Remember the BlackBerry days? Two iconic devices, the Passport and the Z10, represent different approaches to BlackBerry's smartphone legacy. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide which one holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The BlackBerry Passport clearly wins thanks to its significantly longer battery life, superior sunlight readability, and more powerful Snapdragon 801 chipset. While the Z10 boasts a slightly better nominal contrast ratio, the Passport's overall package is more compelling for modern use.
| 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 - STL100-1 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 | 3, 7, 8, 20 - STL100-2 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 | 13 - STL100-4 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, June. Released 2014, September | 2013, January. Released 2013, January |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 128 x 90.3 x 9.3 mm (5.04 x 3.56 x 0.37 in) | 130 x 65.6 x 9 mm (5.12 x 2.58 x 0.35 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 137.5 g (4.83 oz) |
| | Capacitive touch 3-row BlackBerry keyboard | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1440 x 1440 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~453 ppi density) | 768 x 1280 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~355 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.5 inches, 65.3 cm2 (~56.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.2 inches, 50.2 cm2 (~58.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400 | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8974AA Snapdragon 801 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Adreno 225 |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.2 | BlackBerry OS 10, upgradable to 10.3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 30mm (standard), AF, OIS | 8 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | 1080p@60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.8, 28mm (wide) | 2 MP |
| Video | 720p | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (SlimPort) | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | HDMI port |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 84 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 432 h (2G) / Up to 444 h (3G) | Up to 312 h |
| Talk time | Up to 18 h (2G) / Up to 23 h (3G) | Up to 10 h |
| Type | Li-Ion 3450 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 1800 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Red, Black&Gold, Silver | Black, White |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 120 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.07 W/kg (head) 1.07 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB |
Noise -82.8dB / Crosstalk -80.5dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 73h
|
Endurance rating 46h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.595 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1532 (nominal) / 2.051:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 76dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 76dB
|
Voice 70dB / Noise 67dB / Ring 73dB
|
| Performance |
Basemark X: 10682 | - |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB | Noise -82.8dB / Crosstalk -80.5dB |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 73h | Endurance rating 46h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.595 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 1532 (nominal) / 2.051:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 76dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 76dB | Voice 70dB / Noise 67dB / Ring 73dB |
| Performance | Basemark X: 10682 | - |
BlackBerry Passport
- Exceptional battery life
- Superior sunlight display readability
- More powerful processor
- Unique and productive form factor
- Physical keyboard (Passport only)
- Bulky design
- Outdated software
- Camera is average
BlackBerry Z10
- More compact design
- Slightly better nominal contrast ratio
- More modern aesthetic (for its time)
- Poor battery life
- Weaker processor
- Subpar sunlight display
- Outdated software
Display Comparison
The Passport's display shines in direct sunlight with a contrast ratio of 2.595, significantly better than the Z10's 2.051:1. While the Z10 has a slightly higher nominal contrast ratio (1532 vs 1256), real-world usability under bright conditions favors the Passport. Both use LCD technology, so don't expect OLED vibrancy.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature standard camera setups for their time. Image quality is decent in good lighting, but low-light performance is lacking. The Passport's camera likely benefits slightly from the more powerful processor for image processing, but neither phone is a photography powerhouse.
Performance
The Passport's Snapdragon 801 and quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400 CPU provide a noticeable performance advantage over the Z10's Snapdragon S4 Plus and dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better overall responsiveness on the Passport.
Battery Life
This is where the Passport truly dominates. Its 73-hour endurance rating is a massive leap over the Z10's 46 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, a crucial factor for many users.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Passport is ideal for users prioritizing battery life, productivity features, and a unique, square form factor. The BlackBerry Z10 is a better fit for those seeking a more compact design and a slightly more modern aesthetic, though at the cost of performance and endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still supported with software updates?
No, neither the Passport nor the Z10 receive official software updates. They run older versions of BlackBerry OS 10, which means limited app availability and potential security vulnerabilities.
❓ Can I use apps from the Google Play Store on these devices?
No, these phones do not support Google Play Store apps. They rely on BlackBerry World, which has a significantly smaller selection of apps.
