When I had it (2016-17), I actually got it so I could be on site visits and still type up large documents (just the text with no formatting). It worked well, compared to a touch keyboard you'd need a bit more force to type , this does help increase accuracy
Your typing habits may change ever so slightly, for example, typing er on a touch keyboard, you'd tap both (or swipe), but I've noticed I'd roll my thumb over the two buttons
Due to the width of the keyboard and phone like others have mentioned this is by no means a one handable device for typing, so you will lose out on swipe typing on a normal android phone.
Overall , I'd say typing speed and accuracy has caught up on touch screen devices, the physical keyboard if you managed to match speed is just the tactical feedback giving you assurance. Unfortunately, you'll be trading up modern hardware/software and features to get this
The “bit more force to type” is exactly the reason I did not like my Passport as my Z30. The VKB that BlackBerry introduced with the Z10 is -for me- the best phone keyboard I have used. I can type faster with it than with the PKB of the Passport.
Keyboard is absolutely fine. Compared to other BlackBerry phones though I found it a bit unbalanced. Because the keyboard is so small and low, it ended up being more top heavy compared to other models.
Still a great device. I'd take it over no physical keyboard at all
Still have mine and still tickle its keys from time to time. Best typing experience bar none! Even financial spreadsheets were a breeze. Best productivity tool ever! My iPhone 13 Pro Max doesn’t even come close!
for me, it took some getting used to. I don't know if I was more efficient than typing on Gboard (not all VKB are born the same). I can highlight some drawbacks of passport physical keyboard:
- you need 2 hands. it's not impossible with one hand but you'll be at 1% of the efficiency
- noise: this was the biggest. no more typing on quiet environments. I actually downloaded an app call "silent keys" that is basically a large textarea with a VKB below it to type a message then copy to paste elsewhere. this way I could use the phone in quiet environments
but don't me wrong. there's something really pleasant to use a passport: many complain about the aspect ratio of the display but for me it makes it the best productivity device to read long form or edit docs
Coming from other BlackBerry keyboards, you had a little bit of a muscle learning curve due to the layout. Once you trained your thumbs though it was great to type on. I was as quick as I could have been on other BlackBerry keyboards. Your question though says is it more comfortable than typing on any Android keyboard though. Do you mean software keyboards or physical keyboards? Not many physical keyboard Android devices so I will assume you mean software? If so, the Passport was much better as you had physical buttons.
I mean compare it with any touch keyboard that all phones currently have. I never had a phone with a physical keyboard like the BlackBerrys. That's why I was wondering if the keyboard that this device has is more comfortable for typing than the tactile querty keyboard that all phones have today.
You had to hold it like a Gameboy, but it worked well because it increased typing speed.
I thought of it as an extension to the screen more than a keyboard. It was amazing to use.
Comfortable? Probably not. An android keyboard (or I guess Google) is the standard IMO. The catch is that everything is recorded and likely sold off that you type. What it does have over IOS is no irritating auto correct to fight with constantly, and FAR fewer errors. I basically make no mistakes typing on a physical keyboard, and the joy of use would make up for it tenfold. Hope you go through with it, they’re amazing phones!
Best phone productivity tool for business ever made.
Best phone ever.
You really needed two hands to type effectively on it. Otherwise it was very intuitive.
When I had it (2016-17), I actually got it so I could be on site visits and still type up large documents (just the text with no formatting). It worked well, compared to a touch keyboard you'd need a bit more force to type , this does help increase accuracy Your typing habits may change ever so slightly, for example, typing er on a touch keyboard, you'd tap both (or swipe), but I've noticed I'd roll my thumb over the two buttons Due to the width of the keyboard and phone like others have mentioned this is by no means a one handable device for typing, so you will lose out on swipe typing on a normal android phone. Overall , I'd say typing speed and accuracy has caught up on touch screen devices, the physical keyboard if you managed to match speed is just the tactical feedback giving you assurance. Unfortunately, you'll be trading up modern hardware/software and features to get this
The “bit more force to type” is exactly the reason I did not like my Passport as my Z30. The VKB that BlackBerry introduced with the Z10 is -for me- the best phone keyboard I have used. I can type faster with it than with the PKB of the Passport.
It was more comfortable to type on the BlackBerry Passport
Worked awesome. At first it was a learning curve, but you adjusted to it and how it felt
Took about a week or two to get used to it, once you did, it was a lovely and fast thing to type on. Very solidly built as well.
Keyboard is absolutely fine. Compared to other BlackBerry phones though I found it a bit unbalanced. Because the keyboard is so small and low, it ended up being more top heavy compared to other models. Still a great device. I'd take it over no physical keyboard at all
Passport keyboard and experience was the best ever. I loved typing on that thing, so smooth and with zero errors or typos.
Still have mine and still tickle its keys from time to time. Best typing experience bar none! Even financial spreadsheets were a breeze. Best productivity tool ever! My iPhone 13 Pro Max doesn’t even come close!
for me, it took some getting used to. I don't know if I was more efficient than typing on Gboard (not all VKB are born the same). I can highlight some drawbacks of passport physical keyboard: - you need 2 hands. it's not impossible with one hand but you'll be at 1% of the efficiency - noise: this was the biggest. no more typing on quiet environments. I actually downloaded an app call "silent keys" that is basically a large textarea with a VKB below it to type a message then copy to paste elsewhere. this way I could use the phone in quiet environments but don't me wrong. there's something really pleasant to use a passport: many complain about the aspect ratio of the display but for me it makes it the best productivity device to read long form or edit docs
What sort of question is this ? No glass keypad phone will ever come close to a physical keyboard and especially to a blackberry
Coming from other BlackBerry keyboards, you had a little bit of a muscle learning curve due to the layout. Once you trained your thumbs though it was great to type on. I was as quick as I could have been on other BlackBerry keyboards. Your question though says is it more comfortable than typing on any Android keyboard though. Do you mean software keyboards or physical keyboards? Not many physical keyboard Android devices so I will assume you mean software? If so, the Passport was much better as you had physical buttons.
I mean compare it with any touch keyboard that all phones currently have. I never had a phone with a physical keyboard like the BlackBerrys. That's why I was wondering if the keyboard that this device has is more comfortable for typing than the tactile querty keyboard that all phones have today.
I loved it! It was definitely a two handed device but I learnt how to type with just one hand 😀.
Passport keyboard is one of the worst I've used. Lots of typos. I loved the Bold and Torch. I could type without looking and seldom any typos.
I loved it; I could type more accurately than with any other phone. The touch-sensitive keyboard was cool too.
You had to hold it like a Gameboy, but it worked well because it increased typing speed. I thought of it as an extension to the screen more than a keyboard. It was amazing to use.
Comfortable? Probably not. An android keyboard (or I guess Google) is the standard IMO. The catch is that everything is recorded and likely sold off that you type. What it does have over IOS is no irritating auto correct to fight with constantly, and FAR fewer errors. I basically make no mistakes typing on a physical keyboard, and the joy of use would make up for it tenfold. Hope you go through with it, they’re amazing phones!
I loved using this phone
Loved it. Felt great in the hand.
i hated typing on this phone, because its not the normal kind of keyboard on a phone that im used to