Appearance
Chronologically, the Classic is the successor to the Q10 but because the physical control buttons and trackpad have returned below the screen, the device may have more in common with the four year old Bold 9900. That's the model BlackBerry compares it to. With its keyboard and physical controls, the Classic is a bit of an odd duck in today's smartphone landscape. Above the touchscreen, besides the ear loudspeaker and a secondary camera, there is also an LED notification light.
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The Classic has a metal edge with rounded corners. On the left side of the device there is space for two metal slides in which the SIM card and microSD card can be inserted. On the right side of the device there are two volume buttons with in between them the button to activate BlackBerry Assistant.
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At the top we find the headset jack and the power button. At the bottom there are two grids on either side of the microUSB connection; one for the microphone and the other for the loudspeaker. At the back, the part that holds the camera sticks out a little bit. The backcover is made entirely of plastic and has a grid motif for extra grip. The back can't be removed and the battery can't be replaced by itself.
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As we have come to expect from BlackBerry, the build quality is excellent. A little bit of light is leaking between the option key and the screen but that is not disturbing. Because of the metal rim and the fact that the backcover can't come off, it feels very solid. The Classic is not a little boy. This is mainly because there is a lot of empty space around the screen and under the keyboard. Also its weight is considerable. Nevertheless, the device lies by its curves and convex back in the hand.
