Blackberry Z10 review: Specs of the 2013 BB10 flagship, the Blackberry Z10, include a 4.2-inch LCD screen, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 16GB internal storage which can expanded up to 48GB.

The unit has been praised for its clean and solid hardware design and surprisingly good keyboard. It has also received better than expected reviews. The question to consumers is: Would the Blackberry Z10’s features, or Blackberry’s attempt at updated smartphones, make you switch to buying one?

The Z10’s camera features include an 8 MP rear shooter, which can also record 1080P video. It has a front-facing 2 MP camera, which can do a 720P video capture.

A review from The Verge noted that, “it’s a better smartphone than I expected from RIM at this stage in the game.” Another review indicated that the BB10 powered smartphone is a “true multitasking system.”

The Blackberry Z10’s performance is snappy and responsive. There are very few hiccups when zipping around from one app to another, jumping in and out of messages, and managing content on the device.

A key downside with the Z10, however, is its battery life. In a test by The Verge, the device could not make it through an entire workday without requiring a recharge or battery swap.

“If I took the phone off of the charger around eight or nine in the morning, by six or seven at night the phone was completely dead,” writes Joshua Topolsky who reviewed the unit.

“It wasn't an everyday occurrence — some days I made it into the evening with no trouble — but it happened enough that it gives me cause for concern.”

The Blackberry 10.2.1 update gave users an improved device and battery monitor that gives essential details on battery usage, the impact of installed apps on battery life and memory usage and storage.

A quick search shows that the Blackberry Z10 is available unlocked from $399 to $415. AT&T offers the device for free on a service agreement.

Aside from the Z10, Blackberry has also released the Blackberry Z3 and is expected to release the Blackberry Q20 later this year, inspired from the classic design of the Q10.