OtterBox Ireland have sent us out the latest case that’s now available for the iphone6/6s from the Symmetry Series collection and this case is quite nice and not a bulky case as some can be so lets take a look at the case and talk some more.
The case is presented in open view packaging as most cases are and its simple to remove having just to cut a cable tie,you can then open the bottom panel which reveals a spongy housing around the bottom of the case keeping it secure in its packing..
Our case is a one piece design which fits nicely around the device not adding much thickness to the phone and feels quite good in hand and is not slippy it gives good grip and you phone is protected from all the aspects with a slight lip over the screen which should be adequate enough,if you already have tempered glass or a screen protector on your phone you are perfectly fine from the elements.. So lets look a bit closer,you can click to enlarge images if required.
On the back of the case there is not much to take in apart from the camera and flash,these are well protected here once the case is fitting which only takes seconds might add,we can see that the camera and flash are well below surface so even if flat on table for example they are clear of any harm and also no interference either so there is nothing to obstruct the lens which some case often do..
Top and bottom of the case also provides maximum protection although the top of the iPhone has nothing to offer compared to some other devices sporting infra red ports,however the bottom on the iPhone is where its at,with the headphone socket charging port and speaker,again these are well recessed and kept away from harms way…
The left side and right side are similar again with buttons either side when the case is applied there is good travel on the keys and no performance affected at all when using keys,this can happen with some cases especially when new but no problems at all here with this case..The on/off key on the left and volume keys and the silent key on right,the silent key is the only one not covered though its easy to access yet kept away from harm with the opening provided.
The case is tough and solid all round with the exterior shell providing protection,there is two soft areas though on the case which are the bottom end and left hand side which supports the volume and silent keys,you will notice this when installing the case on your device,this makes it easier to apply the case but when fitted its solid and the case has no movement at all.You will be pretty safe with this cover as dropping your device can be an expensive mistake especially if your screen breaks. We tried a few drops from arms length and the phone survived all attempts so im happy with that.Starting from €34,99 its a worthy investment,some do prefer to have that naked feel with their device which includes myself but after learning that hard lesson of dropping my device once before I always buy a few cases,you can however remove your case at home if you like and have that naked feel experience.
Check out OtterBox.ie for more of the symmetry range and we have some more OtterBox up soon in the coming days,any questions feel free to ask below in the comments or get us on Twitter….
Mobile Ireland is Ireland’s premium smartphone and tablet accessory supplier. Their products look to provide you with high quality gadgets that allow you to get more out of your technology and they have kindly sent us the UAG case for the Samsung Galaxy S5 to check out and share our thoughts.
Mobile Ireland wants to be at the forefront of where technology and the outdoors meet. Get more benefit and power from your smartphone or tablet. We have you covered whether you are hiking Ireland, travelling abroad on a holiday or are looking to add an accessory to your collection.
Here is what we think of the UAG case for the Samsung Galaxy S5
Presentation
Most people have a thing for presentation no matter what the product is and personally for me it is not vital but it helps,as it stands case can come in a nice box or perhaps just thrown into a cheap plastic bag with a sticker on it,this is not the case here as its presented in a decent box with plenty of information about the product..
What is inside the box..
Not much and what would you expect,we get the case,A screen protector and and some instructions on how to fit the screen protector would need steady hands and the case simply clips on to your device in a matter of seconds so overall its a simple process to get your device protected with the contents..
What is it like on the device.
Does not add much bulk to be fair and feels good in hand and the design is quite nice too,we shall go around the case now and see how it fairs out in access to ports and how well your device will be protected..
On the top we are covered,with the screen protector that comes with it its a good addition to have rather than seeking one in a separate purchase,its a mixed bag these days as to how your case arrives and what else you get with it,some offer a stylus,cloth,screen protector or all in.There is a nice lip going around the top so the screen is below surface and device can be placed flat on table without fear of getting scratched,the rear of the case have several raised rubberised notches protecting its own if you will and colour dependent this might be ideal for you,there is nicely designed corners to giving extra protection for drops and typically its a corner that hits the ground first so you are covered here.
