BlackBerry PRIV deals and reviews

Recombu | Chris Barraclough

The Blackberry Priv really is the best Blackberry phone of recent times, if not all time. By ditching its own OS for Android, Blackberry will hopefully tempt back lost followers and welcome fresh supporters to its fold, while the tweaks and bonus features such as Blackberry Hub and DTEK make for a solid user experience.

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The PRIV by BlackBerry is a unique phone, running the Android Lollipop OS together with BlackBerry apps and security software. It has a unique design too, with a slide-out keyboard, and a double curved edge display. It's not cheap, but it offers a unique combination of premium build, physical keyboard, large screen and Android apps.

Mobile Choice | Sunetra Chakravarti

...I am happy that my company is not worried about my using it for work because they trust Blackberry and this phone also has the space to store all the downloaded BBC iPlayer content, as well as the app itself, to watch during long-haul flights to the US makes it worthy of.... that Blackberry are asking for it!'

TechnoBuffalo | Todd Haselton

"The BlackBerry Priv performs really well and I dig its focus on security in an age where I feel I can't be too careful. I really, really like the physical keyboard, which I'm more than accustomed to. I also dig that the camera is good enough, if a bit slow. Pair that with a solid AMOLED Quad HD display and expandable storage, and I really have a phone that checks all the boxes for me"

MobileTechTalk | Domenico Lamberti

Whilst the Priv is an awesome device to use, the reaction I got from almost everyone on the street when I told them I was using a BlackBerry was "really? BlackBerry still make phones?". I Love the Priv BlackBerry, but you've got to rebuild your brand, and the Priv was a great first start.

NotebookCheck | Andreas Kilian

Although the review sample does not have any direct opponents due to its special configuration with a physical keyboard, some top-class smartphones that are clearly superior to the Priv in some aspects, such as performance, exist in its price range.

The Mobile Indian | Anil Satapathy

BlackBerry Priv has all features of a high end smartphone. Ofcourse, its price tag is a bit higher but just recently its price has been reduced in global markets.

Australian PC World | Tony Ibrahim

Parts of the BlackBerry Priv are cutting edge and it's a good enough smartphone to compete against the best from Samsung, Sony, and Apple. The physical keyboard yields only compromise.

AndroidPit | Shu On Kwok

The Priv is an unashamedly large phone but it makes up for its clunkiness with a great display, super functional QWERTY keyboard and great materials and build quality. For a debut device on the Android platform, it is a very impressive offering.

Know Your Mobile | Richard Goodwin

The PRIV isn't perfect, as noted throughout this review, but I have tried to be as diplomatic as possible, highlighting why certain things might not work quite as well as they should, commending its positives, and attempting to explain the presence of certain performance gremlins.

TechRadar | John McCann

The BlackBerry Priv is the mullet of the smartphone world. It's still business in the front, but now there's a party in the back too. It will divide opinion, but this is the best BlackBerry in years.

Android Central | Russell Holly

BlackBerry has assembled a thoroughly enjoyable piece of hardware, and while the BlackBerry/Android software mashup isn't perfect it's a solid first attempt.... It's a great all around phone when closed, and the physical keyboard takes that experience over the top and directly competes with the current top of the line Android phones.

Coolsmartphone | Dan

For brand die-hards you will of course pick up the Priv and learn to love the open OS from Android. All the applications that are available will breathe fresh life into the Blackberry offering. If, though, you are not huge BlackBerry fan and just want the best for your money, then it's still worth a look if you do not mind the large design.

NDTV Gadgets | Jamshed Avari

The Priv isn't quite the single-minded business tool that its predecessors have been, and while we understand the tradeoff in favour of versatility, the Priv doesn't do very much that other high-end Android phones don't already do... For you to choose to spend on this phone, you'd have to be majorly invested in BlackBerry's keyboard and promise of security, or just really be a fan of the brand.

The Telegraph | Rhiannon Williams

Hats off to BlackBerry for being bold enough to make a gamble they truly deserve to see pay off. In an age when all phones effectively use the same candy bar conventions, it's refreshing to see something different - some of us may have missed flipping and sliding our phones more than we actually realised.

Alphr | Jonathan Bray

In a world of bland, homogenous smartphone design, the BlackBerry Priv stands out as a beacon of individuality, a smartphone that does everything a standard Android smartphone can, but without sinking into morass of mediocrity. It isn't the greatest phone around, but at least it's something different.

V3 | Carly Page

The BlackBerry Priv is undoubtedly the company's best smartphone yet, and it trounces rival devices when it comes to battery life. However, in a world where the word 'BlackBerry' is no longer associated with cool, and touchscreen keyboards are the norm, the Priv might suffer from limited appeal

Stuff | Esat Dedezade

...you'd expect the Priv's performance niggles to be absent and its build quality to be a tad better. These two issues hold the Priv back far more than any stigma you might associate with the BlackBerry brand. Given a chance, this phone will offer hyper-productive sorts plenty to love about it. For the work-shy slobs amongst us, its asking price is too high.

Register Hardware | Andrew Orlowski

It may be a "Hail Mary" pass, but BlackBerry's arrival on Android adds bags of choice and maturity to the platform – not just for enterprises but more sophisticated punters.

Pocket-lint | Chris Hall

The Priv is a good Android phone: it's quirky, interesting and offers things you won't find elsewhere. But BlackBerry needs to work on refining the software and making this handset sing, because that's when BlackBerry on Android will taste the sweetest.

