BlackBerry Bold 9700 hands-on and impressions
By Laura June 
posted Nov 5th 2009 12:00AM
posted Nov 5th 2009 12:00AM
As we already mentioned, we were serious fans of the original Bold's hardware, and it would be pretty hard for a successor to live up to it. As far as we were concerned, it really had no close competitors in terms of mobile phone design and, you know, attitude. What we liked most about it aesthetically was its fearless defiance of conventional phone stylings at the time of its release. Faux leather and chrome edging rather than plastic all combined to produce a phone that was just a little off the beaten path, that felt substantial in our hands, and that definitely caught and kept our attention. The 9700 has kept some of those details -- there's still bits of chrome and leather here -- but it's also dropped nearly any flourish of attitude from the original design. RIM's chucked out the weird metal surrounding the camera on the back, and the full, old timey-looking leather battery cover, in favor of what essentially amounts to a Tour with an optical trackpad. Honestly, we recognize our own personal oddities, and understand that a lot of RIM's choices here favor modernization of the handset, which we heartily support. However, we also sort of wish the designers had had some exciting new ideas to add to this Bold -- but it feels like they didn't. The new Bold is all about, well, normalizing the handset and bringing it up to speed with other new RIM offerings, a la the 8520 or the Tour, as we previously mentioned.
We do, however, love the smaller, more sleek form factor of the whole package, and the device feels nice in the hand. Much more streamlined than the previous Bold, the 9700 feels light without feeling overly cheap, though it does feel a little less substantial than older BlackBerrys to us. We prefer the leather-strip on the back's feel over the slightly more rubberized Tour, and the rubberized volume rocker on the right side is preferable to the 9000's variation.
RIM's gone ahead and popped its new optical trackpad into the 9700, too, and this is one modernization we can really get behind. Yes, it takes a little getting used to -- but in our opinion it makes a far superior navigational tool and provides a smoother experience. Regardless, we were also big fans of the old trackball, but this is probably the right direction for RIM to move its hardware in. All of the 9700's other hardware buttons feel great and clicky, and we have no complaints about them.
The 480 x 360 display on the 9700 is up from the 480 x 320 of the original Bold, but in practical terms, it looks very much the same -- also terrifically clear, crisp and beautiful. The colors are bright, but we find ourselves wishing for a bit more screen real estate, (which is par for the course in our experiences with BlackBerrys), especially in the increasingly sad browsing experience. More on that in a moment.
This brings us to the performance of the 9700 in terms of user experience. Although the processor is clocked at the same 624MHz as its older sibling, the 9700's obviously got some special sauce under the hood, because with no interface changes in sight, this device is much snappier overall. Navigation, which has always been pretty quick on a BlackBerry, is tightened up a bit, and we found that opening up a bunch of applications stressed our device out a lot less than the original Bold, which was sometimes inclined to give us the dreaded clock. Thankfully, we haven't seen much of the old lag here -- and the fact that the 9700 ships with BlackBerry's OS 5.0 probably helps it along a bit, too. The battery -- which RIM says gets about 6 hours of talk time -- seems like a real strong point on the phone, and is more than adequate to get through a full day's heavy use.
Call quality is good, and the volume is nice and loud, though we can't help but feel the speaker phone is a bit weaker than the 9000's, but that could just be our weakening hearing, of course. RIM says it's enhanced the browser on this newest device, and we'll admit it's a bit faster, but as we said earlier, we are left with the feeling that browsing on a BlackBerry will not be satisfactory until there's a serious updating of the software.
Hm. Too bad there's no update as to the processor - I really love the Bold, and currently own the Tour on Verizon... Definitely could stand to lose this finicky trackball though....
I finally broke down after reading all the posts on crackberry and opened my Tour and replaced the ball with a curve trackball. Fixed everything 100%. I want the optical now tho. :)
Trackball/Trackpad UI is too old and awkward for modern smartphone apps.
