To everyone asking about the game titles: as always, they're right on the screen! :) Check the upper-left corner whenever we're showing gameplay footage. "Asphalt 8" and "Galaxy on Fire 2 HD" were the games featured in this review. ^M
M....You got this brother. Still the best reviewer on youtube. No doubt. I can't believe I'm saying this but, I would buy this if it weren't an 808 device. Sadly that means more issues,than not.
Some of you think Michael went too easy on the Priv, while others seem to think he came down too hard on it. Check out the full review to see how he really feels (and to see more of him talking in the third person): pocketnow.com/2015/11/18/blackberry-priv-review ^M
Unless the Priv got an 11 out of 10 rating here, and on all other tech sites, I don't see this saving BB. "Annoyances" shouldn't happen on a company-saving flagship.
+sumanth vemuri We've used BB10 since it was announced, yes - and since day one we've found the Hub quite sluggish no matter what hardware we used. ruclips.net/video/SQhvc4Nxo_U/видео.html ^M
So glad blackberry decided to release an android device. Though I doubt it's the device that'll put them back amongst the smartphone top dogs it certainly looks like a major step forward for them.
They actually should have done what Google did this year. Release 2 phones with different price points because as much as I like BBs; this is way too expensive.
+Andre Wolff Doubt it because this actually has an audience and appeal. I work at AT&T and we have sold quite a few of these. This phone is really good!
+Andre Wolff the Amazon Firephone was sold as a physical portal to the Amazon store. Apart from scanning something and being able to buy it from the Amazon store, it had no real reason to exist. The BlackBerry Priv has concrete differentiators that (some) people can relate to: more privacy on Android, more security on Android, and a physical keyboard.
I'm still using my 4 year old Priv in 2020 because of its form factor with the slide-out keyboard and large screen. I am on my third battery and have had the screen replaced after a 6 ft. drop. Every reviewer gripes about the camera, but I think it takes amazing shots. It didn't take me long to become fast with the keyboard, and the slide out feature is great for typing emails and documents with a full screen when I'm not in the office. In fact, as a solo attorney, I do about half of my work on this phone despite often having a desktop computer in front of me. This phone does drain the battery very fast, and the processor can often be used to cook eggs. But overall I have been happy with it. People always stop me to ask about it when I'm out in public, and are shocked that anyone still has a Blackberry in 2020. It's unfortunate that there won't be any new Blackberry phones in the foreseeable future, so I may break down later this year and get the Key2 despite it having a smaller screen.
Stopping by to say praise about how good this review was. Short enough, while also being extremely complete and full of details that most reviewers would simply skip.
Hey PocketNow congrats on your 5000 videos. I'm a big fan here from Finland. I always rely on your review videos before making any purchase for mobile phones and other accessories. I think pocket now is one of the most if not the most reliable and honest reviewers on the Internet. keep up the good work and congrats on your success!!! lots of love from Finland.
+Honda lover sadly, I think this phone is a make or break test for Blackberry, so, let's hope not everyone interested into a BB Android phone will think the same as you.
Been using the Priv here in the UK for a little under a week now. Using on O2 but it is available on other networks. Also, I've noticed that phones seem a lot more expensive in the US. The Priv is a great phone; used and owned all the big named phones and I am enjoying this phone more than those. I think the build is good, the physical keyboard is fantastic (once you get used to it) it really is great seeing the full screen while typing. Yep, software is a bit confusing here and there, some things are duplicated, for example Gmail, you're going to want to cancel Gmail alerts as the Hub will keep you right. Also, every time you take a picture it asks you if you want to save to the SD card, every time. As mentioned, with a couple of software updates and tweaks the phone could be fantastic. Blackberry have been releasing the occasional update so hopefully they'll be able to address some of the issues.
Now this is HOW you create an Unbiased Reviews, most tech channels either sounds like unintentional paid ads when they like the product or paid negative marketing when they dont like the product
When I heard that blackberry was coming out with another phone... Got my hopes up so high and after the review started coming and whenever I saw these negative comments a tear would fall from my eye and after watching Michael's review I am the happiest person on earth... Love your reviews brother. Just love the priv and how it looks... Would love to get one. Thanks Michael best review ever!!!
Great review Michael! If you could do a "revisited" review after the new year (or after the Marshmallow update) that would be much appreciated. I really want to give Blackberry another shot but these inconsistencies are going to be hard to look past come upgrade time. Cheers!
As a Priv owner - they've fixed a lot of those issues with software updates. Like the performance, battery life, boot time, app crashing and keyboard device search lag. Still there's a lot of things that need fixing - probably in the 6.0 update... and it's annoying it's not available even though the first quarter of 2016 has passed.
