BlackBerry Battle: Porsche Design P'9983 vs. Passport – Which Reigns Supreme?

BlackBerry's legacy is etched in smartphone history, and these two devices represent distinct eras. The BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 offered luxury and a classic form factor, while the Passport prioritized productivity and a unique square display. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The BlackBerry Passport ultimately wins due to its significantly faster processor, improved camera, and slightly more modern features. While the P'9983 boasts exquisite design and premium materials, the Passport's performance and functionality make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983	BlackBerry Passport

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 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	3, 7, 8, 20 - EU, EMEA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8
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, 13, 17, 20

Launch
Announced	2014, September. Released 2014, October	2014, June. Released 2014, September
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	119 x 67.1 x 10.6 mm (4.69 x 2.64 x 0.42 in)	128 x 90.3 x 9.3 mm (5.04 x 3.56 x 0.37 in)
Keyboard	-	QWERTY
SIM	Micro-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	140 g (4.94 oz)	196 g (6.91 oz)
	-	Capacitive touch 3-row BlackBerry keyboard

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~328 ppi density)	1440 x 1440 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~453 ppi density)
Size	3.1 inches, 31.0 cm2 (~38.8% screen-to-body ratio)	4.5 inches, 65.3 cm2 (~56.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait	Quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro	Qualcomm MSM8974AA Snapdragon 801 (28 nm)
GPU	Adreno 225	Adreno 330
OS	BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.1	BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.2

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	64GB 2GB RAM	32GB 3GB RAM
	-	eMMC 5.0

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, AF	13 MP, f/2.0, 30mm (standard), AF, OIS
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@60fps

Selfie camera
Single	2 MP	2 MP, f/2.8, 28mm (wide)
Video	720p@30fps	720p

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, LE	4.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0 (SlimPort)
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, gyro, 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	Up to 84 h
Stand-by	Up to 288 h (2G) / Up to 288 h (3G)	Up to 432 h (2G) / Up to 444 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G)	Up to 18 h (2G) / Up to 23 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable	Li-Ion 3450 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black	Black, White, Red, Black&Gold, Silver
Price	About 430 EUR	About 170 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 73h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.595 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 76dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 76dB
Performance	-	Basemark X: 10682

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	-	Noise -91.5dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 73h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.595 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 76dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 76dB
Performance	-	Basemark X: 10682

BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983

Exquisite Porsche Design aesthetics
Premium materials (stainless steel, glass)
Classic BlackBerry physical keyboard
Compact size

Outdated processor
Smaller display
Lower camera quality compared to Passport
Limited app support due to age

BlackBerry Passport

Large, square display ideal for productivity
Faster Snapdragon 801 processor
Better camera performance
Excellent battery life
Physical keyboard

Unconventional form factor may not appeal to everyone
Can feel bulky
Older device with limited software updates

Display Comparison

The Passport's 4.5-inch square display is its defining feature, offering ample screen real estate for multitasking and document viewing. The P'9983 has a more traditional 3.5-inch display. Both boast a respectable contrast ratio of 1256 (nominal) and 2.595 (sunlight), but the Passport's larger size provides a more immersive experience.

Camera Comparison

While both devices offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Passport's camera is generally considered to be superior, offering better image quality and low-light performance. Specific megapixel counts are not readily available for either device, but the Passport's newer chipset and processing capabilities give it an edge.

Performance

The Passport's Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor (2.26 GHz) significantly outperforms the P'9983's dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro. This translates to noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience on the Passport.

Battery Life

Both devices share an impressive endurance rating of 73 hours. This suggests comparable battery life, making battery performance a draw between the two.

Buying Guide

The BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 is for those who prioritize luxury, a classic BlackBerry aesthetic, and don't need cutting-edge performance. The BlackBerry Passport is ideal for productivity-focused users who appreciate a large, square display and a robust feature set, even if it's a bit older.