The Blackphone makes a serious attempt at being the most secure phone, even over Blackberry. Does it accomplish that goal? After all, 128-bit AES encryption is nice and quite rare on even the best smartphones. And when being secure from attacks and constant requests for personal data is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, it’d be nice to have.
Why We Like It – Blackphone
The Blackphone makes one sweeping attack on data collectors by increasing its security to the max, bolstering its defences with 128-bit AES encryption and the ability to circumvent an app’s request for your personal data.
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- Has 128-bit AES encryption
- Can bypass the demand for personal data
- Decent battery life
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- Doesn’t work with CDMA networks
- Doesn’t include secure VPN service
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Overall Performance
Underneath the hood is an octa-core Snapdragon 615 chipset. On paper that sounds good, but you’ll notice that apps lag a bit when in use. When you boil it down, it’ll be more annoying than anything. After all, it’s a small price for better security. If you were hoping to take pictures, the Blackphone pales in comparison to the Apple iPhone 11, but it makes due with its 13-megapixel camera.
Battery Life
Don’t expect an entire day of battery life, but the Silent Phone does make an effort to stagger its use of power. You’ll be fine for most of a work shift, though nearing the end of one will have you huddling a wall. It averages at around 7 hours from normal use.
Display
The 1080p definitely fits the screen size of the phone, which is 5.5-inches. It puts pixel density at the front of the line, rather than trying to stretch a smaller resolution. Outside of that, Silent OS (Android 5.11 Lollipop) is as nice as ever, albeit outdated in look.
Durability
The Blackphone 2 is fair with its toughness. It has a full-body Gorilla Glass 3, with grippy, textured edges; however, it’s a magnet for fingerprints. If anyone can outpace that, it’s the steel frame and IP68 rating on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. You can also check out the Easyfone Prime A1, which is a tough nut to crack.
Value
Dropping $519 is going to make you sweat. Is it worth it? Short answer: no. New updates aren’t coming out and you don’t get the 1-year subscription of a secure VPN. The 128-bit AES encryption is nice, as is the bypass for personal data, but still makes it hard to justify price. You’re better off with an iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Blackphone Wrap Up
The Blackphone is no slouch when it comes to security. Having 128-bit encryption is stellar, not to mention the ability to circumvent an app’s request for your personal data before use. But then you’re cut off from every CDMA network, making it nearly useless in the US. The question then becomes: is the price worth paying for protection?
