BlackBerry Priv vs. BlackBerry Motion: A Detailed Comparison

BlackBerry, once a titan of the mobile world, attempted a comeback with the Priv and Motion. Both phones aimed to blend BlackBerry's signature security and keyboard with modern smartphone features. But which one truly delivered? This comprehensive comparison breaks down the key differences to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The BlackBerry Motion wins decisively thanks to its significantly longer battery life and more efficient Snapdragon 625 chipset. While the Priv boasts a more powerful processor, the Motion's endurance and QC3 charging make it the more practical choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names BlackBerry Priv BlackBerry Motion
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA (STV100-1), Europe (STV100-4)HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 20, 29, 30 - USA (STV100-1)1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 - BBD100-6 (EU, Global)
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20, 28 - Europe (STV100-4)2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 29, 30, 66 - BBD100-2 (USA)
Launch
Announced2015, October. Released 2015, November2017, October. Released 2017, December
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frameGlass front, plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions147 x 77.2 x 9.4 mm (5.79 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)155.8 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm (6.13 x 2.97 x 0.32 in)
KeyboardQWERTY-
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)167 g (5.89 oz)
 Capacitive touch 4-row BlackBerry keyboardIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 4Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~540 ppi density)1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size5.4 inches, 81.6 cm2 (~71.9% screen-to-body ratio)5.5 inches, 82.6 cm2 (~70.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLEDIPS LCD
 Curved edge screen-
Platform
CPUHexa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A57)Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 (20 nm)Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 (14 nm)
GPUAdreno 418Adreno 506
OSAndroid 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)Android 7.1 (Nougat)
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal32GB 3GB RAM32GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.0eMMC 5.1
Main Camera
FeaturesSchneider-Kreuznach optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single18 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/2.4", PDAF, OIS12 MP, f/2.0, PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Single2 MP8 MP, f/2.2, 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video720p1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, BDS2
RadioNoFM radio
USBmicroUSB 2.0 (SlimPort 4K)USB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, altimeter, gyro, ToF proximity, compassFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)18W wired, QC3
Music playUp to 73 h-
Stand-byUp to 420 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 24 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 3410 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack
ModelsSTV100-4, STV100-3, STV100-1, V100, STV100-2BBD100-1, BBD100-6, BBD100-2
PriceAbout 270 EURAbout 390 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 62h Endurance rating 94h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Loudspeaker- Voice 66dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 77dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 75057 (v7) GeekBench: 3567 (v4.4) GFXBench: 3.4fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

BlackBerry Priv

  • Curved OLED display
  • More powerful processor (Snapdragon 808)
  • Physical keyboard
  • Slightly better camera in good light

  • Significantly shorter battery life
  • Higher power consumption
  • QC2 charging
  • Curved screen can be awkward for some

BlackBerry Motion

  • Exceptional battery life (94h endurance)
  • Efficient Snapdragon 625 chipset
  • Physical keyboard
  • QC3 charging
  • Larger screen size

  • Less powerful processor than Priv
  • IPS LCD display (less vibrant than OLED)
  • Camera performance not top-tier

Display Comparison

The Priv features a 5.4-inch curved OLED display, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Motion has a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, which is generally accurate but lacks the OLED's contrast. The curved screen on the Priv is a unique feature, but the Motion's larger screen size might be preferable for some.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature decent, but not exceptional, camera systems. The Priv's camera generally produces slightly better images in good lighting conditions, but both struggle in low light. Video quality is comparable on both devices. Expect around 13MP for both rear cameras and 8MP front cameras.

Performance

The Priv's Snapdragon 808 provides a noticeable performance boost over the Motion's Snapdragon 625, especially in demanding games and multitasking. However, the 808's higher power consumption impacts battery life. The Motion's Snapdragon 625 offers smooth everyday performance and excellent efficiency.

Battery Life

This is where the Motion truly shines. Its 4000mAh battery provides an impressive 94-hour endurance rating, significantly outperforming the Priv's 3400mAh battery (62h rating). The Motion also supports QC3 charging, offering faster charging speeds than the Priv's QC2.

Buying Guide

The BlackBerry Priv is for those who prioritize performance and a curved display, and don't mind sacrificing battery life. The BlackBerry Motion is ideal for users who value all-day (or multi-day) battery life and a physical keyboard, even if it means a slight performance trade-off.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the BlackBerry Priv still worth buying?
Only if you prioritize performance and a curved display and don't mind the short battery life. It's an older device, so finding one in good condition might be challenging.
❓ Which BlackBerry has the best battery life?
The BlackBerry Motion, with its 94-hour endurance rating, offers significantly better battery life than the Priv.
❓ Do both phones have a physical keyboard?
Yes, both the BlackBerry Priv and Motion feature BlackBerry's signature physical keyboard.