+xFreshKicks08 s6 edge is one slippery phone lool it looks like its fake...why the build is so cheap u can tell they wanted to save money on hardware lol....the curved screen on the s6 is only for show lol...battery is bad ...lol@at keen saying bad battery lol I didn't charge it for a whole day...ive owned the s6 and the battery was bad
+Keenan Spencer well the S6 has a fantastic build quality. But not the S6Edge. The phone's back is an aggression to the palm of a human hand, however big it is, and the overall quality of the S6Edge is inferior to most Huawei smartphones. Besides, every reviewer has stated that the curves on the Priv screen are better used than the curves on a S6Edge screen. Most people who understand what security is stay away from fingerprint scanners on smartphones. Regarding the 2MPix selfie camera, yes it is anemic, and yes it can be a showstopper for some people. I'm not part of those people.
Idk why but that skin is so simple yet so beautiful. I love it how they changed alot of the icons but kept them very material design like, and didn't take them to far from the original icons. The charging bar that wraps around the screen is a nice touch as well. If you couldn't tell I'm the kind of android user that looks at the design of the os and how it looks and feels when I'm using it instead of only settling for the best of the best phone. Give me a phone with a good app store, nice screen, decent specs, decent battery, good looking icons and lots of cool animations hidden around and you have me sold.
@Michael I am a blackberry fan and for some reason I liked the genuine critics you made. I am using blackberry 10 since it's launch and feels extremely fluid for my usage over and over the updates. Switching to android creeps out at time, because when I used it, it just doesn't do my things as easy as BB 10 dose. What is your choice between BB Passport Vs BB Priv, considering I don't care about google services. Is BB priv more productive than BB Passport??
+Amey Phatale If you don't need Google services and BB10 suits you fine, then there's no reason to switch. In some ways BlackBerry's own software is more consistent and fluid than its Android launcher. We can't speak to BB's long-term plans regarding BB10 though. ^M
I have both the Passport and the Priv. The Passport is by far the better device for communications and productivity. If you can afford it and your use to having two devices, the Priv is a good secondary device, which is how I use mine. Better than the other Android devices I've tested, and prefer it over the iPhone 6S Plus.
Marshmallow just hit Priv yesterday, can't wait until July when I'll buy myself a Priv for my bday. Would love to see the face of my iPhone fanboy coworkers when they'll see 1. a Blackberry, 2. a great looking Android phone and 3. a slider.
I have had mine for 5 days. I haven't experienced any lag at all and that's amazing considering its android. I feel blackberry have done a wonderful job. my battery seems pretty good. camera I'm still trying to get a nice day to try it. will I keep it. yes it's for better android experience than anything else. it just needs a few updates to smooth things out.
PravSrpski They obviously had Google Fi. OMG I just noticed the timestamp of 8:15 refers to the numbers! As in 4,8,15,16,23,42! Mindblow within a Mindblow!@_@
I originally wanted to hate this video due to the title, but Micheal did an amazing job. Many videos of the Priv which I've seen have been a tad bias and pretty harsh at times. You told what you liked, and then what the Priv didn't do well... with examples. I have a BB10 Passport which I adore, and was totally opposed to the Blackberry Android amalgamation, then started playing with the Priv one day. Now I would consider even buying this phone. But maybe I'll wait, as there is nothing wrong with my Passport. Keep up the great reviews!
Where was the footage shot for this review? I'm road tripping across America next year and the town in this video was beautiful. Would like to see it in person.
+Jevon Butler lol i compared it at ATT store and the samsung phones look and feel so fake compare to the priv ...no lie...the s6 edge was embarrassing to hold......that priv is one beautiful phone ...looks so authentic
A fair review. My only comments would be the software seems to be getting better all the time, and the price point given the hardware involved is valid.
I see it like this...if someone gets access to where my fingerprint is stored I can't get a new one ...with passwords I can just change them whenever I want
+Arthur K you have obviously never used a fingerprint reader, once you do you will never go back to PIN security. The tech is there so not having it is a major fail for a smart phone OEM. When you take the price into account it is even less forgivable. Why isn't it launched with Marshmallow. For a business phone why is the front camera so poor? Why on benchmarks is it performing worse than phones half the price? Lots of good stuff but they have not done the really important stuff well for the price. Hopefully software tweaks can improve things but I suspect mark 2 will be the one to go for, assuming BB is still making phones.
How Priv handles email? on BB10, when you are using Exchange email, the BB10 preserve the format as in you send your email on microsoft outlook in PC/Laptop. iOS and other android phone (both stock email client app and third party app), changed the formatting into a sort of text only email. it is very unprofessional judging by the formatting and the view of the email. Does Priv do the job like BB10? thank you in advance.
