BlackBerry PRIV (2015) review

BlackBerry announced the launch of the PRIV smartphone in 2015. The manufacturer is offering the BlackBerry PRIV phone with 5.4 inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage.

The BlackBerry PRIV series was launched with Android OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop) pre-installed, but it is upgradable to newer versions of OS as they become available. The PRIV comes with a high-quality AMOLED display. AMOLED displays offer several advantages that contribute to their popularity in smartphones and other devices. This smartphone has a single camera on the back (18 MP, 5196 x 3464 px, optical image stabilization, autofocus). The single camera setup can be sufficient for many smartphone users, depending on their photography needs and preferences. The front camera of PRIV gives you the freedom to capture moments with yourself or your friends and family easily.

BlackBerry PRIV specifications

Body

The weight of BlackBerry PRIV is about 6.77 oz with battery, which is average compared to most of the smartphones with same size. The dimensions of this BlackBerry smartphone are average (5.79 x 3.04 x 0.37 inch). Smaller smartphones are more compact and easier to carry around, but they may have smaller displays that can be harder to read and interact with. A micro SIM is a smaller (15 x 12 x 0.76 mm) version of the standard SIM card used in mobile devices. The micro SIM card provides the same functionality as the standard SIM card, allowing the user to connect to a cellular network and use mobile data, voice, and messaging services.

System

The BlackBerry PRIV comes with Android OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop) out of the box, but it is upgradable to the next OS. Android is based on the Linux kernel and includes a user interface, middleware, and a range of pre-installed applications. The BlackBerry PRIV has Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992 chipset. This hexa-core CPU is generally considered to be very fast and powerful, especially for tasks that require a lot of processing power.

The PRIV utilizes Adreno 418 GPU. A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a specialized chip that is primarily designed to handle and accelerate the processing of graphics and visual data. It is responsible for rendering images, videos, and animations on a smartphone screen. Adreno GPUs are designed to work in conjunction with Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. The latest Adreno GPUs support advanced graphics features such as high dynamic range (HDR) rendering, virtual reality, and augmented reality applications.

Display

The PRIV features a 5.4 inch AMOLED display. AMOLED displays enable an Always-On Display feature, where a portion of the screen remains active to display information such as time, date, notifications, or custom widgets, even when the rest of the display is off. The 5.4 inch display make this smartphone pocket-friendly. The size of the screen is measured diagonally, from corner to corner. A larger screen typically requires more power to illuminate, which can impact battery life. The display of BlackBerry PRIV is multitouch capable. Multitouch technology enables the device's touchscreen to detect and interpret multiple touch points on the screen simultaneously.

Memory

With 3 GB of RAM, a smartphone can run multiple apps simultaneously without experiencing any significant lag or slow performance. The amount of RAM needed for optimal performance depends on factors such as the operating system, the apps and services you use, and how you use your device. 32 GB of internal storage is generally considered to be the minimum amount of storage you would want in a smartphone. The PRIV has 32 GB of internal storage. The internal storage of the PRIV (32 GB) can be expanded with a compatible microSD card. MicroSD cards are popular because they're small, lightweight, and easy to use.

Camera

The PRIV offers only a single-camera setup. The single camera can still be sufficient for many smartphone users, depending on their photography needs and preferences. The main camera of the PRIV is equipped with autofocus. An autofocus (or AF) optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus on an automatically or manually selected point or area. Very few Android cameras come without autofocus. The main camera of PRIV has optical image stabilization (OIS) to counteract camera shake. Optical image stabilization is a must for anyone shooting without a tripod with a long lens or in low light conditions.

Connectivity

The BlackBerry PRIV supports 4G/LTE networks. 4G networks are widely used around the world and have become the standard for mobile networks in many countries. The BlackBerry PRIV like all modern smartphones, is capable of connecting to Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi networks use radio waves to transmit data between devices and a wireless access point, which is typically connected to a wired network and serves as a hub for wireless devices to connect to the internet or other networks.

The PRIV supports the latest Bluetooth standards, which offers faster data transfer speeds, better range, and improved reliability compared to previous versions of Bluetooth. The PRIV has a GPS receiver. GPS allows smartphones to determine their precise location and provide accurate navigation and mapping services. This includes turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates, points of interest, and alternative routes.

The PRIV has a built-in NFC chip, which allows it to support various NFC applications and services such as contactless payments, data transfer, and access control. The PRIV phone doesn't have built-in FM radio receiver. The PRIV has a microUSB port. MicroUSB is a type of USB connector that was commonly used on older smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. The PRIV smartphone has a 3.5 mm headphone jack. A 3.5 mm headphone jack is a small round port, that allows you to connect wired headphones or earphones to the device.

Battery

The Li-Ion 3410 mAh battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The Li-ion is a low maintenance battery which offers high energy, is lightweight and does not require periodic full discharge. The battery of PRIV is removable. You can simply buy a new piece from the open market and interchange it easily by yourself.

Features

Smartphones today come with a wealth of sensors to facilitate a better user experience. The BlackBerry PRIV smartphone has an accelerometer. The presence of an accelerometer in smartphones enables a range of interactive and intuitive functionalities that enhance the user experience and enable innovative applications. This BlackBerry phones come with proximity sensor. This proximity sensor detects how close the phone is to an outside object, such as your ear. The PRIV phone comes with a compass sensor. A compass sensor is a device that provides accurate directions in relation to the earth's North and South magnetic poles.

The specifications above are based on the official data published by the manufacturer, but we also take user reviews into consideration. If you found an error or something lacking in the specifications above for the BlackBerry PRIV, then don’t hesitate and signal the problem to us.

BlackBerry PRIV pictures

BlackBerry PRIV comparisons

According to our statistics, the BlackBerry PRIV smartphone was most often compared on our site with the following smartphones.

Microsoft Lumia 950 XL

Microsoft Lumia 950

Motorola Droid Turbo

Huawei Nexus 6P

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