and don't need a camera. The BlackBerry Q10 is better suited for users who want a more modern feature set, including LTE connectivity (depending on the variant), a camera, and slightly improved performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is it worth buying a BlackBerry Classic or Q10 in 2024?
If you're a BlackBerry enthusiast seeking a physical keyboard and a nostalgic experience, yes. However, be aware of their limitations regarding app support and performance compared to modern smartphones.
❓ Which BlackBerry has better app compatibility?
Both devices run BlackBerry 10 OS, which has limited app support compared to Android or iOS. App availability is a significant drawback for both.
