Compare 
QWERTY-toting BlackBerry Classic
While the BlackBerry Passport was an interesting idea and the BlackBerry Z30 was a reasonable attempt at competing with modern smartphones it’s the rectangular QWERTY devices that BlackBerry is still most known for and it’s those which the company does best.
So it’s nice to see that its latest phone, the Classic, is just that. There’s little in the way of innovation or gimmicks here, but it could be the most polished conventional QWERTY that BlackBerry has ever made.
With 4G support it’s equipped to maximise your productivity, allowing you to work and email on the move and with a QWERTY keyboard and trackpad that’s the easiest it’s ever likely to be on a phone.
It’s not a powerhouse, but with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM it should be more than up to the task of being a mobile productivity and communication tool, while its 3.5-inch 720 x 720 display is large and sharp enough to use comfortably for extended periods.
Rounding out the specs there’s 16GB of storage along with a microSD card slot, an 8 megapixel main camera and a 2 megapixel front-facing one.
While you wouldn’t know it from the name, the BlackBerry Classic is designed to replace the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and it has 60% more screen space, 50% longer battery life and a three times faster browser, so it’s a substantial upgrade.
In fact at 22 hours of life it’s equipped to see you through even the longest and busiest of days and with BlackBerry 10.3.1 on board along with other BlackBerry software such as BlackBerry Blend,
BlackBerry Hub and BlackBerry Assistant it should be easy to get to grips with if you’ve ever used a BlackBerry before.
As a business focused handset it’s also designed with security in mind, including built in protection from viruses and tampering, while two different app stores ensure you can get your fix of both productivity and Android apps. All that and you’ll be able to pick it up from £349 when it launches in mid-January.