Wow... now that is one of the best reviews I've seen of the Priv. Thanks for viewing it is real life situations and not look for bad but more objectively.
l am turning into a BlackBerry fanatic with each release. There is a bit to fix within the company, but l love their integrity and hope they get back to a corporate level where they can splurge more on their flagships to see strong returns. BlackBerry is doing interesting things now that they are the underdogs. l think the Priv would work better for me in Zimbabwe (currently l'm on the Z10. Its required some technical maneuvering since Zim has no BB support whatsoever). So you really have to be a die hard BB Fanatic outchea. Loved this review. Brilliant job Pocketnow. As for me l think HTC and BlackBerry rock!
one of the only few phones with a keyboard. um whens the last time there was one? how many years ago was that? it's the only one now. was it the droid 4 or droid pro?
Good thing that most of these "problems" that were complained about aren't really problems, and can simply be addressed as the software becomes more mature. For BlackBerry's first foray into Android after working on a completely different operating system, I'd say they did a fairly solid job compared to Android veterans at the usual suspects' companies. I was sort of confused by the "app crashing" comment, as I've yet to experience that on mine so far; and I've been running mine pretty hard since I got it with plenty of apps. All in all though, it was a decently fair review of positives and negatives.
On of the concerns of the Priv right now is that it packs a powerful battery, but it doesn't to hold up as long as it should. With this in mind and all the other performance issues faced by Priv, I believe we would all appreciate a relook of the device once it gets a Marshmallow update. In any case, keep up the good work and have a great day! :)
This is the device I have been after since it was first thought to be the name of Venice. Priv is an interesting name but is one that follows BlackBerry and their history of secure devices. My first smart phone was a BlackBerry, now that they've entered the Android subspace, it makes it that much more drool worthy. Thanks for an awesome review!
this device is unreal now. so much better after the last hub, camera and marshmallow update. the hub widgets are really handy, provides instant acces to custom views, back button takes users back to the universal inbox instead of minimising the app. html auto signatures also (auto signatures with pictures). the camera is a lot faster now and swiping the keyboard adjusts settings.
First reaction: LOVE IT! However, my biggest physical concern would be that sliding mechanism wearing out quickly, giving you use it constantly sliding in and out
The sad thing is that the PRIV has no optical trackpoint. Even though the integrated track point is very nice for text editing (and for the most part can be used for scrolling, which is nice too), it can not serve as a mouse cursor or tab key as the optical trackpads can. That would have been so usefull considering the big size of the PRIV. I have to strech the fingers a lot or use two hands to operate ob the upper screen part, with an optical trackpoint it would be no problem at all. The PRIV does not even offer one handed operation mode as Samsung or Huawei do.
Damn good video....thanks Michael,...you mentioned just the exact experience that we need to know about this phone rather than others who just regurgitate the specs sheet.....keep up the good job......
I think it was a fair review. I love BlackBerry and currently own a Z30. I'm thinking about the Priv and as a consumer want to hear the truth. Michael did a good job. The good news is that all the issues mentioned can be resolved with software updates.
I did expect to see bugs, lags and half-baked features since it's a Blackberry after all but that flex on the back is totally UNFORGIVABLE at that price and as the legacy of the legendary Blackberry hardware quality. I so hoped for the Priv to succeed - more for my Canadian pride, because I never had a BB. :(
@pocketnow, now I need your LG v10 review so I can make a final decision on which phone to get. I truly rely on your reviews to help me make a sound decision with my two year commitment of my next phone.
My favorite thing about the Priv is the keyboard. I really miss having a nice physical keyboard. It would be awesome if I could get my hands on one! It looks pretty sweet!
I have a friend who has a blackberry z10 and he's been looking forward to owning the priv. I told him about this review and he was totally more on it. And I really think this phone is one of the best and most unique phone of 2015.
Really blackberry has sorted out & put things together in the correct path after quite a while.. Hope they had done this earlier & saved their brand. Would really like to get my hands on the BB priv sometime when it is available for purchase in my country. Finally thank u guys for this brief & detailed review.
I love Blackberry's take on Android. I love little tweaks like the charging animation, app shortcuts integrated into the keyboard, the widgets and many more. I know and hope that they will Polish this take on Android and make Bb's android one of the best there is in a short time. Best of luck blackberry, I miss my Bb curve and I wish I could buy the priv if it was within my budget. Sticking to Sony for now.
I hope you do a update review with the American version, which comes with wireless charging, where the Canadian version doesn't have wireless charging at all. And the mute button doesn't do much but open up the menu when on the home screen, wish it muted when you pressed it, instead of acting like the volume up or down buttons
Definitely be getting 1 of these. BlackBerry have got enough right and software updates will only improve any glitches in a very good system, the way BB did with BB10 updating.
