PRIV by BlackBerry Factory Unlocked Smartphone

If you're like me, then 90 percent of the reason you're considering this phone is for the keyboard. In fact I went so far as to switch carriers, and take a more expensive plan just to get this phone. I have been searching for about 2 years for an updated smart phone with a physical keyboard. When the passport came out I was excited. I liked the look of it, but upon learning it ran blackberry os, I decided that it ultimately was not for me. So when the priv came out, imagine my surprise. My first 10 minutes with the priv were disappointing. I found the device clunky, buggy, and could visibly watch the battery life drain. On top of that the physical keyboard, which was the main reason I bought the phone, was difficult for me to use even though I do not have large fingers. Dismayed I thought about returning it, but the thought of having to re-port my number was even more unappealing. Do I gave it a chance and I will admit its growing on me. Here are my pros and cons Pros: The physical keyboard: pure and simple the physical keys are a godsend for me. I can't stand touch typing I honestly don't feel like that technology is really there for it yet. The privs keyboard, while not without several shortcomings is usable. I am finding that I get better with it each day and I by no means feel like I've topped out my learning curve. One feature that I'm really beginning to appreciate is that touch sensitive physical keys- meaning that I can type a please then simply swipe my finger upward if I like the one predicted word. If not I just keep typing with my accurate physical keys. Accuracy when you want it precision when you need it. Autocorrect when you want it and precision when you dont. One of my main gripes with predictive technology is that I have to frequently fight it to type words that I want, God forbid I have to type a proper noun or anything of that sort. The touch sensitive physical keyboard is also handy for navigation as you can use it to move around the screen and navigate websites without having to move your fingers to the upper part of the phone. The keyboard, for all its shortcomings is growing on me. Blackberry suite: if you're into that. The only thing that's been nice has been using the hub to sync all my email accounts, but I'm not a member of the blackberry cult so I don't use BBM etc. Overall I could take or leave the blackberry hub, this is android so there us a short third part app for everything that usually does what you want it to do. And for me... that where the pros really end. It has lots of ram but it doesn't feel well utilized... Cons: Overall design: I am really scratching my head on this one. I really don't understand what blackberry was thinking when they designed this thing. It's huge, unwieldy and the curved screen just seems to be something I accidentally rub my finger on and accidentally swap the screen. To be honest I don't get the curved edge screen thing, so maybe it's just not my style. The phone is massive as it is but on top of that there's a pull down keyboard. When the keyboard is slid out the balance is awkward. You cannot operate this device one handed. I am baffled about this. It's just uncomfortable to hold any way you try it. The main focus of the phone which I would think to be the keyboard is small and not very ergonomic. As I type my hands are starting to get cramped up. Heat: it gets hot, doesn't bother me but some other users were griping about it. Battery life: OK this part actually scares me. The battery life is atrocious. It's actually the main reason I considered returning the thing. I it's gone frome 84 to 73 percent from the beginning of this review till now. Yes I get it I am online, but seriously... I don't know how blackberry got away with releasing it this way. I will note that many claimed this is due to poor optimization and this may be the case. Other reviewers noted that there is a wearing in time , and that I should expect to wait 2 weeks for the battery to improve. If I will give it this: the battery life is improving but boy does it make me nervous. Buggy: I'm not sure why people say that android is inherently buggy because ithis hasn't been my experience. The bugs aren't bad... it's just not polished. Especially for the price Other things: Camera seems fine The phone is very slim Looks goofy with keyboard slid out The back seems thin... I don't feel like this phone would survive a fall very well. It doesn't necessarily feel cheap or anything just fragile. I guess the bottom line is that when I pay 650 dollars (or more) for a phone I expect a pretty darn polished experience. I didn't feel like blackberry delivered. I can't say that I recommend this phone at that price. If it were in the 300 dollar range I'd find all these quirks a bit more acceptable. I will note this: the priv does grow on me as I use it more. I started this as a 3 star review and dropped it to a 2 because I really couldn't think of any pros other than the typing experience (which continues to grow alongside the battery life (hopefully)). I think if the UI gets some more updates and the battery stabilizes I will update to a solid 3 stars, but I can't in good confidence do that now. I think the main reasons I'm keeping it are more out of laziness and not wanting to go through the hassle of returning it. If that changes I will update my review. My recommendation to those like me who miss a physical keyboard would be to wait, unless you're feeling like burning some money. Wait for a significant drop in price, update in UI, or a different device. I wanted very much to like this phone... I really really did. Battery at 70 percent as I finish. Scratch that 69. ____________________________ Well it's been a year now, and Ill say that I've dropped my review another star. And then there was one: On the overheating: I mentioned earlier, this phone gets hot. I didn't really have a problem with that, but as of late I've started to get "overheating messages" which bogs down cpu performance, and makes the phone barely usable until it cools off. This can happen when I play graphically intense games, or watch movies. The keyboard: still about the same. I seemed to have maxed out at a sreasonable typing speed, I think mostly due to the cramped nature and awkward position that your hands are forced into to both support the weight of this collassal beast, and simultaneously type. Battery life: Abysmal. Great when you're not using it, but when you do anything, and I mean anything you can watch the battery drain. A few times I've been streaming a movie with the battery plugged in at 20 percent, and the phone has actually died on the charger. Build quality: so far the screen has held up pretty darn wel. Not reality any major scratches, I take good care of it, but based on previous phones I would have expected more scratches. It has survived a few fairly nasty falls. The USB port however seems frail. The charger that came with it died on me last night, and the way the plug fits into the phone to charge makes me nervous. Still feels clumsy UI still feels clunky and underpowered, even though the specs are technically impressive. I'm finding that the UI seems to be getting buggier as time goes on for some reason, even though Updates continue to come. But still after all this...i just can't bring myself to give up my physical keyboard. It's so convenient to be able to walk, and text without looking (remember that! Texting without looking?)If any tech guru venture capitalist is reading this somewhere, please, don't let qwerty phones die. Still bitter about paying 600 for it, and watching the price plumett. At its current price of around 350, I don't know that I could firmly recommend. 200 range, I think would be a good buy imo, if you're OK with the afformentioned quirks.