The Passport is a completely different feel when you pick it up. It’s not the classic design, not at this size. For a second it felt like I was picking up a sexy new twist to the original Gameboy and that’s a compliment. The keyboard has a different feeling too. It’s too wide for one hand. The keys are smoother than anything before. They’re almost a tad slippery. I’ve been told that they have been improved upon since this generation of prototype. The backside had a felt-like feeling to it. Not like the Q10, but more like the Z10 and was easy to grip. With a phone this size and weight, the grippiness goes a long way.
The Passport weighs in at 6 and 7/8th oz. Also, it’s really wide. I know the screen is just as tall, but the keyboard makes it feel wide. I had a passerby say it looked like a flattened Sidekick. I couldn’t help but agree. What it truly reminded me of was my trusted 8800. It had the same feel. The keys were wide too. I’ll get to the keyboard in a bit, but the keys felt empty visually. It’s because there were no other markings on it. No punctuation of any sort. Just plain dedicated QWERTY. It really threw me off.
The screen is one of such elegance, that it even made the most diehard iPhone user smile. It’s got one of the sharpest screens out there and the UI that felt cramped on the Q10 now is unleashed in a fashion that renders you hopelessly in love. It’s not the traditional screen. You want to type. On the left and right sides, it very gently curves down as it goes to meet the side. It’s nothing that would change the looks of the phone, but it feels nicer. More buttery.