Ask Engadget: Best BlackBerry handset right now?
By Darren Murph 
posted January 15th 2009 10:25PM
posted January 15th 2009 10:25PM
Make no mistake, the hottest thing going in the mobile realm just now is the Palm Pre, but that's not to say RIM hasn't gained a lot of attention with its most recent outpouring of smartphones. Max has chimed in with this week's Ask Engadget question (which was sent in via ask at engadget dawt com), and it's all about the latest and greatest BlackBerrys. "I'm considering purchasing the BlackBerry Bold, but the news about the Storm and even the Curve has me intrigued. Which would your readers recommend for a new BlackBerry owner, and why? Pros and cons for each would be excellent."
We don't need to reiterate just how high the pedestal is on which the Curve 8900 sits (yes, even today) in the minds of the BB faithful, so we've no doubt that it should be included in this conversation. Go on fanboys, defend your dialer below.
Don't feed the trolls.
thats exactly what i was after xD i know that would happen, i just hoped for another FLAME war hahaha
and yea i am like switzerland i have both :)
Nokia E71 FTW!
No one but the one who first asked the Q. mentioned the announced, but not yet delivered, TREO PRE. I'm a MAC user, have a 1st gen. - iPHONE which I do not like (hate the keyboard and the web speed). I will probably want to change to the latest BB or the PRE, assuming the specs are at least as good as listed. I need to interface with my MAC. Will I be able to rely on the aftermarket software claiming to do this, and do you think BB will have the software, or will TREO come out with addl. software for MAC compatability? I'm new to this form of blog--so forgive me if I am not following protocols-about topic--but feel I am!
cranepix@ameritech.net
8900. See posts above.
The Bold, for me.
Lack of WiFi completley rules out the Storm for me, plus I think touchscreen is a stupid idea. It's like trying to do everything on a PC with a mouse when shortcuts are always quickest, i dunno mainly just typing, lack of accuaracy. All that light-fingered, airy-fairy crap is a total waste of time. takes 10 times as long to rattle off an email on an iPhone or Storm - When I first got my Bold I missed the small compactness of my old Curve, but I picked up the Curve recently to give to a mate, and it feels like a toy. Yeah the build quality of the Bold could be better but i've never had a handset that I use all the features of, every day and really, really fast.
storm is definitely a pos
I'd be all over a bb with pre form factor, seems like the best best of all worlds
Until then, I love verizon and my curve is the gold standard bb until the next qwerty bb is available to me.
I have an original Curve, it will be 2 years old. Like it a lot, , the form factor, keyboard, but I have edge. If the 8900 had all that it has an 3g, then I would switch, but having a daughter who just traded her Bold for an iPhone, honestly, seeing the browser difference, if the iPhone had a real keyboard, I would most likley abandon BB altogether. The Bolds price point is terrible. 8900 is incomplete in my eyes. So I would rather stay with my 8300 than take the shortcomings of either phone.
I'm digging my Pearl 8110 on ATT, though obviously the dude asking should consider more recent phones like the big three being mentioned in this thread. The Pearl is my first BlackBerry but not the first I've encountered. At my job the officers with rank above Captain are issued the clunky old 7xxx series on the Sprint/Nextel network. Those things are hideous and slow, with no features aside from PTT, but that's just fine for government workers like us.
I had a Treo 650 for a long time and loved it, though it had stability issues and most of the Cingular/ATT software that came with it simply didn't work. That was fine of course since I hate carrier-branded apps anyway. It was great as an e-book reader though, something that no other phone I've used has been able to do well. It's a Palm, after all. But, early in 2008 I felt the call of the iPhone and finally broke down and got one. I absolutely loved it; though I missed the tactile keyboard and better reception of the Treo, the iPhone was better in every other respect especially after being jailbroken. Then, the 2.0 firmware came out and I decided to give it a shot. I restored the phone and did the update, and it was all downhill from there. Even with the fixes a few days later, the phone remained buggy and slow compared to its pre-2.0 state. I sold it and got a Nokia n73 as I wanted to try out Symbian. It sucked. It sucked hard. Bad battery life, more unstable than the Treo, and the 3G was very spotty in areas it should have been rock-solid. I traded it to a friend at work for her much-abused Pearl (she didn't even use any of the smartphone features) and I'm loving it so far.
