BlackBerry Leap review: Bouncing up and down

21 July 2015
Many thought the days of BlackBerry were numbered yet the company is still here, pushing new phones. The Canadians might not be the leading smartphone manufacturer that it once was, but it's still got a loyal fanbase that the BlackBerry Leap comes to cater to...

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  • h
  • haphyz
  • Ia1
  • 27 Jul 2015

I feel more secure using the bb10 range of phones.The blackberry protect is also another great feature of the brand I believe they can use as a major selling point. but wat impressed me most about the bb10 brand is the HUB. for someone who isn't organized, u can employ the HUB @ no extra charge! i love the HUB more than i love the phone it self

    • V
    • Vasile
    • p38
    • 26 Jul 2015

    Would you perform a battery life test on blackberry os 10.3.2?

      • D
      • AnonD-212727
      • 7JS
      • 24 Jul 2015

      AnonD-209094, 24 Jul 2015Most anachronism phone ever? Hard to believe we are not in ... moreanachronism lololololol.... I had to google that word and made me laugh haha "against time" :D

        • D
        • AnonD-209094
        • m7I
        • 24 Jul 2015

        Leap Backwards. BBs new slogan.

          • D
          • AnonD-209094
          • m7I
          • 24 Jul 2015

          Most anachronism phone ever? Hard to believe we are not in 2012 when reading this.

            • D
            • AnonD-212727
            • 7JS
            • 24 Jul 2015

            Correction - Blackberry World does NOT sale music.. not anymore at least. And you cannot purchase music using Amazon Appstore either.. Meanwhile this little device seems like a lot of fun. Cant wait to buy it!

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • GwU
              • 23 Jul 2015

              Anonymous, 23 Jul 2015because android is open source. that makes geeks love it. t... moreAndroid is open-source, so not only do manufacturers have the ability to customize it, but so do End-Users. It's entirely possible to have a functioning Android phone with granular permissions for each app, and a custom hosts file + SELinux enforcing mode to protect the user, for example. This customizability just isn't possible on the other major mobile OSes. BB10 has security through obscurity; nobody targets it because of it's 1% demographic. Let's look at the facts: BlackBerry uses Qt4 for native apps, which was deprecated YEARS AGO. For anything else, you are running the Android runtime on BB10, except BlackBerry's version is old, unpatched, and slower than a stock Android phone.

              As for the Leap, what a let-down. I love the styling, but Z30 specs, two years later? And a non-IPS display? Give me a break. If you want a touch-screen BB10 phone, save $$$ and get the Z30.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • w7h
                • 23 Jul 2015

                Jack, 22 Jul 2015It is not the software, which I feel is better than the blo... morebecause android is open source. that makes geeks love it. they can do everything they want to the os. they can also create viruses and evil-apps easily with android.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-420681
                  • 5H7
                  • 23 Jul 2015

                  I've always been partial to BlackBerry but from what I've experienced with LG G3, it covers most of these bases. However, if you're referring to vanilla Android, I mostly agree. That's why I loved BlackBerry - that aim towards productivity & the apparent use of intelligence in each crevice of the OS.

                    • D
                    • AnonD-420625
                    • LHe
                    • 23 Jul 2015

                    halo, 22 Jul 2015Blackberry has done.They are miles behind the leading Andro... moreNot really. You have to use any BB10 device to see that what you get right out-of-the-box is heads above Android or iOS.

                    Here are few things that have edge over competition

                    Predictive text: No Android or iOS app has this kind of intuitive prediction. Not only it makes sense by finishing sentences for you but it actually learns the way you write your sentences and even knows how to predict custom added words into dictionary.

                    Predictive text in multiple languages: Yes it even recognizes the language once you start typing it and you can mix and match languages as you type and prediction will still work on both languages.

                    Dictation in any text field that transcribes into text. Works with many, many languages.

                    Calendar/Remember app combo: This one is huge and functionalities you get with it are arms and shoulders above Sunset let alone default Android/iOS calendars. Ultimate time management reserved for BB10 only (soon coming to Android). Also notes, tasks as well as alarms sync with the calendar and can be created directly from the calendar.

                    Hub centralized messaging and notifications board: no need to switch between messaging apps. Search across all your messages no matter if its text, whatsapp, facebook, email, etc

                    Centralized File Manager: access local content as well as cloud like OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, etc without a need to switch apps. Easily copy, move and organize files anywhere you want to. Best file manager on any mobile OS period.

                    Advanced interactions with the hardware: lift to unlock, hold to keep screen awake, flip to mute, flip to save battery, hardware keyboard shortcuts to open apps, call contacts, start new messages, create events, turn on flashlight, etc, hardware keyboard with capacitive touch functionality that acts like a trackpad and saves time on finger travel.

