Review: BlackBerry Bold

RIM’s BlackBerry devices have long been trying to break away from a business-only model, and have succeeded in part. But the Bold is something quite new – a cutting edge BlackBerry that really could be the ‘iPhone killer’ that Apple’s rivals are looking for. It’s crammed with features and makes a real claim to be the best PDA on the market right now.

In terms of looks, the Bold doesn’t break any new ground. The black and silver livery is not especially exciting, though we do like the rounded corners. The faux leather design to the battery cover will probably please and irritate in equal proportions, although we found it did help us to grip the Bold securely.

Specs and info

Price: depends on contract
Operating system: BlackBerry OS
Processor: N/A
Memory: 1GB
Dimensions: 114 x 66 x 15mm
Weight: 136g
Display size: 2.6”
Display resolution: 480 x 320
Expansion slot: microSD

The Bold isn’t small. It won’t squeeze into a little pocket, and you may think twice about carrying it on some occasions. But the trade-off for its relatively large size is a superb mini qwerty keyboard and a great screen.

The keyboard is comprised of relatively large keys which are well shaped so that they are tactile. There is a good return to them, and we found typing at reasonable speed to be no problem.

Above the keyboard is the usual BlackBerry array of keys. The outer keys are the Call and End keys, and inside these are the BlackBerry menu and back keys and the now ubiquitous miniature trackball for scrolling. Between them they do a pretty good job of getting you around this handset.

The screen is simply superb. It’s large, which is a good start, but better still it offers a resolution we’re not used to seeing – 480 pixels wide and 320 pixels tall. This means it can show that little bit more information than most PDA screens today – and that comes into its own when you are doing things such as viewing your calendar or using the web browser.
While we’re talking about the screen, we need to point out that RIM has completely redesigned the look of the user interface – and it is superb. It will take experienced BlackBerry users a while to get used to the new arrangement, but once mastered, the arrangement of large icons on a 6 wide and 3 tall grid on the Menu screen, and a 6 wide strip on the main screen, both looks good and is easy to use.

The Bold includes 3G with HSDPA – a first for RIM. This makes web browsing a fast experience. The browser itself has had a complete overhaul and you can now see web pages as you would on the desktop. It’s fast and efficient, and we’d be happy to use it long-term. Opera Mini is also pre-installed though, should you prefer that to RIM’s own browser.
There is no front facing camera for two-way video calling, and the main camera, at just 2 megapixels, is a rare weak point.

Wi-fi is built in, and unusually it supports a, b and g standards. There is 1GB of internal memory. An SD card slots lets you add more, and music fans will like the inclusion of a 3.5mm headset connector, though it’s a pity this sits on the left edge rather than being more ergonomically placed on the top of the device. GPS is also here, and BlackBerry Maps and Google Maps are pre-installed to help you make the most of it.

Overall the BlackBerry Bold is a stunner, and if you’ve been thinking about the iPhone but don’t like its poor battery life, a glance in the Bold’s direction might be in order, as it delivers on that front too.

Essential verdict:

Performance: 10/10
Battery life superb, web browser great and keyboard is lovely

Design: 8/10
Large for the pocket, but big screen and keyboard welcome

Features: 9/10
Crammed with features, but let down by a mid-range camera

Value: 8/10
Good deals on contract, and available Sim-free as well

Overall verdict: 9/10
An unqualified success. Quite possibly the best PDA on the market to date

Review originally published in Smartphone & PDA Essentials magazine. Words by Sandra Vogel.

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