BlackBerry, once a titan of the mobile world, continues to offer unique devices. We're pitting the luxurious BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983, a symbol of exclusivity, against the more modern BlackBerry KEY2 LE, a productivity powerhouse. This comparison will help you decide which BlackBerry best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The BlackBerry KEY2 LE offers significantly better performance and modern features thanks to its newer chipset and octa-core processor. While the P'9983 boasts a premium design and BlackBerry's classic feel, the KEY2 LE provides a more compelling overall experience for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EU, EMEA | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 7, 8, 20 - EU, EMEA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41 - BBE100-1, BBE100-4 DS (EU, Africa, AU) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 17 - North America | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 29, 66, 38, 39, 40, 41 - BBE100-2, BBE100-5 DS (NA, LATAM) |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, September. Released 2014, October | 2018, August. Released 2018, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 119 x 67.1 x 10.6 mm (4.69 x 2.64 x 0.42 in) | 150.3 x 71.8 x 8.4 mm (5.92 x 2.83 x 0.33 in) |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 156 g (5.50 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~328 ppi density) | 1080 x 1620 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~434 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.1 inches, 31.0 cm2 (~38.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.5 inches, 60.0 cm2 (~55.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 225 | Adreno 509 |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.1 | Android 8.1 (Oreo) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 8 MP |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | 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 288 h (2G) / Up to 288 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Slate, Champagne, Atomic |
| Models | - | BBE100-4, BBE100-5, BBE100-1, BBE100-2 |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 440 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.01 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.78 W/kg (head) 1.61 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 116764 (v7)
GeekBench: 4965 (v4.4) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 116764 (v7)
GeekBench: 4965 (v4.4) |
BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983
- Luxurious Porsche Design aesthetics
- Classic BlackBerry feel
- Premium build quality
- Compact size
- Outdated processor
- Low resolution display
- Limited storage
- Poor camera quality compared to modern phones
- Short battery life
BlackBerry KEY2 LE
- Physical QWERTY keyboard
- Modern processor and performance
- Larger and sharper display
- Improved camera system
- Better battery life
- More storage options
- IPS LCD display (not as vibrant as AMOLED)
- Design less exclusive than P'9983
- Larger size may not suit everyone
Display Comparison
The P'9983 features a 3.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 360x480 resolution, offering vibrant colors but limited screen real estate. The KEY2 LE boasts a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a 1620x770 resolution, providing a much larger and sharper viewing experience, better suited for media consumption and productivity.
Camera Comparison
The KEY2 LE features a dual 12MP rear camera setup, offering improved image quality, better low-light performance, and portrait mode capabilities. The P'9983 has a single 7MP rear camera, which is adequate for basic photography but lacks the features and image quality of the KEY2 LE.
Performance
The KEY2 LE's Snapdragon 636 octa-core processor delivers a substantial performance advantage over the P'9983's dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the KEY2 LE. The P'9983, while functional, will feel noticeably slower by today's standards.
Battery Life
The KEY2 LE generally offers better battery life due to its more efficient processor and larger battery capacity (3000 mAh). The P'9983's battery (1980 mAh) struggles to keep up with modern usage patterns.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 is for those who prioritize luxury, a classic BlackBerry experience, and are willing to accept compromises in performance. The BlackBerry KEY2 LE is ideal for productivity-focused users who value a physical keyboard, modern software, and a more powerful processor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 still worth buying?
Only if you prioritize the luxury design and classic BlackBerry experience above all else. Be prepared for compromises in performance and features.
❓ Which BlackBerry is better for productivity?
The BlackBerry KEY2 LE is significantly better for productivity due to its physical keyboard, larger display, and more powerful processor.
