14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Phone and BlackBerry have little in common, but one thing that defines both is the fact that they are far behind Android and iOS platforms in terms of market share.
Together, Windows Phone and BlackBerry have less than 5% market share worldwide, but the situation might improve in the next couple of months following the launch of new smartphones from BlackBerry and Microsoft.
The next flagship smartphone that BlackBerry plans to launch on the market is the Passport, which will be unveiled later today. According to the company’s CEO John Chen, the Passport will cost only $599 (€465) outright, even if this will be BlackBerry’s flagship for the next few months.
He also said that when put against flagships manufactured by competition, BlackBerry Passport should have been valued at around $700 (€545) off contract.
John Chen’s statement provides us the perfect opportunity to see whether or not the Passport is well worth the price in comparison with other smartphones in the same range.
We have chosen Microsoft’s flagship, the Nokia Lumia 1520, for this comparison, but stay tuned for similar articles that will involve the iPhone 6 and Galaxy Note 4.
First of all, we’re not going to compare the Passport with any other flagship smartphone in terms of design, as BlackBerry’s device has a unique square form factor.
The Passport is almost as heavy as the Lumia 1520, even if it's much smaller
However, it’s worth mentioning that BlackBerry Passport weighs no less than 194g (battery included), even though it’s much smaller than the Nokia Lumia 1520, which weighs a little more, 209g.
Moving on to specs, the Passport is expected to sport a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display that supports 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution, 453ppi (pixel per inch), and features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 coating.
On the other hand, Nokia Lumia 1520 has a much larger 6-inch IPS LCD display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution, 367ppi (pixel per inch), and features Corning Gorilla Glass 2 coating.
At first glance, the Passport’s display seems to be of higher quality given the higher pixel density and better protection glass.
The square form factor of the display is unusual for a smartphone, but we won’t file this under downsides just yet. Obviously, those who prefer larger screens will definitely pick the Lumia 1520 over the Passport, so let’s call it a tie.
Hardware-wise, both smartphones are equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipsets that pack 2.2GHz quad-core processors and Adreno 330 graphics processing units.
However, while the Nokia Lumia 1520 comes with 32GB of internal memory and 2GB of RAM, BlackBerry Passport is likely to feature 3GB of RAM and the same amount of storage.
Connectivity-wise, both flagship smartphones offer similar features
Both smartphones include microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 64GB) and various connectivity options like LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, microUSB 2.0 and NFC (Near Field Communication). As a plus, Lumia 1520 also comes with wireless charging.
On the other hand, BlackBerry Passport does feature an innovative 3-row touch responsive physical keyboard, which offers another method of input that doesn't require the use of the touchscreen.
On the back, BlackBerry Passport boasts a 13-megapixel shutter, which is said to be one of the best cameras included in BlackBerry smartphones.
It features autofocus, LED flash, OIS (optical image stabilization), HDR and full HD (1080p) video recording. On the front, the device sports a 2-megapixel camera with HD (720p) video recording capability.
Nokia Lumia 1520, on the other hand, has an amazing 20-megapixel photo snapper with Carl Zeiss optics, OIS, autofocus, dual-LED flash and full HD (1080p) video recording. There’s also a 1.2-megapixel front facing camera for video calls and selfies.
When it comes to battery, the differences don’t seem to be so obvious. Nokia Lumia 1520 is powered by a 3400 mAh non-removable battery, whereas the Passport drains energy from a 3450 mAh battery.
BlackBerry has yet to announce an estimated usage time for Passport’s battery, which might be better than Lumia 1520’s given the fact that it comes with a smaller display.
So, here is a quick rundown of the comparison to make it easier for you to spot the differences between the two flagship smartphones.
While BlackBerry Passport may be the winner when it comes to RAM and possibly battery, the Lumia 1520 has a much better camera and offers wireless charging.
The physical keyboard may also be a strong point of the Passport for those who prefer it over full-touch devices. Which one would you choose, OS aside?