BlackBerry's focus on secure software and their new partnership with manufacturer TCL are two of the biggest factors in their recent resurgence. Last year, the company announced two new devices — the KEYone and the BlackBerry Motion. The KEYone has been available for a while, but after months of waiting, BlackBerry announced the Motion will hit US shores in a few days.
The Motion joins the small list of BlackBerry devices to employ an all-screen design, but it's the first to benefit from TCL manufacturing the hardware. If you're not a fan of the physical QWERTY keyboard, the Motion is like an improved version of the KEYone with a more modern design and slightly better specs. Starting January 12, US customers will finally be able to purchase one.
The Specs
- OS: Android 7.1.2 Nougat
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
- GPU: Adreno 506
- RAM: 4 GB
- Display: 5.5" IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1,920 x 1080
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Storage: 32 GB (expandable up to 2 TB)
- Dimensions: 6.13" x 2.97" x 0.32"
- Rear Camera Resolution: 12 MP
- Rear Camera Aperture: f/2.0
- Rear Camera Pixel Size: 1.55 µm
- Front Camera Resolution: 8 MP
- Front Camera Aperture: f/2.2
- Front Camera Pixel Size: 1.12 µm
- Water Resistance: IP67
- Fast Charging: Quick Charging 3.0
- Connections: USB-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Fingerprint sensor: Yes (front)
Battery: 4,000 mAh
The BlackBerry Motion is one of the few smartphones with a battery capacity north of 4,000 mAh. However, what stands out with the Motion is the combination of such a large capacity and the power-efficient Snapdragon 625 SoC.
The result is a battery that easily lasts a day and half on a single charge — even two days for lighter users. When the Motion's battery finally dies, with Quick Charge 3.0, you will charge back up to 100% in no time.
Security: Android 7.1.2 Nougat with DTEK Security Suite
While it doesn't run the latest version of Android, BlackBerry Motion does come close with Android 7.1.2 Nougat. It does have the latest security patches, and BlackBerry promises to continue providing them for up to two years after its initial release date. By running the latest security patch, BlackBerry Motion customers can be sure that their device will have limited vulnerabilities.
BlackBerry Motion also comes equipped with the DTEK security suite, which monitors your device for any vulnerabilities and tells you how to address them. Other security tools included with the Motion are BlackBerry Messenger, which provides secure communication, a Privacy Shade that obstructs all but a small section of your screen, and Locker, a secure folder that you can use to hide sensitive information and require a passcode, PIN, or fingerprint to access.
Water Resistance: IP67
The Motion marks the first time BlackBerry has released a smartphone with an IP67 rating. This was largely made possible thanks to the lack of a physical keyboard. With this rating, it has complete protection against dust and can resist water damage for up to 30 minutes while submerged as deep as one meter.
BlackBerry Motion Compared to the KEYone
Compared to the KEYone, the Motion offers several advantages. The first is the larger battery capacity. The KEYone has a respectable 3,505 mAh, but pales when compared to the Motion's 4,000 mAh. They both utilize the same SoC, which means the Motion's battery life should be better than the KEYone's.
I say "should" because the Motion has a larger display (5.5" vs the KEYone's 4.5"), higher resolution (1920 x 1080 vs the KEYone's 1620 x 1080), and more RAM (4 GB vs the KEYone's 3 GB). Each component affects the battery life, however, they all contribute to better performance.
Finally, Motion has IP67 water resistance while the KEYone lacks an IP rating altogether. The IP rating of the Motion translates to a more durable phone compared to the KEYone.
Overall, if you're not a fan of physical keyboards, the Blackberry Motion is a better phone than KEYone. In losing the keyboard, Motion owners gain a better display, higher resolution, more RAM, bigger battery, and water and dust resistance. For these reasons, after the Motion is released, we will be updating our best phone for privacy ranking to include the device.
Pricing & Availability
The BlackBerry Motion will be available starting January 12 via Amazon and Best Buy. It will be sold unlocked for $449.99, meaning it will only work for AT&T and T-Mobile networks.
The BlackBerry Motion is an attractive offer. It has a day-and-a-half battery life, a decent chipset, great display, and top-notch security. For those who value their privacy, there isn't a better offer than BlackBerry's DTEK Security Suite. And when it comes to battery life, few phones will deliver a better result. Are you interested in the BlackBerry Motion? Let us know in the comments below.
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