1. koesn's Avatar
    I’ve bought a new Aurora last night. It’s look cheap on web, but damn… it’s looks & feels very good when I see & hold it. My hand hold it confidently, thank’s to it’s plastic-rubber matte back. I’m doing right to choose this handset. It’s only Rp2.499.000 (US$187) with JBL Go speaker as a bonus, but they offer me no bonus option at Rp2.300.000 (US$172). Surely, it’s a best bet for me.

    Previously I have some candidate for my Q10 & iPhone 5s replacement: Galaxy Note 5, Redmi Note 4 Pro, or BlackBerry Aurora. Galaxy Note 5 of course has a great S-Pen selling point. Redmi Note 4 Pro of course will get Snapdragon 625 which is more powerful than 425. But I choose Aurora because of it’s software. Hardware specs usually only gimmick, but software design will be more usefull for end-user. Take a look at iPhone, even it has much lower spec than Android competitors, iPhone UX/UI still far better and so fluid.

    What I love about Aurora are:

    1. KEYBOARD
    I have a broken Z10. It’s keyboard is perfect. Even iOS / Android keyboards can’t compete. I really enjoy BB 10 virtual keyboard. And thankfully they bring it to Android Blackberries.

    2. DUAL SIM
    Indonesian is a huge prepaid market. Ironically, every operator promote people to use prepaid with many-many call/data bonus. Imagine this: with only Rp60.000 (US$4) you can have 6 GB + 30 minutes call to all operator. I have one main number and it is postpaid for more than 12 years, but sadly internet tariff on postpaid are too pricey. Many Indonesian user has a habit to get a new prepaid data package and will get new one after it’s empty. So yes, dual-SIM plays role and really make sense here. One for main number (and identity), and one for internet package.

    3. BIG SCREEN: 5.5“
    It’s simple to have a compact phone in your pocket like Q10 / iPhone 5s, and i love it. But comparing to the needs of large screen, I still prefer the large one. HD 720p is still good in eyes. No problem at all. It makes processing power more simple and fast. Running games on 1080p or 1440p will eat more battery/processor/RAM. Youtube will adjust to screen resolution by default even later we can force to lower res, but it will occasionally eats more data.

    4. RAM 4 GB
    May “analyst” on the web say that we still don’t need 4 GB RAM in 2017. They wrong. People use their phone for any aspect of my life. I will use my phone for 8 email accounts (set inbox to “Forever"), >20 WhatsApp groups, BBM, Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Path, Youtube, daily take pictures/videos, some casual games like Subway Surfers / Hay Day etc, office suites with online capability, will open many PDF for my works, open many tabs on Chrome, and print some files to wireless printer. Are you sure 2/3 GB enough for that? No! 4 GB is minimum for good and smooth multitasking on my flow.

    5. SOFTWARE
    We buy an electronic device not only a piece of dead hardware. There’s a soul which make it life: the software. Take a look iOS-powered hardware are lower spec than Android-powered hardware, but it still performs better than the latter. So this Android is powered by BlackBerry software soul. The Hub is the most “expensive” implementation. It make my digital life easier. The BlackBerry Launcher has an asterisk mark badge on apps. That’s a good selling point. Once in a time I have a Nexus 5, but truely I don’t like the stock Android.

    Overall, I really love this phone and I guess you will no regret to get one with only US $172-$187.
    07-26-17 11:59 PM
  2. Azumarill's Avatar
    Great review man, thanks!
    skinnymike1 likes this.
    07-27-17 03:08 AM
  3. chain13's Avatar
    I can't be sure if that SD425 will run android blackberry smoothly. Since the phone with better internals like k1 or priv sometime gets hiccups.
    skinnymike1 likes this.
    07-27-17 03:18 AM
  4. koesn's Avatar
    Have you try Aurora? Maybe this phone will not as snappy as Galaxy 8, Nexus 6P, Huawei Mate 9, Priv, or even Redmi Note 4 Pro. But also it's not as slow and laggy like low-end Androids. It's 4GB+720p really helped the 425 to run smooth.
    Last edited by koesn; 07-27-17 at 10:31 AM.
    07-27-17 08:14 AM
  5. Sigewif's Avatar
    I am curious about battery life. OP, you sound like a heavy user so you are a good one to test its capacity.
    skinnymike1 likes this.
    07-27-17 02:04 PM
  6. chain13's Avatar
    Have you try Aurora? Maybe this phone will not as snappy as Galaxy 8, Nexus 6P, Huawei Mate 9, Priv, or even Redmi Note 4 Pro. But also it's not as slow and laggy like low-end Androids. It's 4GB+720p really helped the 425 to run smooth.
    4GB won't help much in app opening speed, or make animation smoother. But for daily use, it could be most efficient processor
    07-27-17 05:27 PM
  7. koesn's Avatar
    4GB won't help much in app opening speed, or make animation smoother. But for daily use, it could be most efficient processor
    Man... Benchmark torture is something different with real world perfirmance.