This honestly seems like a solid phone that offers a good experience that is alternate to the leading android phone companies. The keyboard is something I wonder if it can really be more of a pro than a con. The features seems pretty well thought out and I love the keyboard shortcut buttons to open apps, makes multitasking way easier imo.
![BlackBerry Priv Review Re-Do [2017]](/img/1.gif)
To everyone asking about the game titles: as always, they're right on the screen! :) Check the upper-left corner whenever we're showing gameplay footage. "Asphalt 8" and "Galaxy on Fire 2 HD" were the games featured in this review. ^M
Duh! Thanks...Totally missed that.
Sadly way too little, way too late for Blackberry... Right? Thanks for the review. Your reviews are among the best to watch on RUclips.
Damn this review is wonderful..absolutely perfect script and well organized ideas with thorough analysis 👍👍👍 you're the right guy for this job Michael
Damn this review is wonderful..absolutely perfect script and well organized ideas with thorough analysis 👍👍👍 you're the right guy for this job Michael
M....You got this brother. Still the best reviewer on youtube. No doubt. I can't believe I'm saying this but, I would buy this if it weren't an 808 device. Sadly that means more issues,than not.
Some of you think Michael went too easy on the Priv, while others seem to think he came down too hard on it. Check out the full review to see how he really feels (and to see more of him talking in the third person): pocketnow.com/2015/11/18/blackberry-priv-review ^M
Unless the Priv got an 11 out of 10 rating here, and on all other tech sites, I don't see this saving BB. "Annoyances" shouldn't happen on a company-saving flagship.
+stevestojan ffffffF&*.^:/""0)szzzzz28l
Pocketnow yes he did
Another great Michael Fisher review. My god he is such an amazing reviewer, what would Pocketnow be without him
+Androx5000 Really, I liked the review of Dom Espito even more..
He's the best.
They would be nothing. As a matter of fact, he's the only reason I'm subscriber. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Karim Salloum same here
+Karim Salloum I'm subscribed for both Fisher and Rivera.
I don't care what anyone says I want this phone!
I second that notion
+Mr. Venom me too!
Good price now! Check!
+Pocketnow..., I don't know if you used BB10. Blackberry Hub is lighting quick on BB10,
+sumanth vemuri We've used BB10 since it was announced, yes - and since day one we've found the Hub quite sluggish no matter what hardware we used. ruclips.net/video/SQhvc4Nxo_U/видео.html ^M
+Pocketnow , Would you really use sluggish.. :(.
+Pocketnow ,Nonetheless your review on the priv is one of the best ones out there ! thanks.
+sumanth vemuri Thanks for watching! ^M
+Pocketnow It was actually pretty sluggish on pretty much all BB10 devices save for the Passport
So glad blackberry decided to release an android device. Though I doubt it's the device that'll put them back amongst the smartphone top dogs it certainly looks like a major step forward for them.
+Govind Somadas Well said. It's absolutely a big step. ^M
+Pocketnow I agree, the functionality concept is praticaly brilliant
They actually should have done what Google did this year. Release 2 phones with different price points because as much as I like BBs; this is way too expensive.
+Andre Wolff Doubt it because this actually has an audience and appeal. I work at AT&T and we have sold quite a few of these. This phone is really good!
+Andre Wolff the Amazon Firephone was sold as a physical portal to the Amazon store. Apart from scanning something and being able to buy it from the Amazon store, it had no real reason to exist.
The BlackBerry Priv has concrete differentiators that (some) people can relate to: more privacy on Android, more security on Android, and a physical keyboard.
@Pocketnow I want Michael Fisher to review all Flagship phones. In Michael Fisher we trust! 💟
I'm still using my 4 year old Priv in 2020 because of its form factor with the slide-out keyboard and large screen. I am on my third battery and have had the screen replaced after a 6 ft. drop. Every reviewer gripes about the camera, but I think it takes amazing shots. It didn't take me long to become fast with the keyboard, and the slide out feature is great for typing emails and documents with a full screen when I'm not in the office. In fact, as a solo attorney, I do about half of my work on this phone despite often having a desktop computer in front of me.
This phone does drain the battery very fast, and the processor can often be used to cook eggs. But overall I have been happy with it. People always stop me to ask about it when I'm out in public, and are shocked that anyone still has a Blackberry in 2020. It's unfortunate that there won't be any new Blackberry phones in the foreseeable future, so I may break down later this year and get the Key2 despite it having a smaller screen.
MICHAEL FISCHER BEST PHONE REVIEWER OF ALL THE INTERNET
+Julian Mauro in english yeah =P other languages i dunno =P there some italians that are very good too
After MKBHD!
