Take a closer look at the BlackBerry Classic (pictures)

As the name implies, the BlackBerry Classic is going to be really familiar to BlackBerry fans. This $449 smartphone (unlocked) bears more than a passing resemblance to some of BlackBerry's greatest hits.

The phone has a 3.5-inch screen, with a 720x720-pixel resolution. That low resolution is really disappointing for images and video, but text is going to be the primary concern and it looks great here. Everything is crisp and easy to read and edit.

BlackBerry remains at the top of its productivity game here. Typing feels fantastic whether you're using one hand or two, and the keys offer a satisfying click with every press.

The battery isn't removable, but should last for over 17 hours of talk time -- I lasted a few days of mixed use before I needed to track down a charger.

The SIM card and SD card slots sit on the left side: the phone accepts nanoSIM cards, and SD cards up to 128GB.

Three buttons sit on the right side: your volume controls, and a mute button -- press and hold it to call up the BlackBerry Assistant.

The BlackBerry Assistant works just like Siri or Google Now: ask a question or give it a task, and it'll do it. You can also type in your request if you're, say, in a meeting.

The speakers are loud, and calls sound nice and clear, but the audio quality isn't really suitable for things like music.

The headphone jack and lock button sit up top, and are readily accessible.

The 8-megapixel camera on the phone's rear takes serviceable shots, given ample light and a steady subject.