While some have been skeptical of BlackBerry’s performance on the market lately, the company is actually in quite the stable position right now, and they have been releasing more devices that better fill up the different segments of the market, and give them a broader reach. Right now, there seems to be something for everyone in the company’s collection – including those who liked the old style of BlackBerry devices with a physical keyboard. The BlackBerry Q10 and the slightly more expensive Q20 are the two main options in this regard – but which is the right one for power users?
Both devices are quite good right off the bat, with a wide range of connectivity features and a good physical design, as well as solid specifications beneath the surface. The screen on the Q10 runs at a 720×720 resolution, and offers good picture quality with its 328 ppi pixel density. The phone also has a QWERTY keypad with a familiar design like the older BlackBerry phones, and an overall compact form factor, despite its keyboard and relatively large 3.1 inch screen.
Underneath that, users get 2 GB of RAM, a fast processor, and 16 GB of internal storage. With an 8 megapixel camera on the back, the device can take nice enough pictures, although it’s nothing spectacular.
On the other hand, the Q20 is a slightly more advanced model. The screen resolution is the same, but with a lower pixel density (owing to the larger size), and it also supports multi-touch. The device has a 1.5 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, and it also comes with the promise of long-term support from BlackBerry with regards to OS updates, as it’s a more recent product and it’s expected to last longer on the market.
The Q20 is more or less an upgrade over the Q10, but the extra price may not be warranted for all users, as the larger screen and slightly better hardware won’t be necessary for everyone. Some users will find the specifications of the Q10 to be more than sufficient, as the device is still a solid smartphone on its own, and can measure up to products by the competition nicely. Of course, there’s still the problem with app availability, but that’s a separate issue and not a matter of choosing between the Q10 and Q20. For users who can live with the smaller selection of apps in the official store, both phones can be equally good options, but those who want slightly more features and a bigger screen should appreciate the improvements the Q20 Classic brings to the table, and the extra refinement BlackBerry have had time to put in, and should go for that offer.