The left and right side are similar in design and looks but keeping those areas protected to the max with all keys covered with good travel on the keys themselves,there was no sign of loosing functionality and the keys worked fine,on some case that are similar you would often find them stiff,this was not a problem here and there is raised ridges both sides to give grip and extra support..
Ports and connectivity points are well covered with obstruction or nagging with cables being inserted or removed,this is important some cases can leave users with little space to move and some dislike that experience,there is no flaps on this case again this is a matter of preference,for me I like this as fumbling with flaps is annoying yet it gives more protection but then again with constant moving these flaps would tend to eventually fall off,there was no interference at all with headphones and Micro USB cable and the infra red beam also left unaffected,nor did I experience any loss of sound or clarity with mic holes etc..
Although the case has a small lip its does not get in the way of the home button and sensors on top of the front facing side of the devices and the screen protector does meet up with case so all in all the front is covered,you might have a tempered glass protector on device already but this again has no effect with the case aligning itself on the device.
Overall these UAG cases are good and have a good feel to them and very robust and look well to boot,for the money these are worth it,some people prefer gel cases or cases in this form again that’s a matter of ones preference,personally I like the gel case but would have no issue using one of these either as they do not bulk out your device like some cases can,so I would recommend one of these anytime to anyone..
Check out the UAG case over at Mobile Ireland right here and check out the full range of goodies they have to offer,thanks again to John for getting in touch and sending us out this case to check out and share our thoughts.
Stay tuned for a chance to win a new case for your iPhone 6 on Monday thanks to Mobile Ireland.
Looking forward the hassle of taking care of the charging socket of your smartphone when it lacks wireless charging, ZNAPS offers a really simple solution.
ZNAPS is a specially designed magnetic adapter for your mobile devices, one that can easily change the way you charge.
The trick is made by the two parts of the adaptor, the first part that goes in your phone socket and the second one that goes over your cable plug.
ZNAPS supports charging as well as data synchronization and it’s designed for Lightning cable, Micro-USB and USB Type C cable which makes it compatible with almost every piece of portable tech you have.
Let’s take a look a what it offers:
Lightning / Micro-USB / USB-C Support
Easy Plug / Unplug: The magnetic connection Connect and Detect your phone instantly.
Reversible: You can “plug” the cable on any side.
Data Synchronisation
Charge Indicator: Small hidden LED to indicate charging status.
Cable Protection: Protection for the cable connector head.
Minimal: It’s so small that’s compatible with almost any smartphone case (maybe some Trident or Otterbox cases may present problems due to the charger flap)
Affordable: The base price point is $9
Waterproof: Prevent water damage at the phone socket.
Yes! you read that right, it makes your phone waterproof! Well sort of, what it really makes is block liquids of any kind from entering the phone socket.
The ZNAPS Connector has a silicone ring that does the work of preventing water from getting into your phone port.
Another special features it has and worth the notice are:
Is Micro-USB 3.0 compatible.
Supports Quick Charge 2.0.
and last but no least they also add a Keychain Case to carry two adapters and two connectors with you.
But enough talk! Take a look by yourself:
Right now the guys at ZNAPS are about to finish their Kickstarter campaign but you can still grab some early promotions that goes from $9 with One (1) ZNAPS combo (connector+adapter) all the way until $480 with 10 ZNAPS combos + 10 Keychains and more stuff
Our latest case from Noreve has arrived and its for the BlackBerry Classic which has yet not reached our shores but can be imported,same applies to the BlackBerry Leap and the Powerhouse Passport which even surprised me,this device has a battery you just cant kill in a day which is saying something..
Onto the case itself which is a flip case and of course made from quality leather and comes packed in a nice box and pouch.presentation always has been great with Noreve cases and so has quality as seen below the box is the typical red colour and inside will be the case and the pouch for storage so when the case is not in use it will be kept dirt and dust free…
Onto the case in general starting from top and bottom..
