BlackBerry Z30 review: Against the odds
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- AnonD-159252
- nCE
- 07 Nov 2013
Jack, 07 Nov 2013So what about benchmarks. They are for inefficient Android... moreFor me benchmarks are good for comparing devices between them , if bb os is so good and and smooth and lla that it should provide some good numbers against the "inefficient Android OS" running devices and i advise you get hold on a note 3 (almost the same price) and you will have a good idea of what productive and efficient is and that is something bb os will never achieve cause they lack the know-how.I do have to agree with you that 10.2 is really easy to learn cause it's very simple and lacks features.You might compare this to note 2 or htc one productivity wise but you cannot compare with htc one design wise,finally Z30 would make up for a decent mid ranged with a flagship price and that is the reason why bb will keep falling and you have to admit that competition and benchmarks and all that allow us (buyers) to compare and choose better on what to give 500+ euro's and to be honest since bb is so on the edge that should have compelled them to produce something amazing but all they did turn out to be aligned with the rest of the pathetic bb os running devices(please get your fact's correctly about "small inconsequential incremental spec differences " and check out bb devices from 2011 to 2013).
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- Anonymous
- q{S
- 07 Nov 2013
Anonymous, 07 Nov 20131. No benchmarks - you could I suppose sideload Antutu or s... morego on crackberry and ask someone who knows an employee to sell it to you for employee pricing ($100).
by the way, android 4.2.2 runtime rocks
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- AnonD-30650
- 3@k
- 07 Nov 2013
just opened the review because the Mercedes petronas team was on the pic
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- marinkus
- YgJ
- 07 Nov 2013
Jack, 07 Nov 2013So what about benchmarks. They are for inefficient Android... moreYou make Android sound so unusable and superficial. I'm just a regular guy, I use my phone for photos, web browsing, GPS, email, texting/talking/IM, and as an ereader. I do my banking and shopping on my phone and in the 4 years I've been using Android I've never had my identity stolen or gotten a virus. I have an iPod Touch and used Symbian (proud owner of an e63) prior to Android, and using Android has been a pleasure, not a chore. I assume the majority of Android users are like me. Government agents and corporate execs are another story, but those of us less important aren't getting our credit cards hijacked on a regular basis. As for the specs race, the reviewer alluded to it. Many Android users are gamers, and many games require high end hardware, just like a computer. Don't let a review or an OS upset you so much. I'm an Android loyalist, but came here looking for good tidings from BB camp. Celebrate variety.
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- AnonD-4340
- Kg$
- 07 Nov 2013
Anonymous, 07 Nov 2013Cmon guys have mercy and buy bb phonesSure, if they could offer a decent and up to date resolution. Its very annoying to think of the fact that by going AMOLED they made the phone more expensive and at the same time giving it an unsatisfactory resolution, that's a double loss.
And their maps need some serious fixing as well, in many areas where I frequently go the BB maps are as bad as Nokia maps, and trust me, Nokia maps are really bad here (Nokia maps are bad everywhere except big urban areas). I heard BB maps is so bad that in India BB phones are sold with a 3rd party app for an Indian mapping company.
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- AnonD-4340
- Kg$
- 07 Nov 2013
MdN8, 07 Nov 2013The same happened with Symbian, there was nothing wrong abo... moreI have to disagree on that, Symbian had two serious shortcomings that could not be fixed, namely resolution of maximum 640x640 and dependency an ARMv6 processor architecture. Sony Ericsson made Symbian phones with ARMv7 but for Nokia to do that they would have sacrificed app compatibility, that was simply not an option, they would have to reinvent and reintroduce Symbian to overcome such a problem, and if we are perfectly honest we have to admit that Symbian wasn't worth that.
And in any case, Maemo5 was the OS Nokia should have focused on.
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- Anonymous
- v0X
- 07 Nov 2013
Cmon guys have mercy and buy bb phones
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- AnonD-4340
- Kg$
- 07 Nov 2013
5 inch at only 720p, that is a serious shortcoming. Wish they went for IPS LCD and 1080p, or smaller display. Even 4.7 inch is stretching the 720p resolution, at 5 inch its starting to get a bit ridiculous.