Try panning the map display with a trackball. :)
i, too, have the tour. i also had trackball issues but thought it was normal, but after reading through forums and saw examples of how a good trackball should work, i realized mine was defective, and mine was not the only one, plenty people had the same issues. i decided to give verizon a call and got mine replaced even though i was way out of my 30 return period because it was a known issue. do yourself a favor and call verizon to get your tour replaced, trust me, the difference is day and night (no exaggeration).
BlackBerry ftw!
Too. Many. Blackberry. Models.
Which is the QWERTY Blackberry for Verizon with the optical trackpad? I can't keep them all straight...
there are really not that many smartphone models from BB ... http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/
Yeah, it seems like most of their phones are similar enough for them to shave off a few models, but I guess more choices cant hurt.
@JimboJones >> "there are really not that many smartphone models from BB"
Right... but it seems like there is a Blackberry XXXX article on gadget blogs all the time.
And I found the one I was looking for... it's the upcoming Verizon Blackberry Curve2 8930... so add that to the list.
Curve 8310 GPS but NO WIFI
Curve 8320 wifi but NO GPS
Curve 8900 wifi gps good camera but NO 3G
Tour 9630 3g gps good camera but NO WIFI
Curve 8520 wifi gps but NO 3G
Bold 9000 wifi 3g gps but Bulky with crappy camera NO AutoFocus
Bold 9700 wifi 3g gps but only 256MB internal storage and 3.6 Mbps HSDPA, No digital compass, No Radio
@Travis
Yes... and add the Storm2 and other upcoming models. And older models that are still being sold... ie Curve 8330
It's a little overwhelming. But, when you go to your wireless store... they only sell the ones you can use.
Still, thanks for the conversation.
That list on RIMs website is not inclusive. There are in reality 23 current BB models in the U.S. alone.
@)ROFL(
Thanks...... I knew it was a huge number!
Travis,
Don't be a jackass, Bold 9000 is old model, it's like comparing old iPhone to iPhone 3G a week before it goes out.
First, not all versions exist on all providers, second it's good there is a choice. If a company buys 3000 BB phones and they dont need GPS, they can save. It's Verizon dumb f idea not to include WIFI.
Look at Nokia site or Samsung site ....
@JimboJones >> "Don't be a jackass, Bold 9000 is old model, it's like comparing old iPhone to iPhone 3G a week before it goes out."
Yes... but you can still buy a Bold 9000 today... I doubt it's being EOL'd anytime soon.
And you can still buy a Curve 83XX... and that series started in 2007....!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry_Curve_8300
those jackasses at RIM reduced internal storage..should be 2 Gb now but NOOO!! 256MB.
Sure, 256MB is awfully small if you're comparing it and it's uses to say the iPhone. But on a BlackBerry, all you're using the internal memory for are the basics (text messages, phone data, e-mail, etc.) and apps which isn't so much a problem because BlackBerry apps aren't even that big, few hundred kb's, rarely over 1 MB. For other media, you would be using an microSD card. So ultimately, in a BlackBerry world, 256MB isn't that bad.
But if you compare it to the iPhone and other media-centered phones, yeah 256MB is awfully small.
bold 9000 had 1 Gb storage.
@Travis
Yes but only 128MB of that 1GB was available for applications which is what you would use it for anyway since you can't save and run applications off the microSD card. I don't know anyone who actually uses the internal storage (not incl. applications use) rather than the SD card. I guess if you prefer to do so, yeah can't argue, it's small.
There are only two models Engadget has been posting about frequently over the past few months: this one and the Storm 2. Just because they post about BBs often doesn't mean all those posts are about different models.
@Andy Anonymous
It was just a observation... I'm not really confused by all the Blackberries. :)
There is a long news cycle of a particular Blackberry device. For instance... the leak of the codename "Niagara"... the model number Blackberry "9630"... and finally the product name "Tour"... all refer to the same phone.
Multiply that by a few models released during a year, each on a different carrier, various blog posts, unboxings and hands-on reviews... and it all adds up to quite a lot of press.
I was just pointing that out. There are many Blackberries... past, present and future... that's all I was saying.
@travis
For your list: I don't think the Curve 8520 has GPS.
@nougat885: thanks for the error..you're right curve 8520 DOES NOT have both GPS and 3G in this day of age. Its :(.