+iAm Tumelo Damn right
Sycophant.
Noah from phonedog is the greatest reviewer of all time!!!!
Stopping by to say praise about how good this review was. Short enough, while also being extremely complete and full of details that most reviewers would simply skip.
I do have high hopes for Priv. There is a lot of room for improvement and most of the issues can be fixed with software updates.
Hey PocketNow congrats on your 5000 videos. I'm a big fan here from Finland. I always rely on your review videos before making any purchase for mobile phones and other accessories. I think pocket now is one of the most if not the most reliable and honest reviewers on the Internet. keep up the good work and congrats on your success!!! lots of love from Finland.
Good phone but not perfect maybe when its updated or the 2nd edition for me
+Honda lover we should send an email to blackberry to say..keep going will buy the 2nd version. this is so preemie still..
+Honda lover fingerprint sensor is needed...
+Emanuele Sortino Do it!
Lucien Lee it depends i would like fingerprint but i can live with out it doesn't bother me to much
+Honda lover sadly, I think this phone is a make or break test for Blackberry, so, let's hope not everyone interested into a BB Android phone will think the same as you.
Been using the Priv here in the UK for a little under a week now. Using on O2 but it is available on other networks. Also, I've noticed that phones seem a lot more expensive in the US.
The Priv is a great phone; used and owned all the big named phones and I am enjoying this phone more than those. I think the build is good, the physical keyboard is fantastic (once you get used to it) it really is great seeing the full screen while typing. Yep, software is a bit confusing here and there, some things are duplicated, for example Gmail, you're going to want to cancel Gmail alerts as the Hub will keep you right. Also, every time you take a picture it asks you if you want to save to the SD card, every time.
As mentioned, with a couple of software updates and tweaks the phone could be fantastic. Blackberry have been releasing the occasional update so hopefully they'll be able to address some of the issues.
Clicked on the video and I was pleased to see it was Michael Fischer's review :D
Fisher*
really glad you waited more than a week for a proper review and not just in the first 2 days.
Wow, really hope to see them making a comeback in this crowded market. I might be picking one up, haven't decided yet.
do it. their sick
+Steeve McCloud I bought it yesterday and it one of the best mobile I've ever held.
+Steve Fernandes I have one to and its awesome
Now this is HOW you create an Unbiased Reviews, most tech channels either sounds like unintentional paid ads when they like the product or paid negative marketing when they dont like the product
Beautiful hardware, poor software execution
just like the original LG G flex
This is true. However, the flex in the rear cover is disappointing.
The second g flex is pretty good other than the heat issues
+w99mmt good hardware held back by android.
+w99mmt Isn't that the unique selling point of BB?
When I heard that blackberry was coming out with another phone... Got my hopes up so high and after the review started coming and whenever I saw these negative comments a tear would fall from my eye and after watching Michael's review I am the happiest person on earth... Love your reviews brother. Just love the priv and how it looks... Would love to get one.
Thanks Michael best review ever!!!
it has now been updated since this review ! I own a blackberry priv and most of the software negatives mentioned are no more
Shub91 does it still gets hot like a fireplace while normal or heavy usage?
how is your blackberry priv now in 2018?
I guess this phone still garrantee privacy better than most android phones of 2018.
I have been whatching for 3 years now and Im proud.You keep getting better.And...I want blackberry priv :D
Great review Michael! If you could do a "revisited" review after the new year (or after the Marshmallow update) that would be much appreciated. I really want to give Blackberry another shot but these inconsistencies are going to be hard to look past come upgrade time. Cheers!
+Keith Rice Thanks! We'll definitely schedule an After The Buzz for this one, yes. ^M
+Pocketnow Fantastic! Thanks!
+Pocketnow after the buzz would be perfect 👌👌👌
Anyone who was excited about the swiping up for widgets feature in the Blackberry launcher, this feature also exists in Action Launcher 3
after the buzz is needed for this . want to see how it aged.
waseem bux Check Mr mobiles Review Re do
God your reviews of the smartphones are the best on RUclips!Keep up the good work Michael
The hardware is gorgeous maybe the next android blackberry once they fix the software.
A blackberry nexus would be AMAZING
+Jose Cazares (GunnarOptik) Well...I'm just curious what can they make with a BB nexus.
+Andrei Sena Let's hope curiosity gets the best of google
If you read his comment he used a pre release software, he received an update and it fixed the little software glitches
+ariza034 Fixed some, but not all. His conclusion was that it NEEDS more.
As a Priv owner - they've fixed a lot of those issues with software updates. Like the performance, battery life, boot time, app crashing and keyboard device search lag. Still there's a lot of things that need fixing - probably in the 6.0 update... and it's annoying it's not available even though the first quarter of 2016 has passed.
