We wrote up a piece earlier today about the four different BlackBerry Z10 models and it turns out I left some details off the list. There are some other differences between the device models including their processor and slight weight differences beyond just the cellular frequencies. Here is an updated list with more detail. There are also a whole spectrum of different SAR ratings per device in their safety guides if that interests you. I also noticed that the even numbered models have a higher Bluetooth range than the odd numbered models. Thanks to piotrbarycki @BBNews.pl for pointing these out!
So here we go again:
BlackBerry Z10 STL100-1 (aka R072): (Started in UAE but now in many other countries)
- Cellular Bands:
- Quad Band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- Quad-Band HSPA+ 1, 2, 5/6, 8 (850/900/1900/2100 MHz) with support for 21Mbps HSPA+
- Weight: approximately 4.8 oz (135.4 g) including lithium-ion cell battery
- Processor: TI OMAP 4470
- Graphics: PowerVR SGX 544
- SAR Rating (by ear, on belt, mobile hotspot mode): 0.97, 0.84, 1.39
- Bluetooth Class: 2.0 (lower means higher maximum power/range)
BlackBerry Z10 STL100-2 (aka R086): (UK version and other carriers)
- Cellular Bands:
- Quad Band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- Tri Band HSPA+ 1, 5/6, 8 (2100/850/900 MHz)
- Quad Band LTE 3, 7, 8, 20 (1800/2600/900/700 MHz)
- Weight: approximately 4.8 oz (136 g) including lithium-ion cell battery
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960
- Graphics: Adreno 225
- SAR Rating (by ear, on belt, mobile hotspot mode): 1.07, 1.07, 1.26
- Bluetooth Class: 1.5 (lower means higher maximum power/range)
BlackBerry Z10 STL100-3 (aka R070): (AT&T and many other carriers)
- Cellular Bands:
- Quad Band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- Quad-band HSPA+ support: UMTS 800/850, UMTS 1700, UMTS 1900, UMTS 2100 MHz band (800/850/1700/1900/2100)
- Quad Band LTE 2, 5, 4, 17 (700/850/1900/1700 MHz)
- Weight: approximately 4.8 oz (136.3 g) including lithium-ion cell battery
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960
- Graphics: Adreno 225
- SAR Rating (by ear, on belt, mobile hotspot mode): 0.97. 0.96, 1.50
- Bluetooth Class: 2.0 (lower means higher maximum power/range)
BlackBerry Z10 STL100-4 (aka R069): (Verizon Wireless)
- Cellular Bands:
- CDMA/PCS (850/1900 MHz)
- WCDMA Band 1 & 8 (900/2100 MHz)
- Quad Band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1900/1800 MHz)
- LTE Band-13 (700MHz)
- Weight: approximately 4.9 oz (137.5 g) including lithium-ion cell battery
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960
- Graphics: Adreno 225
- SAR Rating (by ear, on belt, mobile hotspot mode): 1.42, 1.20, 0.91
- Bluetooth Class: 1.5 (lower means higher maximum power/range)
Let us know if you find anything else!
Huseyin ( View Profile) - Posts: 70
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 1:19 PM EST
Thanks Ronen, it was mentioned in the comments of the previous post, you stated “AT&T, T-Mobile US…” but do you have any information which bands/classes do these carriers use for their LTE, HSPA+, etc.?
Z10 STL100-3 (aka R070)
Quad Band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
Tri Band HSPA+ 1, 2, 5/6 (2100/850/1900 MHz)
Quad Band LTE 2, 5, 4, 17 (700/850/1900/1700 MHz)
Based on my findings, R070 is not compatible with T-Mobile’s current 4G network (HSPA+) T-mo listed as 1700 MHz which is not mentioned above. Only a limited coverage at 1900 MHz is provided by T-Mobile. It looks like above device would only work at its full speed if T-Mobile rolled LTE 1700/2100 MHz which is listed at T-Mo LTE band for 2013. So users of R070 in T-Mo may be stuck with 2G.
AT&T uses 850/900 for 3G, so that’s covered.
And 700/1700/2100 for LTE, which is also covered.
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3305
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 2:23 PM EST
Hi Huseyin,
You seem to have caught a mistake between my two sources. I just checked the safety guide the the STL100-3 and it states:
Quad-band HSPA+ support: UMTS 800/UMTS 850, UMTS 1700, UMTS 1900, UMTS 2100 MHz band
So it does cover UMTS 1700
Huseyin ( View Profile) - Posts: 70
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 4:15 PM EST
Thanks for the update. I have been going back and forth with T-Mo and various wikipedia articles. I am glad that it covers 1700 that means at least HSPA+ will be there. I know you mentioned Luis is using it, is it possible to run a speedtest, is there even an app for that in App World? I know it was impossible to run a speed test with earlier models, but I am hoping we can do it with BB10.