@Andrew T.: apps run faster if installed on internal storage. Would you run apps from external drive on your PC?
@ Michael Scrip - "I was just pointing that out. There are many Blackberries... past, present and future... that's all I was saying."
Um, is that any different from saying "There are many Nokia's," "There are many Samsung's," There are many Motorolla's," etc???
I'm just saying...
@lilcoop2 >> "Um, is that any different from saying "There are many Nokia's," "There are many Samsung's," There are many Motorolla's," etc???"
True... but since I was commenting on this Blackberry article, and other people have added their thoughts about the number of Blackberry models... does my original statement still hold true?
You're right... all cellphone manufacturers make a lot of phones. But I was addressing the number of Blackberries in this Blackberry article. Things like... the Blackberry Tour came out in July... and the upcoming Tour2, which is the exact same phone with WIFI and the optical trackpad, was announced just 2 month later. I'm a Blackberry user, so I notice how many different models of Blackberries there are.
The fact that Samsung makes 2 dozen flip-phones didn't affect my analysis of the number of Blackberries.
Oh fuck up.
You defend Engadget when people say that there are too many Apple articles.
@Travis.
IIRC, you can't install applications on the Bold's internal memory, only on the memory assigned specifically for applications which on the Bold 9000 is 128MB and on the Bold2 9700 256MB.
E72 vs bold 9700..heat is on!
meh... blackberry all the way
Why is that?
I've been using an E71 for a week or so now, and would have to concur. I've used Blackberries before and never really liked them. The O/S is really clunky, the camera is absolutely awful and they feel like really cheap toys. The E71, on the other hand, shares none of those traits and has about 10x the battery life!
Unless your life revolves around Blackberry Messenger, I don't see why anyone would use a Blackberry.
yeah, but when is the E72 coming out?
Any takers?
man funny thing was I was just looking for a a messaging phone to go along with the ipod touch I am going to get
and this come up
to a certain degree
I have a love hate relationship with Apple
one minute i want to buy their stuff next minute i don;t and find an alternative
but my main grip with the iphone is that it is with AT&T (and dnt get me started with them)
so what better to just get a ipod touch and a cheap messaging phone or a BB for the keyboard
That's what I went with, best of both worlds.
In a nutshell, everything that sucks about the iPhone is excellent on the Blackberry, and vice versa, and almost everything that's great about the iPhone is available on the iPod Touch. It was an easy decision.
@JehxOne
I'm doing the same thing. Just got my iPod touch and LOVE it. Great wifi experience. Too... I don't mind keeping my phone simple... and I don't want all my eggs in one basket (so to speak) because two baskets are still pretty light (what's the difference between taking a phone on travel and taking a phone and a iPod touch? Negligible).
Caution... I was lusting after this phone for awhile.. but it feels very very fragile (to me..YMMV). I'm going with the Curve 8900... the keyboard feels better, the phone feels more substantial, I have less need of wifi b.c. I have the touch and I don't even really care about 3G.
Too.. there is still only one real 3G phone out there, it's on the worst 3G network (there's a MAP for that) and I'll wait to buy a 3G phone when the 3G market gets serious (and cheaper... I don't want to pay the verizon rates).
1) Why can't they bring more cool Blackberries to VZW and Sprint?
2) Why can't they make their OS more new age?
2004 called. They want their smartphone back.
Ok. Now how do i send it?
Agreed it looks like the last dozen BB's
2004 called, they want their joke back.
Is that the Centro?
i have iphone, but every time I see BB Bold, I'm really jealous how cool the phone looks like
Nah, it's the Pixi, but the version without a webkit browser.
You. Started. Using. Voice. Recognition. On. Your. Computer. Question Mark?
They definitely need to hit up touchscreen + keyboard, and slightly update the OS. They're already the tits though.
They are... It's called the Dakota/Magnum and has been in development for a while now. It is the size of the Bold 9000 but is slightly slimmer. It uses a hybrid touch-screen and qwerty keyboard. It also is rumored to have a new flash-capable browser and a new camera with liquid lens technology.
upranked for the tits comment
So now they're using Dodge truck/mystifying offensive/amazing wagon thing names?