I would have been sold on this phone if it had a fingerprint scanner and 5mp front facing camera.
Those are minor things that are missing
+Keenan Spencer You my nigga, are a Samsung fanboy
+xFreshKicks08 s6 edge is one slippery phone lool it looks like its fake...why the build is so cheap u can tell they wanted to save money on hardware lol....the curved screen on the s6 is only for show lol...battery is bad ...lol@at keen saying bad battery lol I didn't charge it for a whole day...ive owned the s6 and the battery was bad
+Keenan Spencer
well the S6 has a fantastic build quality. But not the S6Edge. The phone's back is an aggression to the palm of a human hand, however big it is, and the overall quality of the S6Edge is inferior to most Huawei smartphones.
Besides, every reviewer has stated that the curves on the Priv screen are better used than the curves on a S6Edge screen.
Most people who understand what security is stay away from fingerprint scanners on smartphones.
Regarding the 2MPix selfie camera, yes it is anemic, and yes it can be a showstopper for some people. I'm not part of those people.
Idk why but that skin is so simple yet so beautiful. I love it how they changed alot of the icons but kept them very material design like, and didn't take them to far from the original icons. The charging bar that wraps around the screen is a nice touch as well.
If you couldn't tell I'm the kind of android user that looks at the design of the os and how it looks and feels when I'm using it instead of only settling for the best of the best phone. Give me a phone with a good app store, nice screen, decent specs, decent battery, good looking icons and lots of cool animations hidden around and you have me sold.
@Michael I am a blackberry fan and for some reason I liked the genuine critics you made. I am using blackberry 10 since it's launch and feels extremely fluid for my usage over and over the updates. Switching to android creeps out at time, because when I used it, it just doesn't do my things as easy as BB 10 dose. What is your choice between BB Passport Vs BB Priv, considering I don't care about google services. Is BB priv more productive than BB Passport??
+Amey Phatale If you don't need Google services and BB10 suits you fine, then there's no reason to switch. In some ways BlackBerry's own software is more consistent and fluid than its Android launcher. We can't speak to BB's long-term plans regarding BB10 though. ^M
I have both the Passport and the Priv. The Passport is by far the better device for communications and productivity. If you can afford it and your use to having two devices, the Priv is a good secondary device, which is how I use mine. Better than the other Android devices I've tested, and prefer it over the iPhone 6S Plus.
Michael is the Robert Downey Jr of Phone reviews. Love your videos, man. Keep em coming
The real question is why does he look like Tony Stark?
This was one of the best reviews i have heard in a while :) .
Looks like a fancier torch.
+The only easy Day was yesterday
... with apps!
Now we just need a horizontal slider. Nobody was asking for a vertical slider, but that capacitive scrolling feature is kind of neat.
Marshmallow just hit Priv yesterday, can't wait until July when I'll buy myself a Priv for my bday. Would love to see the face of my iPhone fanboy coworkers when they'll see 1. a Blackberry, 2. a great looking Android phone and 3. a slider.
+Ultrakillerism Did that fix most of the software issues? Also, is there a price drop coming anytime soon? I just LOVE the hardware aspect so much.
+Jyu Viole Grace 299 rn :D
SlicesofBread ebay or?
+Jyu Viole Grace eBay
Last BB Phone I owned was the Torch and I absolutely loved it. Glad to to see that design back in a more modern style
this is me typing on my priv. Very good phone.
I have had mine for 5 days. I haven't experienced any lag at all and that's amazing considering its android. I feel blackberry have done a wonderful job.
my battery seems pretty good.
camera I'm still trying to get a nice day to try it.
will I keep it.
yes it's for better android experience than anything else.
it just needs a few updates to smooth things out.
8:15 Lost Reference XD
+PravSrpski So Michael is the Black Smoke!? No Way!
Abebil3 I know right! Didn't know they had service on the island
PravSrpski They obviously had Google Fi. OMG I just noticed the timestamp of 8:15 refers to the numbers! As in 4,8,15,16,23,42! Mindblow within a Mindblow!@_@
Abebil3 NO WAY!
I originally wanted to hate this video due to the title, but Micheal did an amazing job. Many videos of the Priv which I've seen have been a tad bias and pretty harsh at times.
You told what you liked, and then what the Priv didn't do well... with examples.
I have a BB10 Passport which I adore, and was totally opposed to the Blackberry Android amalgamation, then started playing with the Priv one day. Now I would consider even buying this phone. But maybe I'll wait, as there is nothing wrong with my Passport.
Keep up the great reviews!
I call it the Blackberry S6 Edge
lol 😂
lol
Where was the footage shot for this review? I'm road tripping across America next year and the town in this video was beautiful. Would like to see it in person.
