Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The BlackBerry DTEK50 is a surprisingly promising smartphone with a more than reasonable price tag and a spec sheet to be proud of.
It's not going to wow you with design, flagship features or super slick performance, but what you do get is a phone which fully encrypts all your data, makes it easy for you to monitor your privacy and ensures everything is secure.
Battery life is the low point and you'll want to carry a charger with you to work, but aside from that the DTEK50 is a solid business-focused device at an affordable price.
If the battery life was better, and the performance a little smoother, the DTEK50 could have been one of the best phones around for the money, but as it stands it's just another mid-range smartphone which will struggle to really stand out.
Who's this for?
The BlackBerry DTEK50 is mainly aimed at business customers looking for a secure smartphone they can buy in bulk – but it's also a more than viable option for recreational users.
There's a selection of BlackBerry applications and software additions which play more to business users, but you can disable the Productivity Tab and ignore most of the firm's pre-installed applications to leave you with a slick Android interface.
Access to Google's Play Store ensures you won't be without your favorite apps and games, and the full HD display provides an excellent viewing experience - giving everyone from young to old access to the things they want from a phone.
Should I buy it?
The DTEK50 is a mid-range phone that goes the distance, it's just not the best in class. There are cooler, more desirable handsets in this price bracket, some of which we've mentioned in more detail below.
They will likely draw many buyers away from the DTEK50's business-first outlook, but if you want excellent security and privacy controls no one is doing it better than BlackBerry at the moment.
Even if that doesn't matter to you the DTEK50 shouldn't be immediately dismissed, as it does a lot of things right. The screen is very good, the design isn't anything special, but it is functional, lightweight and easy to hold, and the almost-stock Android interface makes the phone easy to use.
There's a decent rear snapper too, and if you're yearning for better security controls on your smartphone the DTEK50 will be right up your street.
Competition
OnePlus 3
The OnePlus 3 is slightly more expensive than the BlackBerry DTEK50, and while it doesn't boast the same level of super security it does have a number of advantages.
There's a full metal body giving it a supremely premium look and feel, a fingerprint scanner on the front provides easy, yet secure access into the handset, and under the hood there's true flagship power with the same processor as the LG G5 and HTC 10. Phones which are almost double the cost of the OnePlus 3.
OnePlus has adapted the Android Marshmallow operating system with its Oxygen OS interface, which keeps the overall look and feel of Google's platform while adding in some handy extra features.
It's an all-round better smartphone than the DTEK50, but the BlackBerry is cheaper and has a higher level of security.
- Read our OnePlus 3 review
Moto X Style
If you're on a tight budget than the Moto X Style is also worth considering, coming in slightly cheaper than the DTEK50, but sporting an equally impressive spec sheet.
A 5.5-inch full HD screen adorns the front of the handset, while a punchy 21MP camera resides on the rear. Inside the X Play doesn't pack quite as much power, but it's still adequate and the battery life is better than the BlackBerry.
It looks and feels a little more premium, but it's also bigger and heavier. If you're looking for portability the DTEK50 is the more compact package.
- Read our Moto X Style review
Nexus 5X
The Nexus 5X may be about to be replaced by a couple of new Nexus devices, but it still packs a super Android punch.
The polycarbonate body isn't premium, and its 12MP rear snapper may be a little on the week side, but there's still a decent amount of power to keep all your apps running smoothly and with this being a Google handset you'll be first to get the latest software updates.
There's a 5.2-inch full HD display for your gaming and video needs, and it'll see out a day on a single charge, unlike the DTEK50.
- Read our Nexus 5X review
First reviewed: August 2016
