What is the BlackBerry Q5
Formally unveiled at BlackBerry Live in Orlando, the BlackBerry Q5 is the third BlackBerry 10 handset and the first to target a more wallet-friendly price tag.
Playing host to a physical QWERTY keyboard similar to the BlackBerry Q10, the newly unveiled BlackBerry Q5 is aimed at the youth market, and acts as a replacement of sorts to the likes of the BlackBerry Curve 9320. With the handset coming in four varying hues, black, white, red and pink, the youth market is further targeted by heavy focus on the BBM messaging service that took BlackBerry to non-business market success in a previous life.
Running a 1.2GHz dual-core processor alongside the BB10 OS, the Q5 features list is a strong mid-market offering, with a 5-megapixel rear-mounted camera lining up alongside 8GB of internal storage, a 3.1-inch 720p LCD touchscreen display and a 2100mAh Lithium-Ion battery.
Although prices have yet to be confirmed, BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins has confirmed the device will target budget and emerging markets.
We go hands-on with the BlackBerry Q5 to see if these price cuts have affected the handset’s overall performance.
BlackBerry Q5 Design
One area in which BlackBerry has saved pennies on the BlackBerry Q10, is in its build quality. Whereas the BlackBerry Q10 feels like a solid, well manufactured handset, the budget BlackBerry Q5 features a predominantly plastic construction.
Lining up at 10.8mm thick and 120g in weight, the BlackBerry Q5 looks and feels notably cheaper than its BB10 siblings, but this does not mean it is a poorly designed handset. Adopting a familiar form, the QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen display share the space on the handset’s face well, with a spattering of open, unused space around the handset’s lower and side edges the only signs of a reduced effort in the device’s aesthetic.
With the Samsung Galaxy S4 also adopting a plastic construction, it is not impossible to make a lower cost construction materials appear appealing, and with the Q5, BlackBerry has just about managed this, in certain areas at least.
Instantly feeling lighter, and notably cheaper, than the BlackBerry Q10, the BlackBerry Q5 keyboard is one area where the price discrepancy is apparent, however, with the full QWERTY offering feeling looser in its housing than its high-end sibling. With a more spacious design to the physical keyboard, the keys wobble in use and fail to provide reassurance of an ability to stand up well to heavy and continued use, a prediction that will require further testing.
Hiding its connections away under a plastic flap, the Q5’s SIM card and microSD expansion are hidden out of sight, with the side mounted expansion slot not proving disruptive to the overall flow of the handset’s design.
While the standard black and white colour schemes offer generic matt finishes that appear formal and uneventful, the red and pink options have gone for a gloss finish. Although sure to appeal to many, this gloss coating does created and added air of cheapness to the plastic form factor.
BlackBerry Q5 Screen
Playing host to the same 3.1-inch dimensions and 720 x 720p HD resolution as the Q10, the BlackBerry Q5 screen is an impressive offering for the handset’s lower-end price point.
Going for an LCD rather than Super AMOLED offering means the battery drain caused by the handset’s screen should be lower than that of the BlackBerry Q10. During our brief hands-on time with the device, however, this was not something we could test and will require further analysis in our final BlackBerry Q5 review.
Responsive to the touch and with bright colours and a seemingly impressive contrast ratio, the BlackBerry Q5 ticks all the boxes on first impressions, although viewing comparative images on the two devices left us withteh nagging feeling that the Q5 is not quite as sharp as its big brother.
BlackBerry Q5 Performance
Off the bat, the BlackBerry Q5 felt somewhat slower than the BlackBerry Q10, with the drop from the 1.5GHz to 1.2GHz dual-core making a notable difference.
The processor does come across as marginally slower than its upmarket sibling, with application launches and menu transitions taking that fraction of a second longer that desired. Although this is only a small difference, to existing high-end smartphone users, this jump back will quickly become an apparent irritant.
That said, for those making the progression from an ageing BlackBerry Curve handset, the Q5 will seem positively zippy, handling many of the brief tasks we could throw at it with satisfying aplomb.
Like the Q10 before it, the BlackBerry Q5 is set to come preinstalled with the BlackBerry 10.1 updated OS direct from the box, a software improvement that adds a number of keyboard shortcuts and other welcome additions.
Although we were unable to properly test the 2100mAh battery found within the BlackBerry Q5 during our time with the handset, we were disappointed to learn that it its power supply is not removable, meaning those looking for a cheap business option would need to be wary of carrying a charger.
BlackBerry Q5 Camera
Despite the BlackBerry Q5 featuring just a 5-megapixel rear-mounted, it performed reasonably well during our brief camera tests.
Shooting in less than ideal lighting, results were mostly sharp with well-balanced colours and little to no motion blur. Blacks were deep and saturation levels were on point, however, a full analysis of the Q5 camera is needed before judgement can be passed.
For those keen on video calling, the inclusion of the same 2-megapixel forward-facing camera as the BlackBerry Q10 will be a welcome addition, and one which is a strong performer.
Overall, it seems the BlackBerry Q5 will be enough to meet the needs of its BBM loving teen market targets. While it might come up short against the likes of the HTC One or iPhone 5, given its expectedly low price point, this should not trouble the handset’s core audience too much.
With an integrated flash, the additional light source proved to be a strong performer, although a little overpowering on occasion. A welcome addition to the handset's imaging abilities, the flash appears to be one of the better integrations we've seen on lower end handsets.
BlackBerry Q5 Quick Verdict
A strong mid-market BlackBerry 10 device that is sure to appeal to those keen to keep the physical keyboard on a budget, the BlackBerry Q5 is a welcome addition to a still fledgling BB10 lineup.
With a finalised BlackBerry Q10 price yet to be formally announced, it is hard to say just how promising this device is, all we have to currently go on is that it “will be lower price point that the Q10,” but then that’s not particularly hard.
While the keyboard’s construction quality is the only standout area of concern from first use, the BlackBerry Q5 looks set to become a handset that could give the BlackBerry 10 operating system the much need boost it needs.