Sorry, that was quite long-winded, but I wanted to give some perspective related to other smartphones.
Now, I'm in the same predicament as the questioner. I've played with the Bold and the Curve, and form-factor wise the Curve is more to my liking. It's a Pearl with a bigger screen and full keyboard, and most importantly to me it has the 4.5 firmware by default. I've tried updating my Pearl using the just-released official 4.5 from ATT, and it bricked the phone. I had to restore back to 4.3 and just ignore any HTML emails I get.
The Bold, on the other hand, is a bit bulky in hand though it feels good to hold. It has more of the technical specs I like, but they come at a price. It's nearly $200 more than the Curve at present, and since I'm not eligible for upgrade discounts yet, it's close to $400 out of pocket for me. That's unacceptable for a phone. I paid that much for the iPhone and it was never worth it, though I got back 75% of what I paid when I sold it.
So I'm going to vote for the Curve if you're on ATT, mostly for the price and the sleeker form factor. If you absolutely have to have 3G and a faster processor, and can afford the sticker shock, go for the Bold.
It all depends on what you want out of your handset. They all do basically the same thing software wise, so when it comes down to hardware it all depends on what features you want. Do you need to keyboard? Need HSDPA? Want the fastest processor out there? Go for the Bold. Could live EDGE right now? The Curve 8900 looks pretty good. And it's not like the Verizon version of this model won't have EDVO Rev A. (we'll see if they ditch the Wifi though). The Pearl Flip is a pretty nifty, and yes there are people out there who actually enjoy using SureType. As for the Storm, I've grown to love mine, it's a completely different experience not having that keyboard, sometimes it's frustrating, but most of the time I love how it's become my mobile device of choice for most of my day to day needs.
@ Derry Quin
What do you mean in Europe not many people use Blackberries. You are obviously not in London and have never been to London City airport. Nearly every passenger who goes through City airport has a Blackberry
Bold, but wait til it hits VZ later in May(ish)
If you are a power user, oh course the Bold is #1 for you. For the technology guru, definitely the Storm. For the messenger and multimedia enthusiast, the Bold or the Curve 8900 are a good bet. The average consumer looking for good functionality and small form factor there is the Pearl (Regular or Flip). Last but not least, network is always a consideration, choose wisely! It all depends of a persons needs, but for every need there is a Blackberry for you.
No phone does it all. But, the 8900, PLUS the Nokia N85, is as perfect combination of messaging and multimedia you con configure. PPPlus, there's never an issue on battery llife. I carry the 2 now. Try watching a movie on the 8900, listen to music, Bluetoooth - you'll kill the battery in no time. 2 phones spread it out.
Well... here's something interesting... if this becomes reality... it's the no-brainer BB choice... 480x360, wi-fi, gps, curve form factor, and apparently 3-band UMTS 3G!!!!
the 9220.... http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/RIM-BlackBerry-Curve-9220-phone-pa_3405.html
I work in IT and support all Blackberrys (Storm, Pearl, Curve, 8800 World editions, even some 7200's), with the only one I haven't got my hands on for an extended period of time to really evaluate is the Bold.
From my experience the best from user feedback is the Curve. People like the full keyboard and it's basic, not overwhelming for the users.
I personally have a Pearl and Curve for business and a Pearl for a personal phone. The pearl I like because:
1)The Curve to be is slightly to wide, it feels slightly awkward when I use it for a phone call
2) I like that I can text with 1 hand with the Pearl (yes I know I am that important)
One phone I highly DO NOT recommend is the Storm. Unless a firmware update comes out to correct some of the issues, I wouldn't recommend it:
1) the flip screen is very very very flakey
2) unlike the iPhone, when you make a call and hold it up to your ear, the touch screen portion is still active and you may start sending rogue emails
3) most people have to use the phone with the screen horizontal.
