Here is a riddle for you. Two BlackBerry handsets received the iF Design Award 2015 and were each awarded the iF label. Yet, only one phone had a design attributable to BlackBerry. How is that possible? Here is a clue. The two models are the BlackBerry Passport and the BlackBerry Z3. Still not sure? The answer is that the BlackBerry Z3 was the first phone to be delivered under a partnership between BlackBerry and contract manufacturer Foxconn.
Under the terms of the deal, Foxconn designs, produces and warehouses entry-level BlackBerry phones for emerging markets. BlackBerry supplies the operating system and promotion. The BlackBerry Z3 was offered last year in countries like India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and just recently in the U.K.
The other handset to win the award was the BlackBerry Passport. Designed in-house by BlackBerry, the handset's unique design allows users to view a spreadsheet, email, document or Xray without having to continuously swipe from side to side.
"Built with precision, the BlackBerry Z3 makes the BlackBerry 10 experience accessible to all in a 5” form factor. With a modern and minimal design, it is the perfect balance of utility and elegance. It shares a similar construction to the BlackBerry Passport, holding all elements together in unity. The result is a product that looks and feels slim, yet is highly durable. Audio ports are precision-drilled by a laser to have a unified look with the rear pattern. The alignment between all details and display create a composition that reflects harmony, clarity, and care."
"Inspired by the passport, a universal symbol of mobility, the BlackBerry Passport is perfect for traveling light. To continually evolve, the BlackBerry Passport leverages our strength and heritage, yet is new and innovative. The touch-sensitive keypad affords an efficient typing experience, blending the digital and the physical. To enhance the experience, we used the typeface Slate in the same size and color for the physical and onscreen keys. The stainless steel frame, inspired by modern architecture, is exposed to celebrate durability and visual lightness. The display glass is shaped and polished to perfection, fully integrating into the overall form"-Brian Paschke, Senior Industrial Designer, BlackBerry
To win the awards, the two BlackBerry handsets had to be chosen from among 5000 entries in 53 countries. The phones will be displayed at one of three special shows in Hamburg, Germany at an iF design exhibition.
The BlackBerry Passport (L) and the BlackBerry Z3 (R) each win an iF Design Award for 2015
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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.
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