We previously saw some blurry cam shots of the Porsche Design P‘9981 in matte black but now that it's landing into luxury shops and becoming further available, Porsche Design has posted up their official press release for the device. Believe it or not, there is a perfectly logical reason they chose black this time around as outlined in the PR for it:
“Since the very beginning, our brand has been identified with the colour black,” said Jürgen Geßler, CEO of the Porsche Design Group. “Our very first product was a completely black watch. It was a revolutionary product at the time and proved to be a great talking point all over the world. As is typical of Porsche Design, the choice of black had a functional significance. The “Chronograph I” was inspired by the non-reflective design of racing car controls, with everything in matt black apart from the instruments. The aim was to ensure a clear and easy-to-read display. The Porsche Design P‘9981 Black follows this tradition.”
Yes, it's a redressed BlackBerry Bold 9900. Yes, it's a $1500 device. Yes, no one really needs it. Yes, some people think it's ugly. Yes, it's not the best to type on. But damnit all to hell if I don't want one. You can jump below for some more press images. Now, I know what Kevin is getting me for Christmas -- don't tell him though.
Read CrackBerry's P'9981 Review
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dataphry Dec 21, 2012 at 4:47 am
This $hit is 2 fcking expensive !!!!
Bla1ze Dec 21, 2012 at 4:59 am
Lemme know when you see Porsche selling a "cheap" uhh.. anything.
http://press.porsche-design.com/index.php?id=144&L=1
olblueyez Dec 21, 2012 at 5:07 am
Let me know when that phone becomes a "Porsche Anything".
Too bad they didn't just make them black from the get go. Looks nice. The silver model should have its azz shaved and made to walk backwards.
NaijaBerry Dec 21, 2012 at 5:24 am
I was kinda digging this phone and said mmmm for the first time to this lovely blackness, but that "Yes, it's not the best to type on" just made me :( I'm an excessive compulsive typist! Still lovely though!
emirozmen Dec 21, 2012 at 5:35 am
Now this one looks good. But the silver one... that sucks!
jon4400 Dec 21, 2012 at 5:44 am
It looks so much better than the silver one ! I'm buying the Blackberry Z10 at launch and if they release an N-Series Porsche Design later this year, I'll be more than happy to take a look at it.
WAJ1 Dec 21, 2012 at 6:32 am
A very good looking phone pity the price wasn't As good they would fly off the shelves.
wsfan Dec 21, 2012 at 6:43 am
No disrespect intended toward those who like this, but I think it's quite ugly, especially compared to the Bold 9930, and far too expensive for what you're getting.
killzone22 Dec 21, 2012 at 6:49 am
Holly crap 1500?? I rather put that money into grabbing the N series then the A series!!! Go RIM!! Blackberry!!!
lang007 Dec 21, 2012 at 8:07 am
No phone is $1500 nice. NONE
dagerlach Dec 21, 2012 at 8:08 am
6 months ago I might have paid a couple hundred dollars for it, but who would pay anything for it now with BB10 arriving in a couple months?
Rootbrian Dec 23, 2012 at 1:55 am
Nobody in the north american markets. Elsewhere and they can afford it, yes.
felixlives Dec 21, 2012 at 8:09 am
@$1500 ,it would be cool to at least have a porshe logo on it or something ......nice and sexy ,but not my cup of tea
BB10 FTW
Stychill Dec 21, 2012 at 8:38 am
lol..."sexy"
sk8er_tor Dec 21, 2012 at 9:08 am
Loving this new color.
bambinoitaliano Dec 21, 2012 at 9:54 am
No thanks! I'll take a chance with 100 shares of RIM.
whitbags Dec 21, 2012 at 10:00 am
Now that is an excellent analogy - 1500 ickies is a P9981 or 100 RIM shares.
whitbags Dec 21, 2012 at 9:59 am
Is the device significantly larger than the 9900? The screen on this looks pretty small.
That said, I presonally think that is a very nice looking phone, just not 1500 quids worth of nice.
rcm1301 Dec 21, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Check the link for its review, there's comparison photo's.
asiayeah Dec 21, 2012 at 10:14 am
This Black one looks really good. It belongs to Batman? It also gives class to my Bold 9900 as they share the same software. Nice work!
bluesjr01 Dec 21, 2012 at 11:08 am
With BB10 coming that thing is nothing but a expensive paper weight, looks cool though.
Rootbrian Dec 23, 2012 at 1:57 am
It's NOT a paperweight and it's meant for the rich NOT in the north american market as far as I know.
Driftdreams Dec 21, 2012 at 11:40 am
I would've strung for it if it looked like that originally. If it just looks like that and doesnt support BB10, its a complete waste of money. Its a HUGE downgrade with a price tag like that
Rootbrian Dec 23, 2012 at 2:00 am
But it's not a waste of money to the average very rich consumer.
Sprawl Dec 21, 2012 at 11:40 am
for 1500...
the least they could do is have the Z and the Y in the correct location :p
Maxey05 Dec 21, 2012 at 11:53 am
Everything looks better in Black!
travaz Dec 21, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Love it. One mans trash is another mans treasure!
daveycrocket Dec 21, 2012 at 12:52 pm
now that is a beautiful phone.
Xader Dec 21, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Dat battery cover!
mkmilan Dec 21, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Check the "y" and "z" placement: oops
Skoal712 Dec 21, 2012 at 10:27 pm
That's why it's not the best typing experience it's a QWERTZ keyboard instead of a QWERTY.
TommyBB Dec 21, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Remember, no one ever said it was for the hard core qwerty typist. This phone is all about exclusivity. Whip this bad boy out and it guaranteed no one else the room will have one.
I would seriously consider a qwerty device if Porsche Design released one with BB10 OS on it. This baby is seriously hot but timing for me bad with BB10 looming large...
crackcookie Dec 21, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Yeah no, there are a lot cooler things I could have with 2000 dollars....such as 2000 dollars. If I whipped that out and started typing on my feature phone I bet people would look even harder.
Anyway, way to make a black version of the best blackberry, too bad it comes at a time when no one wants to buy that bold anymore, knowing in 2 months a totally new and revamped Bold will be here.
Why not remake the future bold...
Rootbrian Dec 23, 2012 at 2:05 am
Non-north american markets that don't use QWERTY blackberries will definitely love this, only those consumors that can afford it.
GeneralHerzog Dec 21, 2012 at 6:07 pm
What?? no comment from Kev on this option? Wow
RoboticGolem Dec 21, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Now they need to make the porche designed Z10. *droooool*
MozThaGreat Dec 22, 2012 at 5:44 pm
+10000000
I would be surprised if they didn't but that phone would trump all other devices. A solid OS on a solid Porsche Design phone. Ill dream for now.
MozThaGreat Dec 22, 2012 at 1:16 am
Some people just won't understand..............still a stunning piece of beauty in my eyes.
Rootbrian Dec 23, 2012 at 2:09 am
This is a winner in the non-north american markets for it's non-QWERTY keyboard. :D
If I had the cash, I WOULD BUY IT!!!!
Omnitech Dec 24, 2012 at 8:42 am
THIS is the color they should have made that device in the first place. Wayyyyyyy better looking than that fugly silver thing.
Not that I would ever buy one - but lots of companies make ritzy overpriced 'special edition' things for the rich socialite that has to have something unusual.
I still can't stop thinking about the "Blackberry Blade" though, the concept device rendered by that Canadian design firm. I might even be willing to pay a stupid amount of money for one if it ever came to market. ;-)
spencerdl Dec 25, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Nice looking phone but MUCH better in BLACK.......as with anything.