4) fast text'ers will be thoroughly annoyed. most heavy blackberry users who type fast have already gave me back their Storms.
5) too confusing for the simple Blackberry users who just want emails and trading applications.
Again, this is just from my personal experience, and from feedback in my company...hope this helps.
The Storm doesn't have a flip screen. Also, do you read much? It has been stated over and over that the newest firmware updates have fixed most the earlier problems with the Storm. To alleviate the issue of the active touchscreen while talking, simply install a program called TalkLock - http://www.cellavant.com/TalkLock/.
The Storm is my first BlackBerry and its an awesome phone.
Gotta go Curve or Storm - Curve if you're like me and are just fine with only getting text and a few pictures for your browser rather than requiring the capability to download all the extra advertising junk that clutters the desktop browsing experience. In fact I even look for native apps that pull any data and content I care about off the web whether it be on my bberry or desktop in an attempt to avoid visiting the full blown internet altogether, unless I'm visiting Engadget of course.
NO BOLD. I tried it for a week - battery life sucks because you cant toggle the 3G on and off, and anyway It's too big. I heard it breaks easily too. Storm looks cool (not sure about the battery), but once the novelty wears off, and you realize iPhone is the only pmp/ smartphone combo actually used for both functions seamlessly in practice by normal people, you'll wish you has a good ole' trusty Curve at your side with a full battery and none of the extra nonsense weighing it down.
I have an old BB7130, and it does everything it should, exactly as it should. I LITERALLY threw it into a wall, it still works.
How I wish the 8900 would have 3G. I really need/use tethering, and demand a 3G radio to make it worth while. Why does that still mean I have to get a bigger device in 2009? 3G has been deployed, and devices available to use it for 4 years now. Why would BB even release a phone without 3G?
I know, people are going to argue that the reason it is "the right size" is because it doesn't have the 3G radio, and therefor doesn't need a higher cap battery... I just needed to rant. I want an 8900, but have a Bold due to my need for 3G...
I recently bought my wife the Bold and was amazed at how well it fit in your hand. Using the Curve previously, and her having small hands (in her mind), she just loved the feel of the Bold and easy the keys were to type on. There are too many factors that will come into play for someone to make a choice. 3G or Edge? Bigger or Smaller? 2MP of 3.2MP camera? $199 or $299? Personally I would get the Bold because it has everything. Even though I would be a first time BB user, I would like to know that I am getting has everything.
And the camera on the Bold is actually pretty good. The picture quality is a amazingly better than the 8120 or the Samsung BlackJack II (another phone she previously had). So camera's MP should not be that important since ultimately it is a phone first and not a camera.
I had few blackberrys and I think that the best is the one that I have currently - 9000 aka BOLD
1) AMAZING SPEED. Amen. No other headset is such a speedy beast as this one :D
2) AMAZING Display. 480x320 resolution is beautiful on such a small screen.
3) All in one device - WIFI,Bluetooth,UMTS, GPS
4) Extremely good GPS receiver. It finds my position in less than 15 seconds normally.
On the bad site though-
Short battery life
Bad and ugly browser :P
Medicore Camera(not a problem or me,but it's mostly useless anyway)
The Curve. I would say the Bold but its on AT&T which sucks compared to Verizon. I also have a phone on AT&T and the coverage quality difference is huge (NYC Metro area anyway). I would love the Bold but until they make it available on Verizon it can't make the list. And the Strom sucked (owned it for a couple weeks).