IT PRO | Alan Lu

Not everyone will care about the hardware keyboard and other phones are good enough for business, but the Priv is nonetheless a surprisingly good smartphone

Expert Reviews | Katharine Byrne

Its display is excellent, it has a great camera, and its decision to add Android on top of a physical keyboard will no doubt be a huge draw for former BlackBerry users who have been side-lined by a lack of decent apps. I'd expect faster performance at this price, as well as maybe a fingerprint sensor for added convenience, but the Priv is still a pretty decent smartphone regardless.

T3 | John Mccann

The BlackBerry Priv is a very accomplished Android smartphone, and we're rather fond of it. It's got a great screen, a decent camera and the added security features will put many minds at ease. It's not all plain sailing though, as the Priv does fall down when it comes to performance, while its physical keyboard feels outdated and is surpassed by the onscreen offering.

Ubergizmo | Hubert Nguyen

You get all the Android and the BB strengths in one nice package. If that sounds like a great proposition, you may just fall in love with it.

Trusted Reviews | Alastair Stevenson

The Priv is the best BlackBerry phone in over half a decade, but its performance doesn't justify its price tag.

The Inquirer | Carly Page

It's buggy as hell and lacking a little in the performance department, but BlackBerry is offering something different, be it the slide-out keyboard, focus on privacy or unique overall design. It's not just its quirks that make it appeal either, as it also trounces rivals when it comes to battery life and takes on its big-name competitors when it comes to screen quality and camera performance.

The Gadget Show

The BlackBerry Priv is the best handset the company has made to date, but as an Android phone, it feels rather late to the party. With an impressive display, a competent camera and an awesome keyboard, it's a solid phone that sounds great on paper, but it feels lacking in other ways, and it can't quite match many of the top blowers out there in terms of overall quality and performance.

Engadget | Daniel Cooper

For physical keyboard devotees, there's not much choice in the smartphone world right now, but BlackBerry does a decent job with the Priv. The high price will deter fair-weather buyers, but if you can't stand typing on glass, this is your only option.

pocketnow | Michael Fisher

The BlackBerry Priv is a device I really want to endorse – and not just for nostalgic reasons. It packs an innovative keyboard and a beautiful display into a unique form factor, and it brings some really thoughtful software improvements that make Android more useful and customizable.

The Verge | Dieter Bohn

There are enough software bugs and slowdowns ... to hold off and see if BlackBerry could finish the job it started here. Take those good ideas and buff off their rough edges, make the software just a little more stable. Because as a first effort at an Android phone, the Priv is remarkable, and I couldn't wait to see what a second push would do for it (assuming, of course, that BlackBerry gets the chance).

phoneArena | John V.

it's certainly not cheap, putting in the same capacity as some of today's prized, high-end phones. When we dissect what comes with that cost, it slowly becomes clear that there's plenty of justification for the PRIV. You get a high-spec'd phone with a physical keyboard, which by itself adds value, and is a rare occurrence in today's landscape. Accompanied with BlackBerry's legendary commitment to privacy and security, it's a recipe that unequivocally appeals to BlackBerry faithfuls.

Tom's Guide | Mike Prospero

BlackBerry's latest, and perhaps last, smartphone combines a physical keyboard, Android and a powerful suite of productivity apps.

Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman

The Priv is perhaps BlackBerry's most well-rounded handset. It isn't a perfect fit for everyone, but it covers many of the bases that BlackBerry fans need while opening up the brand to the apps everyone wants (Android, FTW!).. There are plenty of handsets that offer a better overall experience for hundreds less; but they don't have keyboards. As solid as the Priv is, I'd only recommend it to business users who need the security tools or people who simply need a physical keyboard.

Digital Trends | Ted Kritsonis

The Priv is a remarkable comeback for BlackBerry, and the best Android phone if you like a physical keyboard.

Mobile Syrup | Ted Kritsonis

Call quality is superb in every respect, yet notifications can sometimes be hit or miss. The camera is capable but not world class. The keyboard is highly functional, except most users have learned to type well on screens. There are plenty of BlackBerry apps, though they are elective and not mandatory.

Brighthand | Brighthand Staff

While the BlackBerry Priv's excellent screen, grippy back and versatile slide out keyboard come together in an Android-toting package, random reboots, inconsistent features and a slow camera highlight BlackBerry's newcomer status to Google's operating system. However, its quick update to fix these bugs highlights the Canadian company's longevity in the smartphone field.

Android Authority | Lanh Nguyen

Overall, I think that the BlackBerry Priv is a solid smartphone that does a good job of bringing together the best features of BlackBerry with the Android OS.

PC Advisor | Matt Egan

The BlackBerry Priv is a well-made Android phone with a unique feature set. We commend BlackBerry for turning its hand to being an Android OEM, and the result is a fast smartphone with a great display, hardware keyboard and solid build and design.

Mashable | Lance Ulanoff

before you drop your LG G4, HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4, S5 or S6 in favor of this, you should probably know one disheartening fact: BlackBerry isn't necessarily building this handset for you. ... for now, only on AT&T in the U.S. (Carephone Warehouse in the UK and Rogers in Canada), this phone is aimed squarely at BlackBerry's core enterprise customers, who must live on BlackBerry Enterprise Services (BES) and that demand leading-edge security and privacy options.

Gadgets Now | Heena Gupta

BlackBerry Priv is a decent attempt from BlackBerry, as it's the first Android smartphone of the company. The device comes with good security features ... but, it comes with a hefty price tag which is just too much to ask for.

ZDNet | Zack Whittaker

...it's a good effort and with the best of intentions. But with so much room for improvement, it's a tough sell for its high price point.

Android Headlines | Nick Sutrich

The poor build quality and abysmal performance in most tasks really hamper the enjoyment of the device, which is unfortunate given the price tag. A case will help fix the build issues at least, and it's highly likely that software updates will fix the performance issues, but right now it's difficult to recommend spending so much money on a device with these sorts of issues.