    Sure. Opening speed is decent. But when you have a lot of RAM space, just dont close opened apps. Let Android manage it and you don't have to worry, everything will loads instantly after all. I let opened app still there. I have plenty available RAM anyway.

    I manage Aurora really smooth animation (scrolling, load, unload, switch) like butter. For more consistent framerate near 60fps, judt turn on FGR and DHWO. Adreno 308 is in da house. It makes UI fluids soooo smooth like an iPhone... :+)
    skinnymike1 likes this.
    07-27-17 05:45 PM
  8. chain13's Avatar
    Man... Benchmark torture is something different with real world perfirmance.

    Sure. Opening speed is decent. But when you have a lot of RAM space, just dont close opened apps. Let Android manage it and you don't have to worry, everything will loads instantly after all. I let opened app still there. I have plenty available RAM anyway.

    I manage Aurora really smooth animation (scrolling, load, unload, switch) like butter. For more consistent framerate near 60fps, judt turn on FGR and DHWO. Adreno 308 is in da house. It makes UI fluids soooo smooth like an iPhone... :+)
    Good if that works for you.
    07-27-17 07:57 PM
  9. bhoqeem's Avatar
    I can't be sure if that SD425 will run android blackberry smoothly. Since the phone with better internals like k1 or priv sometime gets hiccups.
    Try it, bro. It's SMOOTH like all get out. The smoothest android I've ever encountered. No lags whatsoever, even with heavy multitasking. And the battery is just as insane as the BB10s.
    07-28-17 01:38 AM
  10. bhoqeem's Avatar
    I’ve bought a new Aurora last night. It’s look cheap on web, but damn… it’s looks & feels very good when I see & hold it. My hand hold it confidently, thank’s to it’s plastic-rubber matte back. I’m doing right to choose this handset. It’s only Rp2.499.000 (US$187) with JBL Go speaker as a bonus, but they offer me no bonus option at Rp2.300.000 (US$172). Surely, it’s a best bet for me.

    Previously I have some candidate for my Q10 & iPhone 5s replacement: Galaxy Note 5, Redmi Note 4 Pro, or BlackBerry Aurora. Galaxy Note 5 of course has a great S-Pen selling point. Redmi Note 4 Pro of course will get Snapdragon 625 which is more powerful than 425. But I choose Aurora because of it’s software. Hardware specs usually only gimmick, but software design will be more usefull for end-user. Take a look at iPhone, even it has much lower spec than Android competitors, iPhone UX/UI still far better and so fluid.

    What I love about Aurora are:

    1. KEYBOARD
    I have a broken Z10. It’s keyboard is perfect. Even iOS / Android keyboards can’t compete. I really enjoy BB 10 virtual keyboard. And thankfully they bring it to Android Blackberries.

    2. DUAL SIM
    Indonesian is a huge prepaid market. Ironically, every operator promote people to use prepaid with many-many call/data bonus. Imagine this: with only Rp60.000 (US$4) you can have 6 GB + 30 minutes call to all operator. I have one main number and it is postpaid for more than 12 years, but sadly internet tariff on postpaid are too pricey. Many Indonesian user has a habit to get a new prepaid data package and will get new one after it’s empty. So yes, dual-SIM plays role and really make sense here. One for main number (and identity), and one for internet package.

    3. BIG SCREEN: 5.5“
    It’s simple to have a compact phone in your pocket like Q10 / iPhone 5s, and i love it. But comparing to the needs of large screen, I still prefer the large one. HD 720p is still good in eyes. No problem at all. It makes processing power more simple and fast. Running games on 1080p or 1440p will eat more battery/processor/RAM. Youtube will adjust to screen resolution by default even later we can force to lower res, but it will occasionally eats more data.

    4. RAM 4 GB
    May “analyst” on the web say that we still don’t need 4 GB RAM in 2017. They wrong. People use their phone for any aspect of my life. I will use my phone for 8 email accounts (set inbox to “Forever"), >20 WhatsApp groups, BBM, Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Path, Youtube, daily take pictures/videos, some casual games like Subway Surfers / Hay Day etc, office suites with online capability, will open many PDF for my works, open many tabs on Chrome, and print some files to wireless printer. Are you sure 2/3 GB enough for that? No! 4 GB is minimum for good and smooth multitasking on my flow.

