What's good
- Bright and responsive screen
- Textured back offers great grip
- Sturdy build quality
What's bad
- Aged processor
- Display sharpness below current flagships
The Leap is BlackBerry's attempt to recapture the hip, young professional audience. Unlike other BlackBerry phones, the Leap has done away with the physical keyboard in favor of a full touch screen and digital on-screen keyboard. It shares the same black slab design as many smartphones but with sharper edges and a textured curved back. Not only do these design features add character, they also made it much easier for experts to grip. In addition to its aesthetic qualities, critics add that the Leap has a solid build quality and feels comfortable in their hand despite its dimensions of 5.7 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches.
The 4G Leap runs the latest BlackBerry 10.3.1 OS on its 5-inch display. With an HD resolution of 720p it provides a pixel density of 293ppi. While not the sharpest in comparison to newer flagship phones, reviewers describe it generally as "great" as it is bright, responsive and sensitive to touch.
At the core of the Leap is an aged 1.5GHz dual-core processor. Despite its limited core numbers and lower clock speed, experts were able to perform basic and even graphics-oriented tasks with ease, mostly thanks to its Adreno 225 graphics processor unit (GPU). Still, they add that on paper it might turn away many users as it doesn't seem as powerful as even some budget Android phones available. With that said, it does come with a whopping 2GB of RAM to keep the phone running smoothly and 16GB of internal storage. It also comes with a microSD slot for additional storage, a 2,800 mAh battery, an 8MP rear camera that can take 1080p video and a 2MP front camera.
Overall, experts view the Leap as a decent smartphone for the price. TechRadar states, "The Leap is probably the best shot BlackBerry has to stabilize or even improve its…market share."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jamshed Avari, Gadgets 360Even if the Leap is only ever considered as a secondary phone and only ever used for work, BlackBerry still wins. That's enough to sell products, and is enough to keep BlackBerry relevant. Sure, we would like to see the company get aggressive and go for competitive mainstream pricing, but this is th...
- Graham van der Made, GearburnOverall, the BlackBerry Leap isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. On paper, the Leap has a range of incredibly attractive and interesting features. When you actually get a chance to use it I couldn’t help but feel completely disappointed with the overall experience. It’s a s...
- Bogdan Popa, SoftpediaIf you're a BlackBerry fan, chances are you'll be impressed with this phone. If you're not, the Leap is intriguing enough to convince you to give it a try. But you might not understand its full potential until you truly know what BlackBerry is all about. The Leap is supposed to bring the magic of Bl...
- GSMArena team, GSMArenaThe BlackBerry Leap might not be the value-for money hit that will tempt thousands of Android users to switch, but it's not without its niche. Those that aren't installing too many apps and would appreciate a new experience then you might give it a second look. And if you are BlackBerry faithful tha...
- Desmond Koh, TechgoonduThe Leap is a decent BlackBerry touchscreen smartphone. The OS has matured with a crop of gestures that make a lot more sense. Unfortunately, the device is let down by its dated processor and cranky app support. Thankfully, most of these issues can be fixed through a software update or in later dev...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the BlackBerry Leap user manual here.
BlackBerry backs up the Leap with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Leap has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact BlackBerry support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find BlackBerry's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- BlackBerry Leap Manual (PDF)
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