The BlackBerry Q5 maintains the classic BlackBerry look with the square screen and physical keyboard, but drops the trackpad and thumbstick. The phone offers mid-range specs with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of memory, 8GB of onboard storage and a microSDHC slot expandable up to 32GB. Due to the phone’s decent specs, the new BlackBerry Hub and apps run smoothly on the phone according to PC Advisor.
CNET notes that the Q5, as compared to the Q10, “feels cheaper...The Q5's glossy plastic surfaces are slippery and prone to grease and fingerprints.” In addition, while the Q5 does support a physical QWERTY keyboard, many reviewers found it to be much more difficult to use than previous BlackBerry phones. Ewan Spence of Forbes notes that while the Q5 uses the familiar BlackBerry keyboard layout, the keys themselves have “a lower physical profile [so] it’s harder to hit the right key...when you do not only do you need to ensure that you hit the key dead center for it to register, you’ll also feel the surrounding keys move down very slightly…”
Many reviewers also had screen issues. Since the Q5 utilizes a physical keyboard versus on-screen keyboard, the actual size of the screen is only 3.1 inches. Chris Martin of PC Advisor mentions that it might be difficult for consumers used to larger screens as during their tests they would “often quit out of apps by going too close to the bottom of the screen when scrolling down a page or a list.” Demetrius Crasto of TechShout notes that the screen is also a “smudge magnet.” The screen itself is an IPS LCD display with a 720x720 pixel resolution. According to Engadget despite its small size, the screen has excellent backlighting and good viewing angles.
Overall, most reviewers have found the Q5 to be a rather disappointing addition to the BlackBerry family. ZDNet states that ”...for most the combination of physical keyboard, diminutive screen and limited array of apps may leave them cold.” Softpedia notes that the “...build quality of the phone leaves much to be desired…”
The Good: IPS LCD display offers excellent viewing angles, BlackBerry 10 OS runs smoothly.
The Bad: Difficult to use keyboard, small screen size, poor build quality.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Andre Chan, Mobile88The Q5 is a decent little smartphone. While it doesn’t have any unique features to make it stand out among other average devices, it does its job without a fuss. In a nutshell, if you fancy a touchscreen phone with the added practicality of a QWERTY keyboard, don’t mind the plastic-domin...
- Kunal Gangar, Tech TickerAs a device, Q5 has the same things to offer that you’d find in a premium model like the Z10 or the Q10 but the biggest draw of this device is the price. Price was one of the major deterrent for consumers to try out the high-end BB 10 devices but with Q5, there’s a chance he’ll at...
- Colin, BlackBerryRocksThe BlackBerry Q5 is available across all of the major networks, including Orange and Vodafone, offering users an excellent alternative to the many touchscreen devices currently packing out the market.The multi-purpose Q5 serves as a respectable personal and business phone highlighting BlackBerry&rs...
- Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile), SoftpediaThe Q5 is the answer to BlackBerry fans’ prayers for a cheaper 10 OS device. Even though some may not be content with the build quality of the smartphone, for the time being, this is the cheapest BlackBerry 10 handset that you can buy.I do like the BlackBerry Q5, as it feels good in your hand....
- Michael Kozlowski, Good E-ReaderWhen we first got this phone last week, I thought I would hate it. The Blackberry Q10 was a fine phone, but not worth the $900 it was available in Canada to buy off-contract. The Q5 is only a few hundred, and will reel in prior Blackberry users that may have shifted to another phone, because of the...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the BlackBerry Q5 user manual here.
BlackBerry backs up the Q5 with a 2 Years parts & labour warranty.
If your Q5 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.
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Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- BlackBerry Q5 Manual (PDF)
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