What's good
- Bright, crisp display
- MicroSD support up to 2TB
- Excellent security additions
- Front-facing stereo speakers
- QuickCharge 2.0 support
What's bad
- Occasional delays in performance
- Sealed battery
- Tinny speakerphone
It’s no secret that BlackBerry doesn’t enjoy the success it once had. In their latest attempt to get back in the smartphone market, BlackBerry handed off device design to another company to freshen up their line-up. Touting the world’s most secure smartphone is quite a claim, but with security concerns out of the way, is the handset worth owning?
The reviews are rolling in and we’ve dug through them all to bring you this summary!
Reviews on the phone’s aluminum-lined design are positive. And with good reason--the phone’s shell is essentially a modified Alcatel Idol 4. The only complaints about the device was button placement. Many reviewers found the placement of the power button awkward.
Flipping around to the front of the phone, you’re greeted to a blank glass slate. Thin bezels help the keep the phone slim and trim and front-facing stereo speakers offer a boost to the media experience. Phonescoop noted, “[Audio] quality is good enough that you can probably skip using a Bluetooth speaker in small quarters.”
The 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display also received plenty of praise. Multiple reviewers pointed out how bright the screen was the excellent visibility in bright lighting. Phonescoop said, “The LCD panel offers excellent viewing angles. Text, images, icons, and web sites are sharp and free of pixelated edges. It's a fine display.” While 1080p might not cut it for VR usage, it’s more than enough for daily tasks when paired with the smaller display.
To keep your apps and games humming along, BlackBerry went with an eight-core Snapdragon 617 with 3GB of RAM. Overall performance is solid, even with gaming. Reviews noted that apps loaded quickly and multitasking wasn’t a problem. Some reviewers noted minor stuttering at random times. Pocket Lint described the experience, saying, “Most of the time the DTEK50 runs smoothly. However, at least once or twice during a single stint of use, the phone has paused or frozen for a couple of seconds before continuing with its tasks.”
BlackBerry kept changes to the Android 6.0 software to a minimum apart from a few privacy additions. Reviewers particularly loved their approach to widgets. They also enjoyed the DTEK app for auditing security tweaking app permissions on the phone. BlackBerry claims the phone will be the most secure smartphone in the world, thanks to monthly security updates and zero day patches.
One other addition caught reviewers by surprise--the BlackBerry keyboard app. Reviewers raved about the accuracy and customization options. If you’re a frequent texter or use your phone for email and writing, the keyboard might be worth a look.
Media junkies will find plenty to love about the phone. While it only offers 16GB of internal storage, the microSD slot lets you add up to 2TB of storage space.
The phone’s 2610mAh battery is sealed, so you can’t swap it out if you’re running low. However, support for Quick Charge 2.0 offers a half charge in just 30 minutes. Unfortunately, you must spend more to take advantage of this feature as BlackBerry does not include a QC2.0 charger with the phone. Little was mentioned on battery life in reviews--though no one mentioned any problems either.
While the DTEK50 won’t replace your DSLR, reviews on the 13MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing lens are decent. The rear camera features an f/2.0 lens and two-tone flash for greater color accuracy. The front-facing lens includes a flash for making the most of your selfies or late night Skype sessions. Phonescoop took the camera out in the city and said, “I'd say most people will be happy to use the DTEK50 for everyday photo and video needs. It can handle most ordinary shooting environments.”
Reviews on BlackBerry’s latest phone are good if not leaning toward blandly average. The only questionable issue is the price. Pocket Lint summed up opinions well, saying, “The only thing the BlackBerry DTEK50 really has going for it is the added security. And if protecting your information and keeping an eye on your phone's vulnerabilities is invaluable to you, then the less-than-perfect hardware is definitely a cross worth bearing.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jamshed Avari, Gadgets 360No matter how outlandish, impractical, or overpriced, each of BlackBerry’s phones over the past few years has at least been memorable. Some, such as the Priv and Passport (Review), might even be considered iconic. While the DTEK50 offers far better hardware than previous budget BlackBerries, it just...
- Nimish Dubey, TechPPIt is a good device, but nowhere near the greatness that BlackBerry needs. And while it is affordable by BlackBerry standards, those standards still seem a trifle out of sync with ground reality, especially taking the new generation budget flagships into consideration.
- Alex Dennis, AusdroidAn affordable phone at around $400 (depending on vendor) with class-leading build quality, great software and connectivity, let down by a battery perhaps a bit small.
- Sameer Mitha, DigitThe BlackBerry DTEK 50 has a good display and very smooth overall performance, but lags behind the competition when it comes to the camera, battery life and built-in storage. It's just not the perfect smartphone to buy.
- Rohan Pal, The Mobile IndianThe BlackBerry DTEK50 does not have anything special to offer apart from the security aspects. It might appeal to the business customers with the type of security the company is giving, but for a regular people, it is just another Android smartphone. And keeping the price point in mind, the smartpho...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the BlackBerry DTEK50 user manual here.
BlackBerry backs up the DTEK50 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your DTEK50 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact BlackBerry support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find BlackBerry's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- BlackBerry DTEK50 Manual (PDF)
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