BlackBerry Q5 Red to offer entry level 4G smartphone
At the moment there are not many budget smartphones with 4G connectivity onboard, which is a bit annoying for anyone who is ready to start using this next-gen networking standard but doesn’t have the cash to splash out on the iPhone 5 or Galaxy S4.
The good news is that the BlackBerry Q5 happens to be a mid-range device that is not lacking in the 4G department, so you can get your fix of superfast web browsing, downloads and online gaming without having to ring up mum and dad to ask for financial help.
But is this handset worth considering when compared with its similarly priced, non-4G rivals? Here is a BlackBerry Q5 review that should help you to decide for yourself.
BlackBerry Q5 Red Design
On the outside the BlackBerry Q5 Red looks fairly similar to other budget BlackBerry phones that have come before it, including the Curve and the Bold. This is because it features a full physical QWERTY keypad on the front, which makes it possible to type quickly and accurately.
What sets the Q5 apart from its predecessors is the funky touchscreen display, which does away with the need for physical navigation buttons. It measures 3.1 inches across and has a 720p HD resolution, which makes it one of the crispest and clearest screens on the market, even if it isn’t exactly gargantuan in size.
At a shade over 1cm thick it is slender enough to slip into the pocket of some skinny jeans without leaving a huge, unsightly bulge in them. And with a weight of 120 grams it feels solid without being a burden.
Four different colours for the Q5 are available, with variations being offered by different network providers, so you can pick one that suits your style. E2save are pleased to have exclusive stock of the red BlackBerry Q5. With White and Pink colours also available on this affordable BlackBerry smartphone by August, there’s plenty of choice for browsing 4G phones on a budget.
Q5 Red Hardware specs
A dual core 1.2GHz processor and a healthy 2GB of RAM are paired together within the Q5 and they do a good job of keeping everything running like clockwork.
You get 8GB of storage space to store your apps, photos and videos, with a memory card slot letting you add even more space if you need it.
There is a five megapixel camera on the back and this can shoot full HD video clips, which is great for when you want to preserve the exciting moments of life in glorious high definition. Meanwhile a two megapixel camera up front lets you make video calls if you are not too freaked out by holding face to face conversations over the phone.
BlackBerry 10 Software
The Red BlackBerry Q5 runs the BB 10 operating system which is great for multitasking, has access to the BlackBerry World app download service and it still one of the best solutions around for messaging.
Whether you love texting, instant messaging or email, BB 10 is going to have your back. The BlackBerry Messenger service, also known as BBM, is present and correct and now lets you send multimedia files as well as making voice and video calls to your contacts.
BBM is about to make an appearance on both Android and iOS, so the number of people you can get in touch with via it will explode in the near future.
4G Connectivity
This is a fully fledged 4G phone and although only a limited number of towns and cities in the UK currently have coverage available, it will allow download speeds of between 8-20Mbps.
As more network providers jump on the 4G bandwagon the BlackBerry Q5 Red will become even more appealing and if you are sick of waiting for videos to buffer, apps to download and Skype calls to go through, it is really something you should consider.
Recent mobile HTML5 browser tests also state BlackBerry 10 to be the leading operator
The Q5 also has the usual selection of additional connectivity capabilities including GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC, the latter of which allows you to turn your phone into a mobile wallet and make payments in real world stores.
It is a great package to get for a low price and so the Q5 could be a worthy partner for the next 24 months. It is definitely one of the best affordable BlackBerry smartphones on sale at the moment.
Check out our most affordable smartphones of 2013.