The BlackBerry Q5 is the 3rd handset running the new BB 10 OS by the Canadian company. It is a strong attempt at getting the attention of the budget-conscious and the emerging markets.
The BlackBerry Q5 is almost similar to the BB Q10 in form factor but will be more affordable than the $599 price tag of the Q10.
Nevertheless, BlackBerry made sure that the performance and the experience will still be almost the same. The hardware specification was well thought-out and balanced.
BlackBerry Q5 specs:
3.1-inch IPS LCD display @ 720×720 pixels, 328ppi
Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 1.2GHz dual-core
Adreno 305 graphics
2GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD card
HSPA+ 21Mbps and LTE 50/100Mbps (7 bands)
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
NFC
5MP autofocus rear camera, LED flash
1080p video recording
2MP front-facing camera
720p video recording
GPS w/ aGPS support
BlackBerry OS 10.1
Li-Ion 2180mAh battery
120mm x 66mm x 10.8mm (dimensions)
120 grams (weight)
According to BlackBerry executives, the Q5 uses the same chip as the BB Z10. It’s a Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 processor but a little underclocked to just 1.2GHz instead of the 1.5GHz.
The small IPS LCD is complemented by the full-qwerty keypad, the dual-core processor is paired with a generous 2GB of RAM, support for NFC and LTE is most welcome, and a large 2180mAh battery rivals even most other flagship phones.
The design of the Q5 is also more refreshing and obviously caters to a younger user base, compared to the more industrial finish of the Q10. BlackBerry also added color options, just to add stress that perception (white, black, red and pink).
Here’s a quick hands-on video we took of the BB Q5.
That piano-type keyboard on the Q10 is now replaced by an island-type or chiclet-type keyboard. BlackBerry execs share that the design and manufacturing process of the chiclet-type keys are less expensive.
The body is a little chunkier (10.8mm) compared to the Q10 and has a unibody design with a non-removable battery.
The BlackBerry Q5 will be available in the Philippines some time in July. while there’s no indicated retail price yet, we’re hoping it will be between Php15k to Php20k when it reaches our market. If it does, it will be one of the most affordable LTE handsets in the Philippines.
I lost my phone earlier from a pick pocket inside a bus along ayala ave, and im planning to get this BBQ5, is this hotspot capable?
The Specs. on One Tech.website said 4 LTE Hotspot Capable. If I were you, I will grab the Q10 instead as it has the best of everything in a keyboard smartphone. Check out the detailed Specs. of Q5 in this website…. http://techcircledxb.com/2013/05/14/blackberry-introduces-a-youthful-and-fun-blackberry-10-qwerty-smartphone-the-blackberry-q5-for-selected-markets/
Can you make a comparison between the Bold 9900?
You can’t compare the Bold 9900 on this handset since it runs the older BBOS7. The aesthetics of the Bold 9900 was better as it looks pretty similar to BBQ10. But one thing’s for sure, the performance of this BBQ5 will be way better than the older Bold 9900 (based on specs and of course the new BBOS10).
oh, I hadn’t noticed, the latest Blackberry phones are BBQx. I’ll be nicknaming them Barbecue phones from now on :D
Oh my. I hope this truly becomes affordable!