For those who want to check more about frequencies used by carriers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_frequencies scroll down to “Carrier Frequency Use”
Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_USA
yandar ( View Profile) - Posts: 66
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 5:30 PM EST
Cuurrenty to use the speedtest.net app you have to sideload the android version which works fine.
Krypto Not Registered
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 2:25 PM EST from my BlackBerry Z10 | OS 10.0.10.672
The devices do work on T-Mobile at full speeds. Even though it’s not listed there, I have friends who have it working on both the Wind network in Canada and on T-Mobile in the US and they’re getting full 3G and HSPA+. So I’m not sure if the listing is just missing the band or what, but it does indeed work.
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3305
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 2:50 PM EST
Yeah I can confirm it will work on T-Mobile at HSPA+ speeds. Turns out one of my sources for the documentation did not have it listed but I confirmed in the safety guide that it is there.
Amir Saad ( View Profile) - Posts: 510
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 2:21 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9810 | OS 7.1.0.694
Interesting that both AT&T and T-Mobile share the same device.
PLTM Not Registered
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 3:00 PM EST
so is it safe to pre-order from AT&T or just wait on T-Mobile since it shouldn’t be to long before it is released on T-Mobile?
Huseyin ( View Profile) - Posts: 70
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 4:08 PM EST
PLTM, I don’t think AT&T will sell unlocked device, and even if you buy it at no-contract price of $550 (est) it will be locked to AT&T SIM. The carrier will give you all sort of excuses for not unlocking it, such as, having to wait for manufacturer, or the unlock code is not being readily available for the recently released device, etc.. On the other hand, you never know, they might just unlock it. What I mean to say is, I would recommend waiting for T-Mobile device unless you can get AT&T to unlock it at the time of purchase.
I am with AT&T at the moment, and I plan to buy the unit straight out and request that they unlock it at the time of purchase, I will be pushing them for this because I have been out of contract for over 2 years (w/AT&T since 2007) and I see no reason to buy a locked Blackberry and be forced to stay with AT&T for another 2 years. At least by getting it unlocked from a carrier that I have service with, I can always cancel and move to other carrier, or just sell the device when Qwerty comes out, unless I am hooked on touch screen (i doubt)..
Luis Merlos ( View Profile) - Posts: 1312
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 7:46 PM EST
hey guys I been using an unlocked device on T-Mobile that does work on both AT&T and T-Mobile along with other Canadian carriers. The model is the STL100-3
With the device I am able to use HSPA+ and I have the options to choose from different options if I want to turn off LTE off on it. I can’t say whether the carriers may request those radios be turned off at launch so that it only works on their network but on tmobile it does work perfectly.
Also id say if you are wanting to go with your carrier you might be better off just waiting a few days to get from your specific carrier. But in theory att and tmobile devices will probably work on both.
captainbdsc ( View Profile) - Posts: 179
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 9:53 PM EST
Why do you suppose the Verizon variant is so much more radio active?
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3305
Posted: March 13, 2013 at 10:12 PM EST
I think it goes by the highest transmit SAR and I think CDMA networks are notorious for having higher SAR rates due to the communication requirements. Don’t quote me since I have not done tons of research.
Nigel Blumenthal Not Registered
Posted: May 18, 2013 at 7:19 PM EST
Thanks for all this detailed tech stuff, Ronen – it’s now become very useful for me. I wonder if you have the answer to this one:
We spend time in both Canada and the UK. My Z10 was bought in Canada (Fido) and uses an LTE SIM there. My UK account is with Orange, and they are rolling out 4G (via EE). However, it seems that my Canadian phone won’t be able to use the 4G system here in the UK because the bands and frequencies supported are quite different. The question is, is this a matter of the software on the phone (and therefore if I update my OS in the UK will that change what my phone can support) or is it basic, plumbed-in hardware? A subsidiary question: Would I need a second Z10 for the UK ?
This is a bit of a bummer, because before I bought the phone in Canada, I asked Blackberry specifically about the differences between markets, and they told me that there were none!
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3305
Posted: May 19, 2013 at 8:07 AM EST from my BlackBerry Q10 | OS 10.1.0.1483
Type in the word myver on your z10 and report back what it says. That will tell you what model you have