Blackberry priv impressions after long term (6 months use).

[bitek]

I own priv for about 6 months now. I use this phone a lot and I think priv is excellent buy even with all other new phones with better specs that are available now.

Blackberry android os has improved significantly since I owned the phone.

1. Blackberry has added many more popular apps to hub like instagram or pinterest.
2. Blackberry priv battery has improved tremendously since marshmallow update. I get easily a day of work out of the phone. The phone does not get hot anymore. I bought rapid charger for the phone and together with it I never think if battery will run out of juice.
3. Blackberry keyboards have improved a lot. Swipe gestures work better on physical keyboard and blackberry added more features to blackberry virtual keyboard. Blackberry virtual keyboard is the most comprehensive keyboard App in google playstore.
4. Blackberry camera has improved as well. It offers a lot of options to take photos. This does not help hardware though. I find blackberry camera to be good (adequate) but not the best
5. Blackberry launcher has improved. I do not use it much myself. I got nova launcher months ago and I use it exclusively. I find blackberry launcher to be OK but with needs more improvement. Blackberry should add swipe functions and bake in the hub to have more of bb10 feel to it.
6. Slide mechanism is solid. I never had problems with it. Not even once
7. Built quality is good but I find slight flex of back cover annoying. My understanding is that newer blackberry priv builds do not have this problem.
8. I use priv mostly for work and messaging but I use phone for gaming from time to time. I find that phone handles most popular games well. Air Attack 2 runs great. So is angry birds 2 and other games. Games like world of tanks blitz run ok on the phone with minimum settings.
9. Phone reception is excellent.
10. Blackberry speaker is very good. I use it a lot and I find it to be loud and clear.
11. Blackberry keeps it's promise of releasing monthly blackberry security updates

Overall I am very happy with priv and I do not have slight desire to get any other phone. Priv is excellent buy even compared to latest android phones. I would recommend buying phone directly from blackberry especially if you are in USA. This will ensure that you get all updates in time with no delay. Canadian phone carriers are much better in releasing blackberry updates on time.

 

[sydneycooper1979]

Great write-up! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Guru]

Great to hear! I find the screen to have much less max brightness than my note 5 but more than adequate. I will be using this phone for texting 98% of the time which is why i got it. Beautiful keyboard!

 

[TLD1]

I've got Verizon variant coming in the next week! I'm an old-school BlackBerry guy, and this is my first Android OS device.

We'll see if we play well together...

 

[bitek]

I've got Verizon variant coming in the next week! I'm an old-school BlackBerry guy, and this is my first Android OS device.

We'll see if we play well together...

It is different than blackberry bb10. I had to adjust to it as well but now I love it. Really good phone

 

[scotts9219]

I've had mine for two weeks. No complaints although my signal strength is a little lower than normal. I'm hoping MM or an update will fix that. Once Verizon deems us worthy.

 

[bitek]

Today another update came out for the major blackberry apps including the hub. Blackberry is working hard to make things better. This phone is way better than I got it few months ago. Battery is excellent and all apps run smooth. Overall joy to own it.

 

[BBUniq01]

Have had mine for awhile too. Diehard BlackBerry user. Loving this device. Zero problems. Bought from ShopBlackberry.

Posted via Priv

 

[KMorganBbry]

i got both of my PRIVs via AT&T back in January and haven't really had any problems with either of them.

I dont have the 'soft clicking' of the screen/back of device that many claim.

Only issues I have now are through the MM beta testing. Its screwing with mi wifi and every time i plug it into my laptop i have yo reselect the mode to transfer files. On lollipop it would keep that setting til I changed it.

as for the rare overheating issues (when im running fiftyeleven updates), i just stick it in my freezer for 90 seconds to cool it down and its fine. (just long enough to cool it but not long enough to build any moisture)

I miss my Z-10 but this has been a very good replacement.

ive talked numerous folks into buying it.

Posted via my AT&T PRIV running MM 6.0.1 (beta)

 

[benjamin19]

I absolutely love the Priv. Bought it on launch from AT&T. It has everything I ever could want on a phone. I use the physical keyboard at least 50% of the time, which I find totally makes the price worth it (considering my next phone will probably be a Moto Z, and when you buy the phone and a mod will put it around the same initial price of the Priv, so I view the keyboard as BlackBerry's mod).

The absolute only issue I have is middling battery life and overheating. I will say up front that I don't worry too much about battery anymore especially with Quick charge. I have all my apps with push notifications on, screen is almost always max brightness, basically I don't try to conserve battery at all, I mean it's a "smart" phone for a reason, I don't want a dumb phone. That being said, I did the same thing to my OnePlus One, and I got better battery and didnt have the heating issues. If I use the phone for any number of consecutive minutes, internals heat over 100 degrees quickly, and will get to 120 degrees at times as well. I know this doesn't hurt anything on the phone, but I just hate feeling it, and the heat does nothing but drain the battery faster.

If MM truly fixes the heat issues, BlackBerry may have won another year with me and I will pass on the Moto Z or the OnePlus 3.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[aecgda]

I agree. Excellent phone. Battery lasts forever as I turn off what I don't need and the range of apps makes a big difference. I don't use the pkb so ideally it would look like the Z30 while doing all the stuff it currently does.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Jamie Wooten]

I've got Verizon variant coming in the next week! I'm an old-school BlackBerry guy, and this is my first Android OS device.

We'll see if we play well together...

TL what do you think of the priv considering I know your an iPhone guy?

 

[freedomx20a]

I've had mine since launch and I love it.

However I use nova prime and blue mail instead of hub. Lol

Overall it's a great phone. It slows down sometimes but a restart fixes it. I'm on the 7th beta of marshmellow and it's great.

posted via the lovely innovative Priv by BlackBerry - Powered by Android

 

[JeBe4]

Loving the Priv from my Classic. I wish I'd traded in sooner. Of course the Classic keys are "better" but they don't have trackpad touch capabilities etc.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Morty2264]

So glad you are liking the Priv! They're really working on bridging the app gap, which is awesome; and that's what a lot of people complained about in the past. Also, the keyboards have always been sick; so it's great that the Priv's keyboard is even better now! Thank you for your review!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[UBiggo]

Thanks for sharing! I'm glad the priv is getting some nice support.

 

[Bfalcon1]

I have had the Priv since January and so far so good. I have to say I use the touch screen about 99% of the time. Maybe when they release the all touch screen I will make the switch but feel Blackberry did a good job with this phone.

 

[towngirl]

I love it. I have run into some people who love it. And it takes great pictures! They only thing I would like, are more and or easier Settings on Apps! There are a few I just cannot set properly...I am a bit ...Very.. Irritated by that.

My son loved mine so much, he bought one. He loves it, too.