                    Blend: messaging, calendar, email, files, everything besides phone calls on your Desktop or tablet and it doesn't store the content locally so once you disconnect all data is gone

                    UI design: at least action bar with significant buttons is placed on bottom unlike Android where your hand has to travel across the whole screen to reach the top left or right corner.

                    Smart share: it remembers what you shared with whom. For example sharing a picture might have different recipients listed as your most common shared with then sharing the link or a document which has a separate list of people you shared this type the most with.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-70078
                      • 39x
                      • 23 Jul 2015

                      I'm waiting to hear more on the next flagship with slide.

                        • A
                        • Android
                        • 9Ef
                        • 23 Jul 2015

                        Jeff Jarrett , 22 Jul 2015I would recommend the Z30. I own it, it's reliable and desp... morePeople are despite the generalisation inherently lazy and will opt for iPhone because they assume paying a high price gets you the best.
                        If they don't know the difference between the IPhone6 and the S6 being virtual opposites and assume as similar price similar specs

                        So they are generally surprised by the specs and do know about BBM in their Appstore

                        I think adverts ora media blitz won't do anything o improve BlackBerry only say some event where a BB was used by some famous celebrity will help BlackBerry

                        ANDROID / WINDOWS / BLACKBERRY it is easy to get these phones talk / sync to each other all have memory expansion

                        The problem I have is that Blackberry have lost control in the weight department

                        Since the relaunch all the handset have been heavy 150g +, this will put people off and reviews all mention weight, you can't argue with a person who dismisses the phone for that single reason, it doesn't have to be so light as to bend

                        This phone is 20g overweight, and Blackberry also need to lose this NON user replaceable battery as that is not the way to go!

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • nid
                          • 22 Jul 2015

                          Anonymous, 22 Jul 2015The OS isn't the problem. Overpriced yet underspecced hardw... more3years old or not, the os runs smooth as butter.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • nid
                            • 22 Jul 2015

                            Jack, 22 Jul 2015It is not the software, which I feel is better than the blo... moreAgree, the BBos doesn't just feels thin and light. It's also better in messaging, multitasking.

                              • J
                              • Jack
                              • RN@
                              • 22 Jul 2015

                              It is not the software, which I feel is better than the bloated Android OS. It could do with slightly better hardware. I moved from a Z30 to a S5 Samsung, and frankly it was a bad move. The BB OS is far better for business and most personal uses. I really dont know why the media and so called tech geeks support the Android OS with so many security and spyware issues. Overall the Z30 was far better than the specs would indicate. Apart from the camera on the S5, there has been no material advantages in moving to it from the BB, and I will go back to the BB.

                                • R
                                • Rebel
                                • JyA
                                • 22 Jul 2015

                                BlackBerry OS 10 not quite as functional as major rivals
                                Processor is decidedly underpowered wow! But BlackBerry OS 10 is thanks to gestures a head before main rivals also dual core bb phones are faster then quad cores on androids

                                  • `
                                  • `Zhaii
                                  • UD{
                                  • 22 Jul 2015

                                  Not satisfied with this new phone. i have once a Blackberry curve on past years when android phones is not yet existed...Its good but now??2015 but still dual core??zzzzzzzzzzzz come on..GROW UP and INNOVATE!!

                                    • M
                                    • MdN8
                                    • B}Q
                                    • 22 Jul 2015

                                    summit, 22 Jul 2015No Material Design, no buy. I have no interest on using ph... moreWP started the "material design" trend. iOS has it too.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • ibe
                                      • 22 Jul 2015

                                      Anonymous, 22 Jul 2015Have you used the BB10 OS lately? Most of it's features are... moreThe OS isn't the problem. Overpriced yet underspecced hardware is... I actually like the fact that BB OS 10 does its own Android app execution layer but the buck stops there. Doesn't justify charging 2015 prices for 3 year old tech. I don't need a fire breathing SD810 Bb to run Crysis granted but sure as hell won't ever pay for anything on S4 Plus/Pro you gotta be kidding me. Even some 3rd rate MediaTek Chinese phones in the USD250 bracket these days are a gen up and 5x more capable.

                                        • s
                                        • summit
                                        • tA$
                                        • 22 Jul 2015

                                        No Material Design, no buy.
                                        I have no interest on using phone with legacy UI, be it Android, BB, iOS, or WP.

                                        Material Design is the best UX, no wonder it wins 2014 User Experience Awards.
                                        Android Lollipop FTW.