BlackBerry Passport vs. Sony Xperia XZ3: A Clash of Titans

The BlackBerry Passport, a bold statement in 2015, offered a unique square design and focus on productivity. The Sony Xperia XZ3, released later, brought modern features and a sleek aesthetic. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Xperia XZ3 is the clear winner. While the Passport's battery life was impressive for its time, the XZ3 boasts a more powerful processor, a superior display, and modern features like wireless charging. The XZ3 offers a more compelling experience for today's user.

PHONES
Phone Names	BlackBerry Passport	Sony Xperia XZ3

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - H8416, H9436, H9493
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20	-

Launch
Announced	2014, June. Released 2014, September	2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions	128 x 90.3 x 9.3 mm (5.04 x 3.56 x 0.37 in)	158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in)
Keyboard	QWERTY	-
SIM	Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	196 g (6.91 oz)	193 g (6.81 oz)
	Capacitive touch 3-row BlackBerry keyboard	IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1440 x 1440 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~453 ppi density)	1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density)
Size	4.5 inches, 65.3 cm2 (~56.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	P-OLED, HDR BT.2020
	-	Triluminos display X-Reality Engine

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400	Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8974AA Snapdragon 801 (28 nm)	Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
GPU	Adreno 330	Adreno 630
OS	BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.2	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal	32GB 3GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.0	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	13 MP, f/2.0, 30mm (standard), AF, OIS	19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF
Video	1080p@60fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	2 MP, f/2.8, 28mm (wide)	13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video	720p	1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio, RDS	No
USB	microUSB 2.0 (SlimPort)	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
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/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass

Battery
Charging	-	18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi)
Music play	Up to 84 h	-
Stand-by	Up to 432 h (2G) / Up to 444 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 18 h (2G) / Up to 23 h (3G)	-
Type	Li-Ion 3450 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Red, Black&Gold, Silver	Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red
Models	-	H9436, H8416, H9493
Price	About 170 EUR	About 510 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB	Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 73h	Endurance rating 90h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.595 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 76dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 76dB	Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB
Performance	Basemark X: 10682	AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB	Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 73h	Endurance rating 90h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.595 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 76dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 76dB	Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB
Performance	Basemark X: 10682	AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

BlackBerry Passport

Exceptional battery life (for its time)
Unique square design
Physical QWERTY keyboard
Productivity-focused software

Outdated processor
Lower resolution display
Less capable camera
Limited app support
Bulky design

Sony Xperia XZ3

Powerful Snapdragon 845 processor
Vibrant and high-resolution display
Capable camera with modern features
Wireless charging
Sleek and modern design
Better app support

Design may not appeal to everyone
Can be expensive (when new)

Display Comparison

The Xperia XZ3's display is significantly better. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (likely a marketing term, but indicative of excellent blacks) and 4.502 sunlight visibility rating far surpass the Passport's 1256:1 contrast and 2.595 sunlight rating. The XZ3 also likely has a higher resolution and more vibrant colors, offering a superior viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

While both phones have 'Photo / Video' capabilities listed, the Xperia XZ3's camera is expected to be significantly better. Sony's camera technology is generally superior, and the XZ3 likely features more advanced features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and improved low-light performance. The Passport's camera was adequate but dated.

Performance

The Xperia XZ3's Snapdragon 845 chipset and Octa-core CPU provide a substantial performance advantage over the Passport's Snapdragon 801 and Quad-core processor. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the XZ3. The XZ3's 10nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.

Battery Life

Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings (73h and 90h respectively). However, the XZ3's more efficient Snapdragon 845 and modern power management likely translate to better real-world battery life, especially considering the Passport's older battery technology.

Buying Guide

The BlackBerry Passport is for those nostalgic for BlackBerry's physical keyboard and productivity-focused software, and who prioritize exceptional battery life above all else. The Sony Xperia XZ3 is ideal for users seeking a modern smartphone with a vibrant display, strong performance, and a capable camera.