I don't get BB
^^^^Jimbo I am in the same boat.
I understand that this is the new Bold, but since it's on T-Mobile, why not compare it to the Curve 8900? Are the only differences between the two the keyboard, 3G, optical trackpad, and exterior? Is it worth an upgrade from the 8900?
The Bold 9000 is far from clunky. I love the look and feel and functionality. That being said, I could do without the trackball. The Bold 9000 is one of the best phones I have ever owned.
The OS might be showing it's age, but it gets the job done. Reason? BATTERY LIFE. C'mon now, what's the point of having an advance OS on your phone where you still need to limit yourself to even get through a full day? I'm actually thinking of switching my pre to a blackberry for this reason.
Switch to the Hero. I switched from the Pre to the Hero. The Pre's battery life was absurdly aggravating. With the Pre, the phone would be dead within 6 hours for me. I get around 18 hours with the Hero.
If you think the Bold has good battery life, you obviously havent used one for a day. We will see how the new one does.
Most requested extended battery I have ever seen.
@ kyle
I'm actually thinking about it, it looks really sweet. But with the hero, would the docview app come pre- included? It is a must for me. (or anything where i can at least read documents)
Android + Blackberry = How come I can come up with ungodly ideas but they can't!??!?! lol
Don't worry, you're not the only one who's been fantasizing about that very combo.
RIM decides to switch to Android instead of continuing to evolve the current BBOS (or even more potentially epic and "iphone killing," Google buys RIM altogether)
Just think of a Pre-style portrait slider (but since it's RIM, non-ugly and built like a tank) with a Bold/Tour style keyboard + Android 2.0 + All the software things that make a BlackBerry a BlackBerry (ie: BBM and general kickass messaging function)
Excuse me, I need to clean off my screen.
It's not just you guys, the speakers are weaker because there is only one external speaker where the Bold 9000 has three. The 9700 sounds worse than the curve 8900 as well. And though the screen is 480 x 360, it is only 2.44" while the Bold is 2.65" so you gain more pixels but lose some screen size.
I've found this is just too small. I held the dummy unit and it is the size of the curve 8900 which is too small for me.
Why does every pic at BGR have the leather back? Are there multiple backplates perhaps? I like that retro look.
All BB are stupid, ugly red neck phones. So many people in US love them. It is clear that US is becoming a 3rd world country and all the real best phones are released in Asia and Europe, not in US!
Rednecks carry BlackBerries? What the hell are you talking about?
It's true. All of the best phones are released in Europe... Damn BlackBerry's
Except blackberry are released in Canada most of the time first... R.I.M. is Canadian you know. Motorola is the only U.S. phone maker i can think of right now unless android and winmo count but they are software.
I think you are bitter because you don't have a BlackBerry.
why do people pay $200 for a messaging phone? i don't get it. Windows Mobile Standard 6.1 is a much better messaging o/s and you don't have to go through a blackberry server just to get your mail. You can pull your mail from all over the place.
On the flipside you can't beat that blackberry keyboard :)
Just me, or does RIM release new, nearly identical handsets every month? Seems ridiculous, seeing that nobody who has an existing blackberry will fork out more cash to get a new model that is infinitesimally better.
It's not just you: it's also every other Engadget commenter who doesn't pay attention.
Just because Engadget posts about new BlackBerry handsets often doesn't mean all those posts are about different models. Just about every post you've read for the past four or five months has been about only two models: this one and the Storm 2.
You would be surprised. Head over to any BlackBerry site and check out the forums and tell me you can't find people who just got a BlackBerry 6 months ago and aren't willing to fork out cash for the newest BlackBerry. For every person who's willing to buy the newest BlackBerry there are a bunch of people who are willing to buy that "outdated" BlackBerry and with that money it goes towards a new one.
It's the same as the iPhone. Even iPhone fanatics will argue that the 3G to 3GS really didn't have much in terms of additional features and expected much more but 3G owners were willing to upgrade to the 3GS only a year after. The 9700 is replacing the 9000 which was released last year.
