BlackBerry fanatics got a taste of the new BlackBerry 10 operating system earlier this year with the release of the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone, but for many of them this phone was missing one important feature: the QWERTY keyboard. The Z10 had a full touchscreen interface, much like the popular iOS and Android devices currently dominating the market. But BlackBerry’s next device combines this touchscreen with the keyboard that so many BlackBerry fans have been waiting for, and it could make the device extremely popular with consumers.
The New BlackBerry Q10
The new BlackBerry 10 operating system, often called BB10, was designed to make BlackBerry devices competitive with more modern smartphones like the iPhone, and the initial release of the Z10 was fairly successful. But many BlackBerry users who fell in love with the original devices were eagerly awaiting the second BB10 device, the BlackBerry Q10, and the wonderful keyboard it would bring to the table.
After being released in Canada and the U.K. earlier this year, according to this CNET article, the Q10 is now available for BlackBerry fans in the U.S. as well. The device is currently available through Verizon and T-Mobile, and will be available from AT&T and Sprint later in June.
The highlight, of course, is the large keyboard that so many BlackBerry lovers adore. This time, the keyboard is paired with a 3.1-inch touchscreen, which is tiny compared to most models on the market today. But obviously something had to give to make room for those four rows of physical keys.
Although the keyboard is the star of the show, the BlackBerry Q10 also comes with all the features that make the new BB10 OS stand out. These include BlackBerry Hub, which makes it easier to track messages and alerts across platforms, BlackBerry Balance, which makes it possible to use the device in a secure work environment without compromising the personal experience, true multitasking, and an 8 MP camera that’s competitive with any other phone camera on the market.
Making the Switch
The addition of a full keyboard to a BB10 device may have BlackBerry junkies drooling, but like all cutting-edge technology, this one comes at a price. A brand new BlackBerry Q10 will set you back an impressive $600 and even those lucky enough to be able to sign a new contract will still have to fork over a hefty $200 for the device.
Saving up this kind of cash will take many people quite a while, and who wants to wait weeks or months to get their hands on the latest and greatest that technology has to offer? One option that many people may turn to is selling their old device to finance the new smartphone of their dreams. After all, once you get your hands on the Q10, your old BlackBerry will become little more than an expensive paperweight. Why not consider turning in your old Bold or Torch, or even an old iPhone or Android device, for cash to pay for BlackBerry’s latest offering?
BlackBerry has thrown its lot behind the success of this new OS and new devices, and it shows in the quality of both the hardware and the software. If quick emailing and texting are your thing, there’s no beating a full QWERTY keyboard, and for that there’s no beating the new Q10.
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