The BlackBerry Porsche Design series represents the pinnacle of luxury smartphone design, blending BlackBerry's secure communication heritage with Porsche's automotive elegance. But with subtle differences between the P'9983 and P'9982, which model offers the better experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
Both phones share the same core processor and offer a premium design. The P'9982 edges out the P'9983 with its faster 18W charging, making it the slightly more practical choice for those prioritizing quicker power-ups, while the P'9983 maintains the classic BlackBerry aesthetic.
| 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 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 7, 8, 20 - EU, EMEA | 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 17 - North America | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, September. Released 2014, October | 2013, November. Released 2013, December |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 119 x 67.1 x 10.6 mm (4.69 x 2.64 x 0.42 in) | 131 x 65.6 x 9.5 mm (5.16 x 2.58 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 140 g (4.94 oz) |
| | - | Stainless steel body and leather-covered rear panel
Limited edition with crocodile leather (500 units) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~328 ppi density) | 768 x 1280 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~355 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.1 inches, 31.0 cm2 (~38.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.2 inches, 50.2 cm2 (~58.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro | Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro |
| GPU | Adreno 225 | Adreno 225 |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 10.3, upgradable to 10.3.1 | BlackBerry OS 10.2, upgradable to 10.2.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 2GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 8 MP, AF |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 2 MP | 2 MP |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | 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 a/b/g/n, dual-band, 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 | HDMI port
BlackBerry maps
Organizer
Document viewer
Photo viewer/editor
Video editor
MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+/FlAC player
DivX/XviD/MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Voice memo/dial
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired |
| Music play | Up to 45 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 288 h (2G) / Up to 288 h (3G) | Up to 240 h |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) | Up to 8 h (2G) / Up to 9 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 1800 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Silver |
| Models | - | V2023A |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 390 EUR |
BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983
- Classic BlackBerry physical keyboard
- Premium Porsche Design aesthetics
- Secure BlackBerry OS
- Solid build quality
- Outdated processor and RAM
- Low-resolution display
- Poor low-light camera performance
- Slow charging
BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982
- Premium Porsche Design aesthetics
- Secure BlackBerry OS
- Solid build quality
- Faster 18W charging
- Outdated processor and RAM
- Low-resolution display
- Poor low-light camera performance
Display Comparison
Both devices feature a 3.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels. While the display quality is good for its size, it's not as vibrant or high-resolution as modern smartphones. The P'9982 might have a slightly improved color calibration, but the difference is minimal.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 7MP rear camera. Image quality is adequate for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance is poor. Don't expect flagship-level camera capabilities from either device.
Performance
Powered by the same Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU, performance is virtually identical between the two. Expect smooth multitasking for basic tasks, but demanding games or apps may struggle. The limited RAM (2GB) is a bottleneck for modern applications.
Battery Life
The P'9983 has a 2100 mAh battery, while the P'9982 boasts a 2100 mAh battery with 18W fast charging. This is the key differentiator. The P'9982 will charge significantly faster, offering a more convenient experience.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 is ideal for BlackBerry purists who value the classic physical keyboard and a more understated design. The P'9982 is better suited for users who appreciate the same luxury design but want faster charging capabilities and a slightly more modern feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What operating system do these phones use?
Both the BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 and P'9982 run BlackBerry OS 10. It's a secure and reliable operating system, but lacks the app ecosystem of Android or iOS.
❓ Are these phones still supported with software updates?
Official software updates have ceased for BlackBerry OS 10 devices. Security patches are unlikely to be provided.