BlackBerry Classic

S21

The BlackBerry Classic combines a physical keyboard with the power of the BB10 touchscreen operating system. It allows limited Android apps too, and is a very competent business smartphone. But the small screen and dated processor won't make it a good choice for multimedia fans.

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

BlackBerry has created a very good smartphone for a very small number of people. For those Bold diehards still clinging to the keyboard-and-trackpad combo of 2011, the Classic will feel right at home. For everyone else, the familiar QWERTY keyboard is still an emailer's best friend, but BlackBerry 10 just can't keep up with iOS and Android where it counts.

Digital Trends | Ted Kritsonis

Excellent battery life, wonderful call quality, and of course that keypad make the new Blackberry an easy choice -- for some people, anyway.

Pocket-lint | Chris Hall

The BlackBerry Classic undoubtedly achieves its aims. This is every bit an upgrade of the Bold, exhibiting the same strengths, broadening the experience and offering more for the BlackBerry user. Of the recent BlackBerry launches, the Classic is the keyboard device we'd most want to use, which is a definite positive.

Mobile Choice

The Classic is all in all, a great work phone but really not good enough to replace my "entertainment device". Will I stop using it because it gets less than glowing reviews? No. And that's because there is a very specific need that it addresses- for me to work and in that respect, the Classic does a more than good job.

TechRadar | David Nield

The BlackBerry Classic is a perfect device for some and a complete irrelevance for most. If you love the old-school keyboard and can forgive the so-so performance it will appeal, otherwise it'll be a long way down your list.

International Business Times | Alistair Charlton

The Classic does everything BlackBerry set out to achieve, but that unfortunately means it swims against a strong tide. If you must have a smartphone with a physical keyboard, then the Blackberry Classic is your best (and almost only) option.

phoneArena | John V.

The BlackBerry Classic isn't the kind of smartphone meant to draw consumers away from notable devices like the iPhone 6, Galaxy Note 4, LG G3, and Nexus 6. However, we can't deny that the outright price alone undercuts many of its highly esteemed rivals.

Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman

The BlackBerry Classic is not a bad phone, not by any stretch, but it isn't a good phone, either. As has long been BlackBerry's problem, the Classic is a one-trick pony. Meanwhile, every other pony in the stable has learned compelling new tricks.

Recombu | Alex Todd

If you're looking for a new 'Berry then the Classic will fit the bill perfectly, but if you want a new device that can take on the rest of the current smartphone market, we'd suggest you look elsewhere.

Brighthand | Andrew Hayward

True to its name, the BlackBerry Classic mimics the company's phones of old, all while modernizing the hardware and software alike. To some extent, it succeeds: The phone itself feels great, and the operating system shows improvement, even if it's still sort of stuck between eras.

Gizmodo UK | Darren Orf

It does all your core smartphone-y things ok. You can tweet. You can post to Facebook. You can check your email. But smartphones are increasingly becoming so much more than just that. They're the remote controls to our homes and the central devices in our social lives. Even if you were comfortable sideloading all the Android apps you'd ever need, the experience still isn't seamless. Apps are still slow. They'll crash or do other weird quirky things that'd you'd never see on Android or iPhone. It's just not worth it.

Mashable | Raymond Wong

The BlackBerry Classic is for the QWERTY keyboard faithful and email workaholic only. BlackBerry 10 is still as confusing as ever and essential apps like Instagram and Google's own suite of apps are nowhere to found.

What Mobile | Callum Tennent

It's these caveats, these many, many caveats, that make the BlackBerry Classic difficult to recommend. For almost everyone other than BlackBerry fans, this phone is just a reminder of how far we've moved on in recent years.

The Gadget Show

If you're a die-hard BlackBerry purist and you've been waiting patiently to see the Bold lineup make a comeback, the Classic is the QWERTY keyboard-toting, throwback business phone you've been waiting for. It's just as practical as the massive Passport, but it's actually pocketable and BlackBerry 10 packs in plenty of nifty features.

Digital Versus | Romain Thuret

You could consider the Classic as an excellent productivity tool, like the Passport but not as high-spec. Depending on how you look at it, it's either a bit of a let down or a minor success...

NDTV Gadgets | Jamshed Avari

Maybe the Classic could have been a serious contender a few years ago, but like most things BlackBerry has done since its decline began, it's just too little too late.

The Verge | Dieter Bohn

It was made for the people who are still clinging desperately to their OG 2011 BlackBerry Bolds, stockpiling them like Kim Kardashian.