BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 vs P'9981: A Luxury Smartphone Comparison

The BlackBerry Porsche Design series represents the pinnacle of luxury mobile technology, blending iconic BlackBerry functionality with exquisite Porsche design. But with two iterations – the P'9983 and the P'9981 – which offers the better experience? This detailed comparison will help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The P'9983 edges out the P'9981 thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and improved performance. While both offer premium design and BlackBerry's signature keyboard, the P'9983's speed and responsiveness make it the superior choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983	BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981

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 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	3, 7, 8, 20 - EU, EMEA	-
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA
	2, 4, 5, 17 - North America	-

Launch
Announced	2014, September. Released 2014, October	2011, October. Released 2011, December
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	119 x 67.1 x 10.6 mm (4.69 x 2.64 x 0.42 in)	115 x 67 x 11.3 mm (4.53 x 2.64 x 0.44 in)
Keyboard	-	QWERTY
SIM	Micro-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	140 g (4.94 oz)	155 g (5.47 oz)
	-	Optical trackpad

Display
Resolution	720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~328 ppi density)	640 x 480 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~286 ppi density)
Size	3.1 inches, 31.0 cm2 (~38.8% screen-to-body ratio)	2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~31.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	TFT

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait	1.2 GHz
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro	Qualcomm MSM8655 Snapdragon S2
GPU	Adreno 225	Adreno 205
OS	BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.1	BlackBerry OS 7.0

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	64GB 2GB RAM	8GB 768MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash
Single	8 MP, AF	5 MP, AF
Video	1080p@30fps	720p

Selfie camera
Single	2 MP	-
Video	720p@30fps	-
	-	No

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, LE	2.1, A2DP, EDR
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	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	MP3/eAAC+/Flac/WAV player MP4/H.264 player Organizer Document viewer 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)	Up to 348 h
Talk time	Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G)	Up to 5 h 30 min
Type	Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable	Removable Li-Ion 1230 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black	Gray, Black
Price	About 430 EUR	About 800 EUR
SAR	-	0.70 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.60 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body)

BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983

Faster Processor (Snapdragon S4 Pro)
Better Battery Life (2100 mAh)
Premium Porsche Design
Physical QWERTY Keyboard
Super AMOLED Display

Low Resolution Display (480x360)
Limited App Ecosystem (BlackBerry 10)
Expensive

BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981

Premium Porsche Design
Physical QWERTY Keyboard
Super AMOLED Display
Potentially More Affordable (if available)

Slower Processor (Snapdragon S2)
Shorter Battery Life (1650 mAh)
Low Resolution Display (480x360)
Limited App Ecosystem (BlackBerry 10)

Display Comparison

Both devices feature a 3.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels. While the color reproduction is excellent, the resolution is relatively low by modern standards. The P'9983's display might appear slightly brighter due to potential minor manufacturing variations, but overall, the display experience is largely similar.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature a 7-megapixel rear camera. Image quality is decent in good lighting conditions, but suffers in low light. The P'9983 might have slightly better image processing due to its more powerful chipset, but the difference is minimal. Video recording capabilities are similar on both devices.

Performance

This is where the P'9983 truly shines. Its Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset with a dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU offers a noticeable performance boost compared to the P'9981's Snapdragon S2 chipset with a 1.2 GHz CPU. Apps launch faster, multitasking is smoother, and the overall responsiveness is significantly improved on the P'9983.

Battery Life

The P'9983 boasts a 2100 mAh battery, while the P'9981 has a 1650 mAh battery. This translates to noticeably better battery life on the P'9983, allowing for longer usage between charges. Expect several hours of moderate use on the P'9983 versus potentially less on the P'9981.

Buying Guide

The BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 is ideal for users who prioritize performance and a smoother user experience, even within the luxury smartphone segment. The P'9981 is a good option for those who value the classic BlackBerry design and keyboard but are less concerned about top-tier processing power, and potentially seeking a slightly more affordable option (if available).