[DISCLAIMER] it's based on a pre release BlackBerry Passport that has been confirmed to NOT be a final hardware revision.
] I'm not comparing it to any other devices because in all honesty, there is no real comparison to be made. It's in a league of its own
] This is not your traditional BlackBerry. It's unlike anything you've ever held and an entirely new form factor. With this device, BlackBerry has created its own niche market. You won't find any university students using this. Don't expect the passport to be your go-to for selfies, or your music player at the gym. The much-loved Q10 was and still is a phenomenal device. It has now grown up and you are in for a treat.
[DESIGN] The Passport weighs in at 6 and 7/8th oz. Also, it's really wide. I know the screen is just as tall, but the keyboard makes it feel wide. I had a passerby say it looked like a flattened Sidekick. I couldn't help but agree.
[DESIGN]The bottom curves up enough to make it very easy to pick up. The sides have a sort of brushed aluminum look and the buttons on the right side are very nicely spaced out. On the top sits the familiar lock / standby / power button while the speaker opening is on the bottom.
[WHY - PROS]
] DESIGN STYLE
] it fits in your pocket - You'll know if you don't have your Passport with you
] easily accessible nano sim and SD card slots
] Capacitive Touch QWERTY Keyboard
] keyboard has a different feeling too. It's too wide for one hand. The keys are smoother than anything before. They're almost a tad slippery
] It's short a whole line and has nothing but letters on it. There are no dimples or waves on it. There are no numbers and no ALT button. Just a plain QWERTY keyboard, void of any color, and some might say character. The buttons though are soft and sensitive.
] The symbols, characters, numbers and everything else is on screen and intuitively changes depending on where you are. If you are on the compose panels contact list, you will get the numeric buttons on the screen and if on the body portion, the symbols and character can be invoked.
] the keyboard is in fact touch sensitive. It's like the trackpad of a MacBook and you feel as if every part of the phone knows what you want it to do.
] I rarely had to touch the screen and drifting my thumb, I could choose a word I wanted and flick to choose it. Deleting worked in a similar fashion (swiping right to left) and scrolling worked in a top down and vice versa fashion. To clarify that, you can swipe up or down on the keyboard to move around. In my opinion, with a screen that large, if the fonts are small, the keyboard works great, but if there is a lot of information, just use the screen.
] It's very different. It took me a bit to get used to the new keyboard and to understand the onscreen buttons. Emoticons have never looked better.The keyboard isn't clicky. It's soft. The keys are wider and you need two thumbs to use it. It doesn't matter how big or small your fingers are, the accuracy is there. It's easier for women who type with their nails because the keyboard is soft and not plasticy. It's more of a tap than a click now. I got a friend of mine who is a nail typer on her BlackBerry and I had to (rip) the Passport out of her hands because she loved it so much. I'm hoping to see another version soon to get a final idea. My typing has been faster on this than it has been on any other BlackBerry. Its been more accurate too. This keyboard is so very inviting. You know that moment when you fell in love? Prepare to fall in love with your BlackBerry all over again.
] 4.5" display
] The screen is one of such elegance, that it even made the most diehard iPhone user smile. It's got one of the sharpest screens out there and the UI that felt cramped on the Q10 now is unleashed in a fashion that renders you hopelessly in love.
] Information is displayed beautifully on the Passport and minimal scrolling is required. Fonts go up to 18
] battery life
] very impressive battery life provided by the 3440 mAh battery, 16 hours + under heavy usage
] OS 10.3.0 offers an array of helpful new features including the Amazon App Store (for Android Apps)
[WHY NOT - CONS]
] DESIGN STYLE
] you do need two hands to be fully functional on this device. I have large hands and even I couldn't get from one corner to the other corner of the screen.
] DISPLAY
]
] QWERTY KEYBOARD
] text selection and accentuated characters did not work for me. Again, this is pre-release so I expect issues like this.
] the space on either end of the keyboard is filled with plastic that does nothing. In my opinion, the frets could have been made shorter and either end could have been made a button (call and camera respectively).