    5. SOFTWARE
    We buy an electronic device not only a piece of dead hardware. There’s a soul which make it life: the software. Take a look iOS-powered hardware are lower spec than Android-powered hardware, but it still performs better than the latter. So this Android is powered by BlackBerry software soul. The Hub is the most “expensive” implementation. It make my digital life easier. The BlackBerry Launcher has an asterisk mark badge on apps. That’s a good selling point. Once in a time I have a Nexus 5, but truely I don’t like the stock Android.

    Overall, I really love this phone and I guess you will no regret to get one with only US $172-$187.
    Good buy and a great review, friend. Thank you!
    I'm also enjoying my Aurora so much. And dare even say proud of it.
    07-28-17 01:39 AM
  11. koesn's Avatar
    The key is: QC. Even produced in Indonesia (third world), BB still control the license including its quality standard. It's true the hardware spec are just mid-end or some said it's low-end, but it still has agood build quality. BB inc still responsible for their brand.
    07-28-17 02:34 AM
  12. koesn's Avatar
    I am curious about battery life. OP, you sound like a heavy user so you are a good one to test its capacity.
    I will test it, coz I'm curious too. But I still find the right methode and time to write down what it do, so I hope it can gives you more accurate real-world test.
    07-28-17 05:18 AM
  13. Dunt Dunt Dunt's Avatar
    Think I read that Kevin was testing one, so maybe he is finally going to do a review.....

    There are a number of reviews on the Aurora if you search regional for it.

    In the end it's an Android phone with a few Apps added that add to the overhead. So performance really depends on what you are comparing it too... a stock Android phone is going to perform better. A Samsung probable won't with their own overhead issues.
    07-28-17 07:47 AM
  14. spyros_81's Avatar
    Great review - thanks!
    mckenzie88 likes this.
    07-28-17 08:20 AM
  15. chain13's Avatar
    Try it, bro. It's SMOOTH like all get out. The smoothest android I've ever encountered. No lags whatsoever, even with heavy multitasking. And the battery is just as insane as the BB10s.
    Really? I'm not really impressed by the specsheet. After reading aurora official thread in Indonesia's local forum (Kaskus), there are many users reported screen issues, heating problems, etc etc. No wonder if the price drops significantly from idr 3.500.000 to idr 2.400.000 in less than 8 months.
    07-28-17 08:55 AM
  16. bhoqeem's Avatar
    Really? I'm not really impressed by the specsheet. After reading aurora official thread in Indonesia's local forum (Kaskus), there are many users reported screen issues, heating problems, etc etc. No wonder if the price drops significantly from idr 3.500.000 to idr 2.400.000 in less than 8 months.
    Well, I have no such issues whatsoever. No screen issues, least of all heating problems. And I'm not the only one.

    Bad products are always around in any production, but only a small percentage of the whole. Those who got the good ones do not complain and extremely rarely tell about it. Think about it.

    Spec sheet doesn't always speak volume about a product. Sometimes you have to see and feel it yourself.

    Up to you, though. If you'd rather go for K1, instead, go ahead.
    Last edited by bhoqeem; 07-28-17 at 10:14 AM.
    07-28-17 09:05 AM
  17. chain13's Avatar
    Well, I have no such issues whatsoever. No screen issues, least of all heating problems. And I'm not the only one.

    Bad products are always around in any production, but only a small percentage of the whole. Those who got the good ones do not complain and extremely rarely tell about it. Think about it.

    Spec sheet doesn't always speaks volume about a product. Sometime you have to see and feel it yourself.

    Up to you, though. If you'd rather go for K1, instead, go ahead.
    Even keyone has its issues. It's good if it works for you. I've seen many reviews from Indonesian youtubers, and they all said almost the same. It's mediocre device, don't expect to much of it including of speed. But again, good if it works for you. If I have time, I will try one myself.
    07-28-17 09:09 AM
  18. Gajja's Avatar
    Well said. Good line of thinking.
    07-28-17 09:38 AM
  19. koesn's Avatar
    Even keyone has its issues. It's good if it works for you. I've seen many reviews from Indonesian youtubers, and they all said almost the same. It's mediocre device, don't expect to much of it including of speed. But again, good if it works for you. If I have time, I will try one myself.
    It seems there's no good point for you in every single BlackBerry. I just don't understand. Are you BlackBerry competitor's socmed army? Lol..just kidding.. :-)

    Well, in my country, Aurora reception are good. A lot of Aurora user very satisfied and happy with it, and they just don't share it on youtube.