I love Blackberries, but BES can be such a pain. It costs so much more (some places charge 10 dollars per Blackberry for Exchange support vs 3 for other smart phones) and the process can be very trying. The internal memory really needs to be increased. A lot of execs (read not tech savvy) tend to want to set their emails to be retained forever. I think I lose more hours at work for major projects just fixing Blackberry problems.
Blackberry, I love ya, but you guys need to move towards the future and change. Get bolder (pun, intended, sorry).
Can't really speak on BES other than it's love/hate. Love that it works but hate the additional costs to implement it.
As for storage, I'm assuming that you're working with the 88xx models? If so, I can see how it could be a problem. My 8830 has months worth of e-mail (no problems with memory in that regard) but it's the memory leak that causes problems. But if you're deploying anything post-88xx, it should be ok. Memory leaks aren't as bad and 64MB is good amount if the user is using it strictly for work only (no media, themes, applications, etc.)
This is a beautiful update to the 9000; I just wish it weren't narrower than that phone. Personally I'm waiting 'til next year for the BlackBerry Dakota; it's said to feature a full qwerty/touchscreen combination.
Alleged AT&T reps are saying the 9700 is coming to AT&T on the 16th.
Is this correct?
The RIM's Blackberry design philosophy is akin to Lenovo's for their Thinkpads. Take that how you will.
Let's face it. The Bold 9000 was inspired by the iPhone--everyone saw it at the time. The 9700 is more Blackberry.
*Design wise that is.
Yeah. Except it fell very short. Starting with the 3.5" screen. I don't see how people settle for a small a$$ screen. iPhone set the standard. No doubt.
I suppose the iPhone has a tiny screen because of the hd2 now! if you know you will be downranked, please dont comment.
So many models with cripples 3g or wifi or gos or memory. Archaic.
That's y I said to hell with bb n just went to iPhone 3g wifi gps a2dp 32gb memory compass auto focus sensors galore n never looked back. Bb sayonara foe life. Keyboards ugggh. So played out. I owned 3 bb phones from 2004-2007.
It's 2009 every single smartphone should come standard with 3g wifi gps mp3 compass autofocus accelorometer proximity sensor ambient light sensor a2dp. Thaws should be standard features If u r missing even one of these device should not be called a smartphone. Agree?
Yeah Compass!! Technology!
No, you should be able to multi-task to be called a smartphone. You know, stuff running in the background..... doing more than one thing at a time like listening to some music and maybe perusing Google Maps or bangin' out an email. Hmm, I wonder which "smartphone" can't perform these tasks...
ok, hear me out. @Travis is really on point & I want to add to it. RIM needs to stop making great keyboards & hardware with little (although great looking) screens attached. In 2009, they put out a different model JUST to add or remove or leave off 3G, WiFi, trackball (white>black>trackpad....) RAM, updated UI, etc. WTF?!?? Why does this 9700 & the Tour need to co-exist?? Ohhhh, the trackpad vs trackball, fake leather, better camera & WiFi. Just blend this 9700 & the Tour, the 8520 & the 8900 and focus on the major problem with all these devices --->once you get past the minor tweaks of your "new" blackberry it's the EXACT same user experience!!! The OS is tired. Dated. Boring. Bland. Pathetic. Pretty much an absurdity considering RIM makes you buy a "New" device just to update a previous model they dropped the ball on intentionally( ?!???) like the Storm>Storm2, 8900>Tour and now the 9000>9700. The Bold 9000 came out last Nov....RIM makes the public wait a year to strip the Bold of it's identity (there is nothing Bold about this 9700) and make it nearly identical to the Tour.
Build a new UI, stop recycling your devices and realize there's a reason your stock price is beat up and your 40% market share is declining while Apple's (of course this rant would lead to those guys!) is up to 30% and rising. Overhaul your UI ASAP. Apple is about to eat your lunch....
If Apple is "about to eat their lunch", how is it that the Curve actually REPLACED the iPhone as the world's best-selling smartphone?