I'll keep my Note 5, best android phone of 2015
That's the Nexus 6p
Not gonna lie that nexus 6p is a beast too. But I love my SPEN. If I could use two phones tho, it would be the note 5 and nexus 6p
+Joel Koh Nexus or nothing! :D
lg v10 ftw!
+Jevon Butler lol i compared it at ATT store and the samsung phones look and feel so fake compare to the priv ...no lie...the s6 edge was embarrassing to hold......that priv is one beautiful phone ...looks so authentic
A fair review. My only comments would be the software seems to be getting better all the time, and the price point given the hardware involved is valid.
Lmao, selling point is security privacy, doesn't even have a fingerprint sensor. Smh.
My thoughts as well
fingerprint scanners aren't that secure
I see it like this...if someone gets access to where my fingerprint is stored I can't get a new one ...with passwords I can just change them whenever I want
+Arthur K you have obviously never used a fingerprint reader, once you do you will never go back to PIN security. The tech is there so not having it is a major fail for a smart phone OEM. When you take the price into account it is even less forgivable. Why isn't it launched with Marshmallow. For a business phone why is the front camera so poor? Why on benchmarks is it performing worse than phones half the price? Lots of good stuff but they have not done the really important stuff well for the price. Hopefully software tweaks can improve things but I suspect mark 2 will be the one to go for, assuming BB is still making phones.
+amfrepo it might be convinient but that doesnt defeat my earlier comment
I really love how blackberry is incorporating that physical keyboard once more and this time into an android phone!
I'm typing this msg from my physical keyboard
#priv 🙂🙌
Cas per how is it holding up now in 2018? Lol. I'm actually looking into purchasing one now.
How Priv handles email? on BB10, when you are using Exchange email, the BB10 preserve the format as in you send your email on microsoft outlook in PC/Laptop. iOS and other android phone (both stock email client app and third party app), changed the formatting into a sort of text only email. it is very unprofessional judging by the formatting and the view of the email.
Does Priv do the job like BB10? thank you in advance.
I don't care about camera's, why would I want to take pictures of my ugly friends and family?
yeah i would have to move to another city for sure.
+friendofCHAKA you live in Utah don't you
worse, Milwaukee!
Wow... now that is one of the best reviews I've seen of the Priv. Thanks for viewing it is real life situations and not look for bad but more objectively.
hands down best reviewer on youtube
Best review on the Priv I've seen. Great stuff Fisher.
Michael Fisher...just the best of Pocketnow
l am turning into a BlackBerry fanatic with each release. There is a bit to fix within the company, but l love their integrity and hope they get back to a corporate level where they can splurge more on their flagships to see strong returns. BlackBerry is doing interesting things now that they are the underdogs. l think the Priv would work better for me in Zimbabwe (currently l'm on the Z10. Its required some technical maneuvering since Zim has no BB support whatsoever). So you really have to be a die hard BB Fanatic outchea. Loved this review. Brilliant job Pocketnow. As for me l think HTC and BlackBerry rock!
one of the only few phones with a keyboard. um whens the last time there was one? how many years ago was that? it's the only one now. was it the droid 4 or droid pro?
+Cole Cawtuh HTC Chacha?
As a Canadian, have to say: Well DONE BlackBerry!!!
The most useful review I have seen about the BB Priv.. and I have seen a lot! Thanks
Good thing that most of these "problems" that were complained about aren't really problems, and can simply be addressed as the software becomes more mature. For BlackBerry's first foray into Android after working on a completely different operating system, I'd say they did a fairly solid job compared to Android veterans at the usual suspects' companies.
I was sort of confused by the "app crashing" comment, as I've yet to experience that on mine so far; and I've been running mine pretty hard since I got it with plenty of apps.
All in all though, it was a decently fair review of positives and negatives.
On of the concerns of the Priv right now is that it packs a powerful battery, but it doesn't to hold up as long as it should. With this in mind and all the other performance issues faced by Priv, I believe we would all appreciate a relook of the device once it gets a Marshmallow update. In any case, keep up the good work and have a great day! :)
What a great reviewer you are....surely one of the best on youtube! Can u also do a hands-on and full review of the new Lumia 950 and 950XL?!
This is the device I have been after since it was first thought to be the name of Venice. Priv is an interesting name but is one that follows BlackBerry and their history of secure devices. My first smart phone was a BlackBerry, now that they've entered the Android subspace, it makes it that much more drool worthy. Thanks for an awesome review!
this device is unreal now. so much better after the last hub, camera and marshmallow update. the hub widgets are really handy, provides instant acces to custom views, back button takes users back to the universal inbox instead of minimising the app. html auto signatures also (auto signatures with pictures). the camera is a lot faster now and swiping the keyboard adjusts settings.