First off its got a nice feel in the hand and also grippy to hold which is good the BlackBerry Classic is not cheap but the build quality is quite tough and the case does protect it all round but when open you may be unlucky on how it lands but the inside of the case does overlap the screen so you should be fine..The top has a clip which closes tight and access to the power key headphone socket and mic. Also on top there is cut outs for the earpiece and the notification LED so when closed you can still see notifications.
The bottom provides access for the USB port and speaker grille and both front and back are joined here with a single flap of leather and its quite a seamless affair with no bulky joints..Also present is the Noreve logo on the bottom right hand side slightly raised from the case itself,this is not a problem but may catch in things depending on pocket etc..
The back of the case is rather a plain affair as most cases would be due to placement of speakers etc,all we have is the camera and flash at our disposal here and that’s all there is too it,front and back of the case are quite plain in general here but there is a nice look to it making up for that. When opened with no product inside we can see the Noreve logo embedded into the case top and bottom and there is that lovely smell of fresh leather to boot..
On the left and right sides we are offered ample space to access the volume keys and ports for Sim card and Micro SD slots,whilst shut volume keys are not really easy to touch but there is no need but the important sim tray and sd slots are easy to access,the device is almost fully covered here offering great protection all round and should see you safe if dropped..
Overall the case is quite nice and fitting it feels good in hand an not much bulk is added compared to what is on offer and it looks well to giving it that business look the case comes with all the features required to make it a non invasive experience on your points of need with all ports and buttons at hand with nothing obscured..
There is several styles of case to get for the classic and you can custom build your case too which is a bonus,check out the details below and do tell if you have a case of plan to purchase one in the near future..
CHARACTERISTICS
– Elegant case conceived in top quality handcrafted leather
– Hand-crafted manufacturing quality
– Easy-to-close case without non-magnetic closure nor snap closure
– Slim and padded design
– Protects the device in an optimal manner
– All sides protective case
– Access to basic functions (multiple openings on the leather)
– Camera lens & flash access
– Headphones and headset jack access
– Charging and synchronization cable access
– Beautiful interior lining embossed with the Noreve logo
You can buy the case starting from €55 and custom build from the options provided,this gives real fans a choice to build something for themselves , check out more at Noreve
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is certainly up there with the best devices on the market now and this comes at a price too dropping your Note 4 could be a costly mishap so protection would be advised though many like the naked feel to a device but its best to have it protected outdoors especially as a screen for this device would set you back around €180 or so.
Today we look at the case for the Galaxy note 4..
Advanced Front Cover Design for Easy Installation
Built-in Screen Protector without compromising sensitivity
Advanced dual-layer (PC + TPU) design provides great impact and shock resistance and prevents accidental drop, bumps, and shock
Easy access to all features (buttons, camera, speaker, and ports)
Four corner cushioning for shock resistant protection, Sporty profile and multiple color options
Presentation –
Is the same as it was in the S5 case we reviewed and its simple easy packaging containing the case,interns and some instructions and its easy to open..
The case is pretty tough and not too bulky and you can be sure your Note 4 will be well protected here with this case and there is some nice colours to pick from and overall its quite sturdy and should you drop your Note 4 you will be fine in most incidents,its all luck on how the device hits the ground anyhow.
The camera area on the case is quite good offering full protection to the lens and flash,both are recessed so good protection here even on a flat surface faced down you will be fine once the surface is flat and smooth and nothing sitting around,no loss of function is affected either as some cases can obscure viewing angles.
On the left and right sides of the case we have our usual areas covered and where buttons are concerned they are soft coverings and functionality is as normal,not stiff and travel well,there is again a black edging as seen on the S5 case adding more grip and quite comfortable to hold,durable and should last the phones lifetime..
Front and back..
All areas again on front and back are catered for and pretty safe from harms way,even the proximity sensor and front facing camera are protected here,the entire screen is recessed and so to is the home key and speaker grille,this offers maximum protection all round and makes holding and using the phone easy with good grip and nice to use,there is not much bulk to be fair and the case is not heavy so an overall user experience would be good,this is if you value your device and work outdoors especially on building sites,this case is made for you.
Top and bottom..
Again all protected in the best way with a flap over the USB area,this was a tad stiff as was the headphone socket but certainly loosened up over time so this will keep out dirt and dust which does accumulate over time and indeed can cause problems,the Spen area was the only gripe here for me as I found it hard to get the pen out but then I have big fingers so this would not be something everyone would have to worry about,also on the case there is a bumper on each edge which is a nice design featured and should give more protection should your device hit corner first,this would give notable damage with no protection at all
If you fancy one of these cases they are not expensive and can be bought from Amazon and they are a worthy investment especially if you are the outdoor type,some prefer not to have case on their mobiles but I am between both,if i am out I take a case and at home or in office I prefer the naked feel on my expensive phones,I do like to feel that product that’s been paid for…It is better to be safe than sorry regardless as some day it will happen when you drop your nice expensive phone and have a small fortune to hand out,at $10.99 its a bargain.
Ulak is a new brand who makes cases for mobile phones catering to fashion minded people wanting to add some individuality as well as protection to their smart phone or tablet.They have been in touch with us and sent us over a few samples to review and today we kick off with the Samsung Galaxy S5 case..
Features
Advanced dual layer designed case combined of Polycarbonate hard shell and flexible TPU withstands accidental drop, bump and shock
Front cover with built-in screen protector prevents scratches without compromising sensitivity
All features accessible with case installed; Port covers keep out debris and dust; Sporty design with multi-color options
First off the packaging is quite simple and straight forward with an easy to open product which contains the case,instructions and a built in screen protector so all in all you are covered here regarding protection for you Galaxy S5.there is also a layer of removable layer of thin polythene on the front and back of the case which is probably for transportation purposes..
The case is easy enough to install and something very similar to Otterbox,you just peel the edge away from the housing and then then the housing pops out and from here on its a simple process to put it all together and will be no trouble for anyone to install which is good,some cases can be a bit cumbersome or require some effort to install,not the case here it will take about 30 seconds in fact taking your time,maybe less..
The top of the case has all aspects covered with access for the mic,headphone socket which is also covered with a flap to keep out dirt and dust,this is a nice featured to be implemented also there is clear access for the infra-red beam,also on the top corners there is addition bumpers raised should the device land on its corner this will give it extra protection,these raised bumps are present on all corners..The camera area is also recessed giving good protection and enabling users to put the device on a flat surface which will keep it free from scratching the lens and flash etc.Also present is cut outs for the proximity sensor,earpiece and secondary camera again not performance lost in these areas.
The bottom of the device follows line with the top and again present is the two bumpers on the corners,we also have another flap here which gives optimum protection against the elements and protects the USB charging.connectivity port,the flaps on both ends are quite solid and don’t seem to come loose which is good and makes you feel secure your important parts are well protected at all times.The speaker again is below level which gives it protection from the elements with no sound loss or interference with having the cover going around the edges.
On the sides of the case again protection is excellent with soft buttons to make full use of buttons and no feedback is lost here,they are soft and malleable and not solid blocks and travel well and they follow inline with the band which surrounds the housing and feels soft whilst the backing on the case is hard,the case itself is grippy and will not slip out of hand at all and does not add much bulk to the device either,overall its a good case and priced quite well to be fair in what it has to offer.The screen protector is also fine and built in and no feedback was lost,over time it may become marked like any other offering similar on the market so it cant be faulted here on that respect.
You can purchase the case from the Amazon store and this case in particular will cost you $10.99 right now and comes in a variety of colours..
We have had our BlackBerry Classic for some time now and its time to talk about it and we felt the device faired out,going back to its classic design language its certainly more solid and has better looks and performs well all round its solid in hand and ideal for one handed use,pros and cons like any other device are present so lets look some more.
If you missed the unboxing take a look here first and have a look at the device.
Build Quality.
Overall i liked the build quality,with metal trimming around the entire device it gives it a good look and it looks tough just like the Passport,the trim looks well and gives the classic a premium look,the backing of the classic is also quite nice with a grippy cover it makes the phone much less easier to drop,although it fits perfectly fine in one hand it may be slightly to big for some,that was not the case for me as one handed use was how i used the phone.Check out the images below for a tour of the device and as you can see the quality is quite good all round.The keys are solid with good travel,non catchy and the sim and sd trays too are solid.
The Camera
Not bad but with the small screen you are hampered to some extent,there is a panoramic option though which you would probably be more inclined to use if you are any way a photo enthusiast,( I aint one really but do take pictures)the camera itself is 8MP with auto focus and sports a flash too and there some settings to play around with and HDR,this worked well also on the Leap and the passport…whilst it does take great photos as mentioned the smaller screen may be an issue for some folk..With a 2MP on front its also adequate so for any selfie fanatics you can relax.
The keyboard and navi keys
I was never a fan of qwerty keyboards until i tried the Nokia E71 to be honest and after the E72 i think was the last time to use such on a daily basis until the Passport came along and that keyboard was a joy to use,you knew you where hitting the right keys all the time even though it was cumbersome at times it worked a treat,the same applies to the keyboard on the classic although probably a bit too small my my shovel hands,the problem here is it takes up space and leaves you with a small screen but the keyboard is simple to use,the navi keys and trackpad are quite tactile and the trackpad helps out on the screen when viewing pages as you will need to navigate some more due to the screen size,they may look tight and clustered but to use they are quite good.
Display.
Ok the screen is small its 3.5 inches so you are limited as to viewing options here without having to navigate the screen but thankfully the navikey helps out here and as mentioned its tactile so zooming through pages etc is quite fine but you will notice this compared to larger screened devices on the market,.Outdoor visibility was quite good but viewing angles poor..
Sound
Dual speakers… No that even fooled me to begin with although aesthetically they look great one is actually a mic ,a trick we have seen many a time on other devices across the board,similar to the huge outer speaker grille and a tiny speaker underneath.the device packs great sound once its on a flat surface,if its in your pocket it will get muffled due to the placement of the speaker down the bottom,music sounds crisp and clear and the music player is also good,on watching you tube etc again sound reproductions proves the same and this department..The stock earbuds as in most cases with any mobile these days are kinda poor but if you have your own personal ones to use yes the sound is good when plugged in you should also note.
The OS
Same as the Passport 10.3.1 its reliable and works fine although there is a newer version rolling out as we speak,its been rather good overall with some frequent freezing issues which can be expected on any OS the lack of native apps is the main problem here which applies to window phone but thankfully we can sideload the playstore and get plenty of missing apps there some may render oddly on the device due to its size,a similar issue which applied to the passport so if you are an apps kind you should be fine once you use the playstore,my daily apps that I use worked fine although trying some others did not but what do you expect,there is enough apps to keep the average user who is not app centric happy. BlackBerry hub and blend are great features,Everything else is pretty much the same as discussed before on the Passport and works fine…
Browsing
Fine,the odd page freeze or render issue,this might bother some and screen estate is not huge so remember 3.5 inch is small compared to todays standards which is now 5 inches and up for most users but the classic i targeted at a certain market but 3.5 is small folks…
Connectivity
It comes with NFC which was amiss in the Leap,although NFC is still slow to start here those of us who have it use it well most of us and we also have peripherals to use alongside which is handy.Bluetooth 4.0 LTE ,Wi-Fi/Direct micro USB and we can also use it as a mobile hotspot. If you have Miracast for example this will also work with the Classic.
Battery
2,515mAh – Again its good like any Blackberry easily a day of medium – heavy use,if you are not so tough or reliant on media etc two days is no problem if its just for calls emails some social media and quick browsing.
Overall thoughts
I think they played safe here with an below today’s standard internals,its like a mini mini of the passport curved that will suit the business user,i cant see it attracting new customers but rather the current BlackBerry Classic junkie,the camera is quite it does everything it says on the tin for its intended market and thats it,for me its too small but I like it due to the the navi keys and trackpad,using a device this small one handed is a joy I must say even though i am custom to a bigger phone I could use this with ease ,it did take a few days to get used to it but once I got over the size it was nice to use,its been years since I used this form factor and it brought back memories of a love/hate relationship of QWERTY handsets because you will love it and hate it..Same applied to the Passport with its odd shape but that’s in a league of its own and will remain there for some time its a powerhouse with a funky design,the classic is for classic fans,one which i was not but it has a place with me now and its a good effort from BlackBerry that could of been a little better in terms of specs.
At techbuzz we like to people a chance to have their own product/s showcased and if anyone has a product they would like share a review on you can come here and have it published,All you need to do is drop us an email at techbuzzireland.com. Welcome Pat Seery who is one of many people that have contacted us with a product they own.
Pat shares his thoughts on the Samsung Level Over headset,so its over to you Pat.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a pair of these and in spite of other “Bigger” brand names being in the same market I still went for these well I wasn’t disappointed at all. A Lot of people were complaining about the “Plastic” look of Upper end Samsung products, they still feel like a premium set of earphones in the hand they`re lightly constructed yes but after wearing them for quite some time I think you`ll be glad of this.
Several features including noise cancelling and Bluetooth with of course Samsung’s level App make these just astounding to listen to with your phone. I also have used them on the Samsung 55-Inch HU8500 Smart 3D UHD 4K LED Curved TV and let me just say “WOW!” the sound is just amazing as soon as they`re paired your off and with active noise cancelling there’s no bleeding of sound so you`re IN the movie you are watching. One thing I really liked is that they just aren’t BASS which really annoyed me about the beats series of headphones they’ve really good midrange which is essential if you’re not going to be listening to just music on them.
As with the Samsung VR they do come in a lovely big box and carrying case (which is almost identical to the VR case albeit with different embossing) an inline remote control and a USB charging cable (I must point out that Samsung for some reason have seemed to have stopped supplying power plugs with their peripheral devices for some reason so this doesn’t come with the earphones)
The specifications include
Bluetooth 3.0
50mm speakers Bio-Cellulose Diaphragms
15 hours of Listening/Talk time
Impedance 41 ohms
Having used the BlackBerry leap for some two weeks now its been yet another surprise on how BlackBerry have changed over the last year or two,once a hater of the devices i have changed my mind and the OS has also improved too which is quite good offering lots to its consumers and after using the BlackBerry Passport for a few months it really is a credit to the company despite its funny shape,the Passport is a powerhouse and if size is not an issue you should try it,But we are here today to talk about the next model up which is a 5 inch touch screen not shaped weirdly and not sporting a physical keyboard does it perform well all around,well lets find out.
Unboxing and walkaround
Design
Typical candybar,solid feels good in hand and robust its a perfect sized device,perhaps a tad too small for me but i could happily live with it,this is just my opinion i am far suited to bigger devices. At 144 x 72.8 x 9.5 mm (5.67 x 2.87 x 0.37 in) and weighing 170g you will notice it,even in pocket which is a good thing,it’s slightly thicker than some devices but its good and the rounded edges on the back flow nicely and the device fits well in hand,it’s hard to drop it too the backing feels grippy,it picks up dirt but can be easily cleaned off.
The Keyboard
Having used the passport as my main device i hardly used anything else to be honest,i got to like the physical keyboard,something which i have not used in many years in fact,though i was looking forward to going back to the virtual set-up and the keyboard on the Leap reminded me of the one that’s presently on Lumia devices which alone are good but this keyboard is also excellent and has many features present and again i found myself typing fast in no time from coming from the one on the passport.
The Camera
Quite impressive it must be said so photo fans can relax since mobile photography is a big thing with the camera on board it takes pretty decent photos with many settings to toy around with too,even as a point and shoot it takes nice pictures and to the untrained not fussy eyes this does a good job.
The camera is just 8MP 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus and LED flash doesn’t mean it can perform,it does and the more you tamper with the settings the better it gets,it’s also got a HDR feature which pops up to remind you it’s there and again it works well.Also on board is panorama mode,time shift and burst mode,this is quite a common feature nowadays.
These are taken under normal conditions which is the ideal situation to be using the camera,in low light we have the flash to help out and pictures turn out fine ,depending on conditions some photos may look noisy and flat,this again is not a device aimed at camera fans but for its price it does the job quite well so you have a decent snapper should you need it,personally i aint a camera happy guy but it done the job when needed,recording too is also quite good autofocus works quite well,sometimes to well and often locked on target especially with just taking photos so its quite responsive.
APPS.
Lets not waste time really here,native apps are not reaping but we have a choice to add the play store if you like,one good thing here apps i used all worked well on the Leap as opposed to the passport and that was just the screen design which made some render rather odd and pointless on screen,all my apps on android i use worked fine on the leap so again its an option for users to consider,BB10 has improved but we are missing some apps similar to windows phone which i also use and can feel the pain to some extent,the maps are just ok and there is several other apps missing but again the play store can help out with alternatives.With the Blackberry world,Amazon app store and the play store you will be covered.
Display
Its got a 5-inch, 1,280 x 720 (720p) LCD display,its good for its price but not great either ,sunlight legibility is not great this is expected for the screen and its price it would be unfair not to say plenty of others have the same problem even high end phones like the HTC ONE M9 this beat it,viewing angles also shabby but not bad im not one to pay much attention to detail here but at times when i want to read my device outdoors i expect to but this is a common problem all round regardless.
Battery
Its good,easily get the average user through a day,nothing like the passport but good even for my standards,im a heavy user and mostly carry two phones but with my main sim here in this it done the job well better than expected in fact,with 2,800mAh under the hood it can take a pounding,with me spending much time browsing,checking mails and social media i never had to worry about looking for a charger during my time and for me that is a very good thing,we are more battery concious nowadays than before and find ourselves needing back up or to be close to a charger,this is something you do not need to worry about on the Leap.
BlackBerry Blend is on board the leap,seamlessly brings messaging and content that’s on your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer and tablet. Send and receive messages and access your files in real time, from whatever device you’re on.
Home-screen and accessibility.
As before with the passport we just have our static screen with icons,you can of course make folders which is useful,the drop down menu offers us plenty of settings to access so to move around the device is simple which is nice,there is many settings on the phone too giving a great level of customisation.Swiping to the left will bring you to additional apps you have stored and swiping to the right takes you to the blackberry hub which is simply great.
Browsing,Music – Media
Stock browser seemed fine depending on connection but again you can work around this at times but to be fair i could partly blame my Wi-Fi here,on 4G it was fast,this was also similar on the passport,overall it served well though and things looked good on the Leap Pages rendered quite quickly and viewing was on par with other devices at the price point,the speaker which is placed on the bottom is not bad but depending on where you let it sit sound will get muffled,aside that its loud .Listening to music is also quite good and with a decent pair of headphones you will not be disappointed overall for media.
Conclusion.
BlackBerry here in Ireland is pretty much a no go area for our providers which is a shame,it once was huge here but since the Z10 things went downhill with little or no option to buy it here in stores leaving business and enterprise fans annoyed who prefer Blackberry,this device is aimed at the younger generation but offers more than one might think,one thing that lacks is NFC again this is no big deal in Ireland but its catching on with the like of wireless charging,I think between the Leap and the Passport blackberry have turned a corner,having said that BlackBerry is now a niche but if they continue to dish out good devices they have a chance to re claim their stake. On a personal level i think the device is well priced and it offers pretty much the same as any other device in the price range alongside the added security.
The BlackBerry Leap costs just £199 sim free which is not bad and can be bought HERE or other leading online sellers.For the price its worth it..
