The mobile world has all but acknowledged that BlackBerry 10 is the make or break moment for Research in Motion (or just “BlackBerry” now, actually). BlackBerry fell out of the spotlight as smartphones became more prevalent and the operating system fell behind. BB 10 doesn’t just have to play catch up, it has to slingshot ahead if it wants a chance to compete with those that toppled its throne once already. With the launch of BB 10 comes new handsets that break the mold of the usual BlackBerry phone including the new flagship phone, the Z10. Now that it’s officially been revealed, it’s time for the Z10 and its new OS to take on the top dogs that had left Research in Motion in the dust. Will the BlackBerry Z10 have what it takes to steal back some of the market share that was once rightfully BlackBerry’s? Check out the specs below to see how the new handset stacks up against the current kings of mobile and decide for yourself.
iPhone 5 |
Galaxy S3 |
Z10 |
|
Size | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 (mm) | 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 (mm) | 130 x 65.6 x 9 (mm) |
Weight | 112g | 133g | N/A |
Screen | 4.0-inch LCD | 4.8-inch Super AMOLED | 4.2-inch LCD |
Resolution | 1136×640 pixels | 1280×720 pixels | 1280×768 pixels |
OS | iOS 6.0.1 | Android 4.0 with TouchWiz UI | BlackBerry 10 |
Storage | 16/32/64GB | 16/32GB | 16GB |
SD Card Slot | No | Yes | Yes |
Processor | Dual-core A6X | Dual-core Snapdragon S4 (US) | 1.5GHz Dual-core Snapdragon |
RAM | 1GB | 2GB | 2GB |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ |
Camera | Front 1.2MP, Rear 8MP | Front 1.9MP, Rear 8MP | Front 2MP, Rear 8MP |
Bluetooth | Yes, version 4.0 | Yes, version 4.0 | Yes, version 4.0 |
Battery | 1440mAh | 2100mAh | 1800mAh |
Charger | Lightning connector | Micro USB | Micro USB |
Marketplace | Apple App Store | Google Play Store | BlackBerry World |
Price | $200+ | $200+ | $N/A |
Availability | AT&T, Sprint, Verizon | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon |
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon |
Conclusion: Just going by the numbers, it appears BlackBerry’s Z10 is able to hold its own. The screen offers a high definition, pixel-dense experience that puts it on par if not above the competition. It’s processor and RAM indicate it will be able to keep up with the computing power of its competition. The ability to connect to 4G LTE networks is a must now, and the Z10 meets the need. Obviously the most interesting difference on the chart, though, is the OS. Seeing how BlackBerry 10 stacks up against iOS and Android will come down to actually experiencing it, but what we know looks promising. With features like BlackBerry Flow, the improved BBM, and the Time Shift camera function, it appears BlackBerry is up for the fight.