BlackBerry Z3

BlackBerry Z3: A Bold Move for the Once-Popular Canadian Brand

Depending on your perspective, the year 2014 may have felt like just yesterday or a lifetime ago. It was a time of rapid development in the tech industry, with new smartphones constantly being released. One of these noteworthy releases was the BlackBerry Z3, a budget-friendly device from the once-popular Canadian brand.

BlackBerry, known for its business-oriented phones, took a bold step with the Z3 by making it an affordable option for the general consumer. Launched in February 2014 and released in May of the same year, the Z3 was met with mixed reviews. Some praised its sleek design and smooth performance, while others were disappointed by its lack of advanced features.

Sadly, the Z3 was short-lived and was officially discontinued, marking the end of an era for BlackBerry. However, the Z3 still has some standout features worth revisiting. Let's take a blast into the past and explore what made the BlackBerry Z3 a noteworthy device.

A Budget-Friendly Option

One of the biggest selling points of the BlackBerry Z3 was its affordability. At the time of its launch, the Z3 was priced at about 90 EUR, making it a budget-friendly option compared to other high-end smartphones on the market. This move marked a significant shift for BlackBerry, as they typically targeted the business market with their higher-priced devices. With the Z3, BlackBerry was trying to expand its reach to the general consumer market.

Solid Performance and Operating System

Despite being a budget-friendly option, the BlackBerry Z3 did not skimp on performance. It features a Qualcomm MSM8230 Snapdragon 400 chipset and a Dual-core 1.2 GHz Krait 200 CPU, which may not be impressive compared to today's standard, but was quite decent for its time. These specs allowed for smooth navigation and multitasking.

The Z3 also ran on BlackBerry OS 10.2.1, upgradable to 10.3.1, which had a sleek and user-friendly interface. The operating system also offered features such as BlackBerry Blend, which allowed for seamless integration between the Z3 and other devices, and BlackBerry Assistant, a voice-activated virtual assistant similar to Siri and Google Assistant.

Expandable Storage

The Z3 may have only had 8GB of internal storage, but luckily it offered a microSDHC card slot for expandable storage. This meant users could add up to 32GB of additional storage, providing plenty of space for apps, photos, and music. However, the downside was that the Z3 only had 1.5GB of RAM, which could be limiting for those who used their phone for more demanding tasks.

Decent Display

The BlackBerry Z3's 5.0-inch IPS LCD display was decent for its time, offering a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. While it may not have been the sharpest display on the market, it still provided clear and vibrant visuals. Its 67.6% screen-to-body ratio was also notable, especially considering it was a budget device.

Sleek Design and Build

The Z3 may have been a budget-friendly option, but it did not skimp on design. It featured a glass front, plastic back, and plastic frame, giving it a sleek and modern look. The device also had a decent weight of 164g and came in at a thickness of 9.3mm, making it comfortable to hold and use.

Decent Camera

While the Z3's 5MP main camera may seem minimal compared to today's standards, it still offered some decent features. The auto-focus camera had an f/2.4 aperture and a 30mm standard lens, allowing for clear and crisp photos. It also had LED flash, HDR, and panorama capabilities, which were impressive in a budget device. Its 1.1MP front camera may not have been the best for selfies, but it could still capture decent video quality at 720p.

Long-Lasting Battery

With a non-removable Li-Ion 2500 mAh battery, the Z3 had decent battery life. It could last up to 384 hours on standby or up to 15 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. Additionally, the Z3 had an impressive music play time of up to 84 hours, making it a great choice for music lovers on a budget.

Solid Network and Connectivity

The Z3 supported GSM and HSPA network technologies, allowing for reliable and fast connections. It also featured Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and FM radio, making it a well-rounded device for staying connected and entertained.

Farewell to BlackBerry

In 2014, the BlackBerry Z3 marked the beginning of the end for the once-popular brand. Despite the device's solid performance and features, it was unable to compete with other budget-friendly options on the market at the time. The Z3 was also seen as a deviation from BlackBerry's usual target market, and it failed to attract enough consumers to keep the brand afloat. Ultimately, the Z3 was discontinued, marking the end of an era for BlackBerry.

In conclusion, the BlackBerry Z3 may have been a short-lived device, but it still had some standout features for its time. From its budget-friendly price to its solid performance and decent camera, the Z3 offered a good overall experience. Although it may not have been able to save BlackBerry, the Z3 still holds a special place in the hearts of those who owned and used it.

Latest BlackBerry Z3 Specs and Prices

LAUNCH

• Announced:  2014, February. Released 2014, May
• Status:  Discontinued

PLATFORM

• Operating System:  BlackBerry OS 10.2.1, upgradable to 10.3.1
• Chipset:  Qualcomm MSM8230 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm)
• CPU:  Dual-core 1.2 GHz Krait 200
• GPU:  Adreno 305

MEMORY

• Card slot:  microSDHC (dedicated slot)
• Internal:  8GB 1.5GB RAM - eMMC 4.5

DISPLAY

• Type:  IPS LCD
• Size:  5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.6% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution:  540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~220 ppi density)

BODY

• Dimensions:  140 x 72.8 x 9.3 mm (5.51 x 2.87 x 0.37 in)
• Weight:  164 g (5.78 oz)
• Build:  Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
• SIM:  Micro-SIM

MAIN CAMERA

• Single:  5 MP, f/2.4, 30mm (standard), AF
• Features:  LED flash, HDR, panorama
• Video:  1080p@30fps

SELFIE CAMERA

• Single:  1.1 MP
• Video:  720p

BATTERY

• Type:  Li-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removable
• Stand by:  Up to 384 h
• Talk time:  Up to 15 h 30 min
• Music play:  Up to 84 h

CELLPHONE NETWORK

• Technology:  GSM / HSPA
• 2G bands:  GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• 3G bands:  HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100
• Speed:  HSPA

SOUND

• Loudspeaker :  Yes
• 3.5mm jack :  Yes

COMMUNICATIONS

• WLAN:  Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
• Bluetooth:  4.0, A2DP, LE
• Positioning:  GPS
• NFC:  No
• Radio:  FM radio
• USB:  microUSB 2.0

FEATURES

• Sensors:  Accelerometer, proximity

MISCELLANEOUS

• Colors:  Black
• Price:  About 90 EUR

Disclaimer: Specifications shown may be different from the actual product. We cannot guarantee that the information provided on this page is 100% correct. This content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice.