Rim Blackberry Playbook (1GB + 64GB) Review | 168 Data compared

Following the PlayBook OS 2.0 update and a price drop to $199, PCMag re-evaluated the RIM BlackBerry PlayBook in 2012, highlighting its transformation into a functional, budget-friendly 7-inch tablet. The update addressed earlier criticisms by introducing native email, contacts, and calendar support, positioning the device as a viable competitor for media consumption and web browsing. Pros included a polished, gesture-based UI, excellent browser performance, and strong multimedia capabilities, such as dual HD cameras and stereo speakers. The 1,024-by-600-pixel display and solid build quality, combined with a micro HDMI port and native 1080p video recording, offered high value for the price. However, the tablet still suffered from a lack of apps in the BlackBerry App World and lacked a 3G/4G option or expandable storage. Furthermore, it failed to support native BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) or enterprise email sync (BES), limiting its appeal to business users despite the improved OS.

Gough Lui’s review of the BlackBerry PlayBook highlights a device with solid hardware, such as a well-balanced build and good stereo speakers, but one crippled by an "anemic" ecosystem and a critical battery charging flaw. While the tablet featured innovative gesture-based multitasking, a strong web browser, and a functional touch-sensitive bezel, these strengths were undermined by a 7-inch screen plagued by a "screen-door effect" and a lack of native apps. Ultimately, the review concludes that despite its potential as a low-cost browser, the unit was doomed by missing functionality and the cancellation of expected software updates.

The Guardian's 2011 review describes the BlackBerry PlayBook as a solidly built, yet "half-finished" device with a "Soviet" lack of native applications. While the QNX operating system offers excellent multitasking via a "card" interface and top-tier touch responsiveness, the 7-inch screen features wide borders that detract from the experience. Key pros include high-performance browsing with Flash support, quality stereo speakers, and useful HDMI output capabilities. However, significant cons hinder the device, primarily the absence of native email, calendar, or contact apps, requiring a "bridge" to a BlackBerry smartphone for full functionality. Furthermore, the app store is deemed "anemic," leading the reviewer to conclude that software gaps make it difficult to recommend over competitors.

The 2011 TIME review describes the BlackBerry PlayBook as a high-quality, 7-inch tablet with a fast QNX-based OS, superior multitasking, and strong hardware features like dual cameras and micro-HDMI, making it an impressive, yet "unfinished" piece of hardware. While boasting advanced capabilities, the device launched without native email, calendar, or contact apps, requiring a "BlackBerry Bridge" connection to a phone, and suffered from an unreliable Adobe Flash implementation that frequently crashed the browser. Ultimately deemed a "work in progress," the PlayBook offered enterprise-level security but lacked the app ecosystem and essential functionality required to compete with established consumer tablets at launch.

The 2011 Business Insider review describes the BlackBerry PlayBook as a promising but unfinished device, featuring a thin design, a crisp 7-inch display, and excellent stereo sound. While the hardware impressed, the review heavily criticized the "not fully baked" software, notably the lack of native email, contacts, and calendar apps. Key pros highlighted include the device's exceptional touch responsiveness, a fast browser with full Flash support, and efficient multitasking gestures. The tablet also featured surprisingly high-quality 1080p cameras compared to competitors at the time. Significant cons centered on the limited app ecosystem and the requirement to tether a BlackBerry phone via "Bridge" for core functionality, which was deemed unwieldy. Further, the review noted a hard-to-use power button, the absence of native apps, and lack of built-in 3G, resulting in a limited standalone experience.

The Verge's review of the BlackBerry PlayBook highlights a device with exceptional, compact hardware, featuring a high-quality 7-inch display, powerful dual-core processor, and best-in-class stereo speakers. Its QNX-based operating system is praised for intuitive gesture-based navigation and snappy, instant multitasking, alongside a superior web browser that handles Adobe Flash with ease. However, the tablet suffers from an unfinished, "half-baked" software experience that lacks native apps, including essential, built-in email and calendar, forcing reliance on a "BlackBerry Bridge" connection to a phone.

The CNET review of the BlackBerry PlayBook highlights its exceptionally fast, 1GHz dual-core processor and "buttery smooth" QNX-based operating system, featuring a high-quality 7-inch display and strong multitasking capabilities. However, the tablet was severely criticized for lacking native apps, such as email and calendar, forcing users to tether to a BlackBerry phone, while the app ecosystem lagged behind competitors. Despite later software updates, the device was ultimately considered a powerful but "half-baked" product at launch due to these essential deficiencies.

The official CrackBerry review praises the BlackBerry PlayBook's high-quality 7-inch hardware, vibrant display, and powerful QNX-based gesture interface, which acts as a major pro. While the browser and 1080p video recording capabilities are top-tier, the device suffered at launch from missing native email and PIM apps, requiring a "BlackBerry Bridge" connection to a phone. Ultimately, the review defines the tablet as a promising but rushed device, recommended primarily for existing BlackBerry users due to its current software limitations.

The 2011 WIRED review praised the BlackBerry PlayBook for its well-constructed, minimalist design, a brilliant 7-inch display, and an intuitive multitasking system. While the hardware was solid and featured capable cameras, the device was severely hampered by the absence of native email, calendar, and contacts applications, forcing reliance on a BlackBerry phone via the "BlackBerry Bridge". Ultimately, despite its strong media capabilities and HDMI output, the lack of a mature app ecosystem and significant software gaps made the tablet hard to recommend at launch.

BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 addresses major launch deficiencies by introducing native email, calendar, and contacts apps, featuring a highly capable "Unified Inbox" and an improved browser. The update enhances user experience with a revamped home screen and better folder management, significantly boosting the device's professional utility. However, the tablet is severely hampered by a poorly implemented Android app player that suffers from significant lag, clunky navigation, and a lack of proper app integration. Furthermore, the overall app ecosystem in BlackBerry App World remains weak, and the lack of native BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) forces continued reliance on a smartphone bridge. Ultimately, while the 2.0 software makes the 7-inch hardware more functional, the PlayBook remains a niche product, struggling to compete as a standalone device due to limited software and persistent ecosystem tethering.

The PCMag review highlights the BlackBerry PlayBook's QNX-based operating system for its fast, responsive multitasking and superior gesture-based interface. Key advantages include a vibrant 7-inch display, high-quality cameras, and robust Adobe Flash support for superior web browsing. However, the device suffered from a significant lack of native core apps (email, calendar) at launch, forcing a clunky "bridge" connection to a BlackBerry phone. Additional cons included poorly designed, recessed physical buttons and inconsistent touchscreen responsiveness. Ultimately described as high-tier hardware with unrefined software, the PlayBook was limited by its ecosystem, though it later improved for media and web use following updates.

The BlackBerry PlayBook is a compact 7-inch tablet featuring a high-quality 1024x600 display, impressive stereo speakers, and capable 1080p HD cameras, making it a strong media device. However, its launch was heavily criticized for lacking native email, calendar, and contact apps, requiring a paired BlackBerry smartphone via the BlackBerry Bridge app to access these essential functions. While the tablet boasts solid portability and responsive, gesture-based navigation, it is limited by a sparse app ecosystem and a lack of independent 3G connectivity.

The Canadian Reviewer review highlights the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook as a powerful yet incomplete tablet, praising its "Mini Cooper-like" 1GHz processor and gesture-based QNX operating system for superior multitasking and performance. Key pros include the rugged build, vibrant 1024x600 display, and exceptional multimedia handling, while significant cons include the lack of native email and calendar apps, requiring a BlackBerry Bridge connection to a smartphone for full functionality. Although promising in hardware, the device is deemed an unfinished product at launch due to a paltry app selection and a hard-to-reach power button.

