Revisiting the BlackBerry PRIV

by Volker Weber

ZZ7360FF05

I love stuff that gets better over time. And PRIV is one of those devices that have continuously improved. There are monthly updates. The keyboard now supports three languages without switching, just like BlackBerry 10. The camera has improved; the pipeline is faster so it stores images quicker, and it also improved its low light performance. I am now using BlackBerry Hub instead of the native Gmail client or Outlook (which is way better on iOS than on Android). One feature that I am still waiting for is the quick overview of all unread messages.

I have now activated a second SIM for two months and I can now use it as my secondary device. Tomorrow I will add a Pebble Time as a smartwatch.

Comments

Interesting, I'd love to hear more. If it weren't for the price tag. It costs as much as an iPhone, 300 Euro more than the Galaxy S6 or the Lumia 950. That's sheer madness from one of the least popular brands on the market right now. The curved screen must have increased the manufacturing cost substantially - is it any better than a flat display? And why having a bezel around?

Jochen Kattoll, 2016-02-12

The PRIV is great device. Two things i'm missing compared to the iPhone are that i'm not able to just "archive" e-mail in the HUB - they allways get deleted with the swipe gesture. The second issue is that contact sub-folders from exchange are not synchronizing and so a lot of my contacts (from the sub folders) aren't available on the priv...

Any idea how to solve thoes little issues/problems?

Yves Menge, 2016-02-12

I love my PRIV, too. But there are somethings which I still can't get use to.
First: I have sometimes (not reproducable) trouble charging it with my Tizi Tankstation. I don't know why. I plug it in at night and everything looks fine, but in the morning the phone is still emtpy.
Second: My PRIV needs a second reboot after a reboot, because it get so hot, that the overheating protection kicks in. I guess it has something to do with the 200GB SD Card and my music collection but couldn't figured this out either.
Third: I'm used to use BlackBerry and I'm missing the BlackBerry-Only features as hell. Especally the "Real-Hub" and the hybrid data model. This is why I'm still using a Passport for work and the PRIV more privatly.

Don't get me wrong. BlackBerry is still holding all their promises by delivering monthly updates. I love being able to have apps. Keyboard, Battery and Display are very good. Last but not least this is my private phone. I choosed it and paid for it. But I still can't let loose on the working comfort I'm used from my Passport.


Torben Volkmann, 2016-02-12

Jochen, I don't think that BlackBerry is looking for market share. They'd rather not lose money on the devices they sell. That will change once they get to Android 6 and achieve certification.

Yves and Torben, yet the Hub needs improvement and I expect BB to deliver that.

Torben, I think this (1) may be a Tankstation problem. If you have a overheat problem (2) then check out which app is running wild after the first reboot.

Volker Weber, 2016-02-12

Not that I expect them to make one, but I'd immediately go and get myself a Priv with BB10 on it :)

Martin Dietze, 2016-02-12

If you want a great BB10 device, get a Passport.

Volker Weber, 2016-02-12

That's great to read the BlackBerry is making progress with the Priv. I have the Passport currently and would love it if the new Android integration is successful to the point where a Passport like device will be shipped with it. While I have no issues with BB10, I do think that the current Android strategy is the future.

michael rohrbach, 2016-02-12

Yes, the Passport is a great device. I love it. And I would love to see successors to it :)

Martin Dietze, 2016-02-12

Old vowe.net archive pages

I explain difficult concepts in simple ways. For free, and for money. Clue procurement and bullshit detection.

vowe

Paypal vowe