The Storm is a reliable option in my opinion. I have had mine for about a month now, and the learning curve is tricky, but when you get used to it everything works fine. As far as applications go, it may not have the impressive line-up of other Blackberries. But so far I have Slacker radio, Nobex radio companion, (I love streaming radio) and plenty of GPS apps. The storm is very fast running on Verizons Rev.A network. The screen is gorgeous and watching movies is a pleasant experience. The bold is still more of a buisness phone, but the storm is a very capable multimedia device. The bold is a faster device due to the faster processor, but the Storm seems to run at a decent speed as long as you watch how many applications are running. Overall, a fair fight in my opinion.
I haven't had my hands on the 8900, but I have spent some time with the Bold and the Storm, and I own an 8820. The Bold beats the Storm for me. It just seems like it is so much more polished and faster. The Storm felt buggy and sluggish. The screen on the Bold is amazing as well. If you need one without a camera for carrying in secure areas though, the 8800, 8820, 8830 are awesome phones. With 4.5 installed, it does everything I want/need it to do. And the phone is tough. I've dropped it by accident onto concrete/asphalt from heights of 3' to 5' and other than some minor scratches on the corners, it was completely unaffected. The most recent drop from about 5' hit so hard that the battery flew out. I plugged it back in and the phone booted up and everything was fine. I think the 9000 is built more like the 8820 and should hopefully be as durable :)
If you value fast, reliable 3G data and great voice quality in the majority of the country (and don't need a phone for overseas) it's hard to beat the VZW Blackberry Curve. It ain't the newest or prettiest, but I've never been let down in these areas. Haven't tried the Storm.
I had a BlackBerry 8700g for quite some time.
No camera, no media player, no 3G, but it did survive a fall from 14 feet in the air onto concrete.
It gets my vote.
I'd try the BlackBerry Storm if it wasn't on such a crappy carrier. Therefore, my next BB will likely be a Bold.
From a Bold owner:
None. If you really want a Blackberry, then get the old Curve. RIM's build quality and choice of materials is simply pathetic. I own the Bold and the cheapness of every surface on it makes if feel like it should be free on contract, which is extremely disappointing for such an expensive device. The trackball is a poor way to get around the UI, and the browsing experience is limited at best. Until they can improve build quality and navigation skip the Blackberry brand.
I would have to go with the storm. It is an awesome phone. The screen is beautiful and the typing is easy and fast once you get used to it. It is great for fun and getting things done.
Purely from a non-BB owner's view, I'd say:
-Bold, if you are serviced by AT&T (or are willing to switch) - fast UMTS/HSDPA speeds, solid design
-Curve 8330, from either Verizon or Sprint, as it has the fast speeds of EV-DO Rev. A networks, the full keyboard, and camera.
I have the Storm and I like it. It was buggy until that firmware release. But now its great. Its also my GPS with Google maps on there.
Blackjack II.
Cheaper than any Blackberry, has 3G, Stereo Bluetooth, WinMo 6.1....the list goes on.
One thing it could use is WiFi.
Ignoring the lack of WiFi, I'll take my Blackjack II over a Blackberry any day.
personally, my 8830 is serving me well, but i can't wait for the niagara (sprint and verizon's version of the bold).
the curve 8300 is too chunky, the curve 8900 is nice though.
the storm is glitchy and buggy.
the pearl (8100) and the flip version of it.........if you like the SureType keyboard, have fun. but i don't like SureType that much, so not for me.
I like the Storm but outside of looking at BlackBerry Storm Accessories such as an external keyboard at my favorite accessory store (because they answer all my dumb questions) http://www.blackberrysource.com/store/categories/blackberry_storm_9530_accessories.htm I am just going to have to keep trying to get used to the lack of the QWERTY keys.
Sometimes the things we miss are the ones we wanted rid of :-)
Black Berry Pearl Flip
Curve.
Bold - The lack of 3G makes the 8900 Curve a no-no where I live.
There is no EDGE - just GPRS
But blanket 3G/HSDPA coverage.
The 8900 is sexier, with a slimmer figure, but for features and speed the Bold wins hands down