First reaction: LOVE IT! However, my biggest physical concern would be that sliding mechanism wearing out quickly, giving you use it constantly sliding in and out
Great review..Are they any plans for more updated Blackberry Priv reviews?
The sad thing is that the PRIV has no optical trackpoint. Even though the integrated track point is very nice for text editing (and for the most part can be used for scrolling, which is nice too), it can not serve as a mouse cursor or tab key as the optical trackpads can. That would have been so usefull considering the big size of the PRIV. I have to strech the fingers a lot or use two hands to operate ob the upper screen part, with an optical trackpoint it would be no problem at all. The PRIV does not even offer one handed operation mode as Samsung or Huawei do.
Great review Michael! Love your work.
I loved the keyboards they made back then, and still do
Great review as always, Michael!
I love the fact Blackberry decided to go back in time a little and bring us something different.
I like how it goes back to its roots while getting hip with Android
I would love to have this phone @pocketnow and I wanted to know whether the edge displays cause distortion while viewing standard videos?
I kinda want BB to bring back SurePress on their next full touch device. 3D touch is my favorite feature on my iPhone.
Great work! Great Review! Wich icon pack did you used in the video?
I have the note 5 and never had a blackberry in my life, but watching this review...I want this phone!
Oh I like that startup animation.
Michael, your reviews are just awesome! I love your work. Cheers.
Karim
Damn good video....thanks Michael,...you mentioned just the exact experience that we need to know about this phone rather than others who just regurgitate the specs sheet.....keep up the good job......
the three dots is like action launcher option to swipe up to reveal widget
I love the design of this phone and the retractable keyboard. How long does the battery usually last on stand-by?
Turned out to be way better than I expected
I think it was a fair review. I love BlackBerry and currently own a Z30. I'm thinking about the Priv and as a consumer want to hear the truth. Michael did a good job. The good news is that all the issues mentioned can be resolved with software updates.
I did expect to see bugs, lags and half-baked features since it's a Blackberry after all but that flex on the back is totally UNFORGIVABLE at that price and as the legacy of the legendary Blackberry hardware quality.
I so hoped for the Priv to succeed - more for my Canadian pride, because I never had a BB. :(
BlackBerry still have a chanse how good is the virtual and physically keyboard how how good is the screen outside?
So black berry doesmt have its own os anymore? Or does the app store still work on older phones?
@Pocketnow Please do a Priv vs. Passport comparison smackdown. Maybe before black friday in case there's some good sales.
@pocketnow, now I need your LG v10 review so I can make a final decision on which phone to get. I truly rely on your reviews to help me make a sound decision with my two year commitment of my next phone.
My favorite thing about the Priv is the keyboard. I really miss having a nice physical keyboard. It would be awesome if I could get my hands on one! It looks pretty sweet!
I have a friend who has a blackberry z10 and he's been looking forward to owning the priv. I told him about this review and he was totally more on it. And I really think this phone is one of the best and most unique phone of 2015.
Really blackberry has sorted out & put things together in the correct path after quite a while.. Hope they had done this earlier & saved their brand. Would really like to get my hands on the BB priv sometime when it is available for purchase in my country. Finally thank u guys for this brief & detailed review.
I love Blackberry's take on Android. I love little tweaks like the charging animation, app shortcuts integrated into the keyboard, the widgets and many more. I know and hope that they will Polish this take on Android and make Bb's android one of the best there is in a short time. Best of luck blackberry, I miss my Bb curve and I wish I could buy the priv if it was within my budget. Sticking to Sony for now.
I hope you do a update review with the American version, which comes with wireless charging, where the Canadian version doesn't have wireless charging at all. And the mute button doesn't do much but open up the menu when on the home screen, wish it muted when you pressed it, instead of acting like the volume up or down buttons
+Steven Browne
the Mute button does mute the sound when you click on it.
Definitely be getting 1 of these. BlackBerry have got enough right and software updates will only improve any glitches in a very good system, the way BB did with BB10 updating.
Woohoo!! FInally, been waiting for this video. :D
This honestly seems like a solid phone that offers a good experience that is alternate to the leading android phone companies. The keyboard is something I wonder if it can really be more of a pro than a con. The features seems pretty well thought out and I love the keyboard shortcut buttons to open apps, makes multitasking way easier imo.
Yea Michael Fisher is an amazing reviewer,everyone on PocketNow is.
Keep up doing great work guys and good luck in future...
Cheers
I've really come to love your reviews.
I'm wondering if you have to write the review script prior the video recording?
I have a question, can this blackberry have a long durability with its slide keyboard?