About the review, what is this with steep learning curve? I think its reviewer bias against a new way of doing things, less familiar to them that Android/iOS/WP, but that doesn't mean its harder. I am aware of the same gestures doing different things depending on where you are in the UI but this isn't something unique and is not like something you need to attend classes to master. Its an imaginary disadvantage.
Im looking to stop using android because I don't like Google, I have pass on the Z30 because of the low resolution but I may still pick up a Z10, the price is low enough now. The Z30 appears to me as a very overpriced 5 inch budget phone. I really think BB misjudged the trend on big displays, people don't want bigger displays at any cost, they want GOOD big displays, at least at this price.
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- Anonymous
- 3a9
- 07 Nov 2013
1. No benchmarks - you could I suppose sideload Antutu or something but if it didn't instantly fall over it'd give unfair readings because its not running natively
2. Hard to learn - only if you're the sort of person who can't program a car radio.
3. +headphones = degraded sound. EVERY SINGLE PHONE DOES THAT - stop the bashing.
4. Poor camera.. used to be business handsets from Nokia didn't even have cameras - you didn't whinge at that...
I've used Symbian, Android & both Blackberry OS - and I'd place Android bottom of the pile for stability & third for features & security. That's right - OS 7 actually beats ICS+ Android.
Only reason I don't have one is the price & if they firesale the Z10 I'm there!
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- Anonymous
- 6$v
- 07 Nov 2013
if this Z30 thing is available in dual SIM / R-UIM variant and support GSM & CDMA networks simultaneously (just like Samsung Galaxy Infinite SCH-i759, Samsung Hennessy SCH-W789, HTC One SC, HTC Desire XC, ZTE N986, etc), i will buy it for sure.
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- MdN8
- B}Q
- 07 Nov 2013
Jack, 07 Nov 2013So what about benchmarks. They are for inefficient Android... moreThe same happened with Symbian, there was nothing wrong about it except bad publicity and poor management. I really like this phone but I'm not sure it can survive.
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- Jack
- uEA
- 07 Nov 2013
So what about benchmarks. They are for inefficient Android OS that needs power just to manage the bloatware. This review is almost a grudging admission the Z30 is better than expected. This preoccupation with the spec race to cover up inefficient Android will have its consequences. When will GSM Arena ever be satisfied. Getting excited about small inconsequential incremental spec differences does not make for a better mobile but certainly impresses commentators which is good marketing. I really enjoy GSA Arena, however this review was odd, including the mistake about the 8mp camera. I do have the Z30 and day to day use is great. In fact some of my friends with HTC One and Note II are surprised just how good it is given the negative publicity about BB. In fact no one has said the OS has a steep learning curve and all are impressed with it. I support BB even though its management need an enema, because we need the BB secure system and efficient os, something that Android does not deliver. You mention 10.2 is what os 10 should have been, yet here we are with every one ranting on about silly Android updates all the time - Android has never once delivered an os update as productive or efficient as 10.2.
I hope BB survives and does well regardless of industry commentators kicking the man when they are down.
I am happy with the Z30 and everyone should try it for themselves and find out just how good the OS really is.
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- AnonD-77390
- pFj
- 07 Nov 2013
Well you're defienetly right, my friend. Blackberry is gonna vanish soon.
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- spyder
- M}b
- 06 Nov 2013
AnonD-159252, 06 Nov 2013No benchmarks?afraid of low numbers from a "flagship&q... moreAlex, I think that you need to read better. They have released benchmarks in the review. Camera is good and the battery life is awesome. This is a good device from Blackberry.
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- AnonD-159252
- nCE
- 06 Nov 2013
No benchmarks?afraid of low numbers from a "flagship"?voice commad is less than basic,"smart dial" is not smart at all actually call options are the worst i ever saw on a 2013 phone and why a 8mp camera?even htc one is doing a lot better.
PS. and those bezels...
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- Alex
- SvB
- 06 Nov 2013
This is great phone from Berry, maybe not the best screen ppi but the OS is very good and business made.
I might take one to give it a spin and sell my iPhone 5, gets a little boring having same OS in last 4 yrs.
I think Z30 deserve a good chance for us to buy.
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- Anonymous
- q{S
- 06 Nov 2013
i care about this company