    “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
    –Henry Ford

    “It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them.”
    — Steve Jobs

    It's okay if someone don't like Android BlackBerries for whatever reason. But...hey dude, this is Crackberry Forum. The place for CBs to share their happy experience with BB. Cheers... :-)
    iled likes this.
    07-28-17 12:37 PM
  20. bhoqeem's Avatar
    I see. He's one of them kind of people. Lol
    07-28-17 01:39 PM
  21. chain13's Avatar
    It seems there's no good point for you in every single BlackBerry. I just don't understand. Are you BlackBerry competitor's socmed army? Lol..just kidding.. :-)

    Well, in my country, Aurora reception are good. A lot of Aurora user very satisfied and happy with it, and they just don't share it on youtube.

    It's okay if someone don't like Android BlackBerries for whatever reason. But...hey dude, this is Crackberry Forum. The place for CBs to share their happy experience with BB. Cheers... :-)
    No, I don't hate it at all. I am just realistic. Since my last Z30, I realized that nothing more blackberry could offer for enterprise. You could post your good experience on cb because mostly cb users will testify every blackberry products even the bad one.

    But many indonesian user don't know about cb, so they post their experiences in their local forum like kaskus. And I think kaskus is more realistic-unbiased forum. Their reviews on that forum are pretty bad.
    Last edited by chain13; 07-30-17 at 03:08 AM.
    07-29-17 12:37 AM
  22. bhoqeem's Avatar
    Well, I've just been to Kaskus, looking around about Aurora. Most of their complaints are about price, not the Aurora itself. Even now it's no longer valid, since the price has been officially lowered for about a month.

    Granted, it's not the best of the bestest blahblah. But it's decent, it's stable, and it delivers. No lags. No screen defect. Not heating. Good battery.
    07-29-17 01:36 AM
  23. chain13's Avatar
    Well, I've just been to Kaskus, looking around about Aurora. Most of their complaints are about price, not the Aurora itself. Even now it's no longer valid, since the price has been officially lowered for about a month.
    They complaint about the price because it was idr 3,500.000 and not really on par with the devices at the same price. Even now at idr 2,500.000 you still don't get what you should get.

    I know that business doesn't need gyroscope, fingerprint reader, 1080p screen, or sd 6xx series. Yes I know that.

    So that makes it relevant to buy an idr 1,600.000 phone at idr 2,500.000 because it's addressed for business and business doesn't need that glory internals? Good luck blackberry.

    But it's decent, it's stable, and it delivers. No lags. No screen defect. Not heating. Good battery.
    Do you think the other phones at the same price (with better internals) are unstable, undecent, lagging, heating, or anything else?
    Last edited by chain13; 07-30-17 at 08:28 PM.
    07-29-17 02:19 AM
  24. bhoqeem's Avatar
    Do you think the other phones at the same price (with better internals) are unstable, undecent, lagging, heating, or anything else?
    Go buy the other phones, then.
    07-31-17 02:24 PM
  25. koesn's Avatar
    Ohh please.... neverending emotional and subjective.

    Let me share something

    NICE FEATURES

    1.*Popup Widget

    Android user loves app widget. But BlackBerry has made it right. No need for extra space to place widget, because the widget will show up when we swipe up/down on app icon. It performs like Hub peek (J-hook) in BlackBerry 10 but with better implemention in Android, because you can peek unread message with Popup Widget. I don’t know is it exist on other Androids?

    2.*Password at Boot

    It performs like FileVault (full disk encryption) on macOS. I enable this on my MacBook and my Aurora. What I know is it will give extra layer of security and it usually implemented on full-disk encryption. System & data volume only will be loaded after the password passed. It different from asking password after the OS is loaded, because the system itself is not encrypted.

    3.*Connected to 4G & 3G

    Usually dual SIM phone combination is 2G + 2G/3G/4G. But in Aurora, 1 SIM connected to 3G/2G (voice+text) and other SIM connected to 4G/3G/2G (data+voice+text). This is very helpful when you at an area with weak 2G signal (often choppy), and even with 3G you will have better voice quality.*


    MISSING FEATURES

    1.*Gyro

    Yep, Aurora (and some cheap Androids) has no gyro. Even gyro can be replaced by accelerometer, but some apps really need gyro to run accurately like some racing games and some photo sphere apps.

    When I play Need for Speed No Limits and set steering to “Tilt Screen”, it works with accelerometer but it feels a bit not as snappy and accurate like using gyro.

    Other games which needs simple tilt screen like Subway Surfer & Temple Run runs fine and normal, because it’s tilt screen handled perfectly with accelerometer.

    Other kind of games will not need gyro at all. cmiiw.
    08-02-17 04:18 AM
38 12

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