The Techlicious review describes the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook as solid hardware with a "half-baked" software experience, praising its portable 0.9 lb design, high-quality 5MP rear camera, and bright 1024x600 display. Key pros include a fast, gesture-based QNX operating system with excellent multitasking and a powerful web browser supporting Adobe Flash. However, the tablet lacks native email, calendar, and contact apps at launch, requiring a BlackBerry Bridge connection to a smartphone for these functions. Additionally, the weak app ecosystem and lack of 3G connectivity at launch limit its usability, leading to a recommendation to wait for software improvements.

The PCMag review of the BlackBerry PlayBook praises its high-quality 7-inch display and impressive, sharp photo/video reproduction, which exceeds that of the iPad 2. Conversely, the hardware receives criticism for its poorly positioned, small buttons and a difficult-to-use recessed power button. PCMag UKWhile the gesture-based bezel navigation is hailed as intuitive and effective, the tablet is severely hampered by a complete lack of native, on-device email, calendar, and contact applications at launch. The 5-megapixel rear camera is noted as a strong point, outperforming the competition in image sharpness. PCMag UKTechnical issues further mar the experience, including an unreliable "BlackBerry Bridge" feature that fails to consistently connect with smartphones, a flaky touchscreen, and a slow-reacting accelerometer. For more details, visit PCMag.

The PCMag UK review describes the RIM BlackBerry PlayBook as a "viable choice" for a 7-inch tablet following the 2.0 OS update and a price reduction, praising its sharp display and soft-touch design. While the QNX-based operating system is lauded for its fluid multitasking, the device suffers from flawed hardware, including difficult, tiny power buttons, and a lack of a physical home button. A major advantage is the top-notch web browser with full Flash support, but a significant drawback is the lack of a native email client without a tethered BlackBerry phone. The review concludes that the limited app ecosystem makes it a hard sell compared to competitors like the iPad, despite excellent media capabilities and dual cameras.

Trusted Reviews describes the BlackBerry PlayBook as a "superb piece of hardware" featuring a sharp 7-inch screen and a pocketable design, yet it was severely hampered by a lack of native email and calendar apps at launch. While the QNX-based operating system provides impressive multitasking and gesture navigation, the device required a "BlackBerry Bridge" connection to a smartphone for basic PIM functions, notes Trusted Reviews. Despite an excellent, fast browser with full Flash support, the PlayBook was labeled an "unfinished product" due to software instability and anemic app selection, making it hard to recommend at launch.

The review titled "RIM BlackBerry PlayBook: Unfinished, unusable" severely criticizes the 7-inch tablet as a fundamentally incomplete, rushed product that fails to compete with established rivals like the Apple iPad. A major drawback is the device's heavy reliance on a BlackBerry smartphone via "bridging" for core, native functions such as email, calendar, and contacts. Despite these flaws, the tablet is praised for solid, compact hardware, a high-resolution display, and a smooth, gesture-based operating system. For the full, detailed review, visit ProQuest.

The TechSpot review highlights the BlackBerry PlayBook's high-end hardware, featuring a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a responsive QNX-based UI with intuitive gesture-based multitasking. However, a major flaw is the absence of native email, calendar, and BBM apps, which requires users to rely on a "BlackBerry Bridge" connection to a phone. While the 7-inch display is high-quality, the lack of auto-correct on the on-screen keyboard hinders typing, leading to a conclusion that the hardware is strong but the software feels unfinished. For more details, visit TechSpot.

The RIM BlackBerry PlayBook is a 7-inch tablet with a solid, high-quality build and a crisp, high-pixel-density display. Praised for its fast QNX-based performance, the device features a responsive touch-sensitive bezel that allows for efficient navigation without relying on its somewhat stiff physical buttons. A major strength is the browser's native Flash 10.1 support, offering a superior, "true" web experience compared to competitors. Pocket-lintThe review highlights significant, critical shortcomings, specifically the lack of native PIM apps (email, calendar, contacts) upon launch. To access these features, users must use a "BlackBerry Bridge" connection with a smartphone, which causes a substantial drain on battery life. The app ecosystem is described as severely limited and in a "Soviet-era" state, though the reviewer expresses hope for future Android app support to address this gap.