Look. You're an iPhone fan; we get it. But you need to get over the fact that not everyone likes the same things you do. We don't all like typing on touchscreens. We don't all find the BB OS "archaic" (and how is it so? The UI has the same basic structure -- a basic info desktop and an expanded screen with an icon grid representing all your stuff -- that every other modern smartphone has). We like the BB's more robust email capabilities. And we simply don't all want iPhones. If it's not your cup of tea, that's fine, but don't go on about how they need to drastically change something that many, many people across the world already like.
may buy an e72 after reading about this smaller than the tour keyboard, i tried tour; it's great, but i feel if it got any smaller i would not touch it.
"Unless your life revolves around Blackberry Messenger, I don't see why anyone would use a Blackberry"
Do other BB users concur w/ this? I like smartphones, thinking about finding something new since I'm tired of this G1 already... but I doubt I'm going to be "pinging" too many people on a BB. I use smartphones more for apps and texting and internet (oh, and for talking to people too)... so if this is pretty much a true statement in regards to BB, I don't think BB is for me. But curious to see if others agree...
Will I be able to tether the 9700 to my laptop with T-mobile?
Meh. I had an 8330 and now have a 9630. I'm done. Completely disappointed in RIM and the absolute lack of any innovation. They just keep changing the form factor, making the interface slightly more pretty and maybe throwing in an extra 128MB of storage. Forget it. My Tour is only marginally better than my Curve was. My next phone will likely be an android device. RIM has spent the last couple years resting on its laurels. Nothing new here.
I don't understand why so many people complain about the BlackBerry OS. If you weren't aware, BlackBerry started out as being a business customer focused company, not consumer. To that regard, the OS is simple and easy to navigate for a business user. It was not meant to be a media centric, flashy OS that would appeal to the consumer market. If it ain't broke, why fix it? If BlackBerry completely revamped their OS, I'm sure that there would be more people complaining about it rather than praising the new interface. Yes, RIM has been slowly creating devices that would also appeal to the average consumer, but who wouldn't take this opportunity to make an extra buck? Their main focus will always be the business customer. Basically, if your main concern about a phone is about the OS and not the functionality of an actual smartphone, you should probably be looking at another device.
RIP CRACKBERRY
Where's the touch screen?
Awesome Awesome phone.....i currently have the Nokia E71 which according to me is the best nokia device to date......however i would like to switch to the blackberry for its trackpad and the Hi-Res Screen....I was wondering if i get a sim-free blackberry in the UK and run let's say the 3 pay as you go sim on it....would i be able to use 3G Internet???...ive heard that you can only do that if you have a contract phone...So my question is 'Would i be able to run the blackberry bold 9700 similarly to the Nokia E71'...hope ive made my self clear...cheers guys
I just purchased the Bold 9700. A very intuitive device! The trackpad has the perfect sensitivity level and is extremely accurate. 3G is a huge inprovement from the EDGE network
I'm so grateful they've done away with the trackball. It's way fiddly and a pain in the ass to repair yourself. I'd get it repaired by a shop but they charge money and it'll eventually break again so I'd rather fix it myself on my terms knowing that I can.
I have been lusting after this phone for the longest time now and was disappointed to find that it feels too fragile to buy. I stopped by the local Tmobile and compared it to the other BB offerings and I'm going to have to go with the Curve 8900: the trackpad is nice but it is the most delicate feeling part of the entire phone (the next most delicate part is the top end of the phone... you can feel it flexing with the slightest pressure from your fingertip... I don't think this thing can survive many falls). Also, the trackpad does work smoothly but it is not nearly as responsive as I would like it to be and it certainly feels like it was rushed into production. The 8900 (3.9oz) is lighter than the 9700 (4.3oz) but feels much more substantial. Ixnae on the Oldbae.
cant waitt !!!!
Apparently it goes on sale today from AT&T for $450 off contract.
The phone is absolutely gorgeous. I had a 3gs but decided I wanted a blackberry. So far Im not missing a thing! Display and overall phone functionality is great as well. Everyone will have there opinions on OS's and on other phones being greater, But one fact is, is that Blackberry phones/ OS has been the most consistent and reliable.