With the release of the BlackBerry Bold 9650 on Sprint and Verizon there has been quite a bit of debate as to whether or not this new line of Blackberries are indeed deserving of the title ‘Bold’ or just an upgraded Tour. We’ll break this phone down into two parts; software and hardware…
Software
Boasting an impressive 512 MB of onboard memory the BlackBerry Bold 9650 dwarfs the Bold 9700’s 256 MB capacity. With the nearly double allotment of memory, you can be sure that your phone won’t be bogged down by downloaded applications or a congested inbox. This boost in memory is also speculated to make room for the much anticipated OS 6.0, as well as the new WebKit browser when they’re released later this year. Along with more onboard memory the 9650 was also born with OpenGL which will support 3D graphics (something the 9700 lacks).
Bluetooth, something that you either use religiously or can live without, was refreshed as well. The 9650 was given Bluetooth v2.1. The main feature of 2.1 is secure simple pairing (SSP) which, in layman terms, means that the pairing experience is made easier as well as more secure.
That’s pretty much it for software upgrades but the real fun is in the hardware.
Hardware
This is the main point of contention when labeling the 9650 as a Bold. The original Tour and the 9650 might seem identical with respect to form factor….. because they are. With only a slight change in weight (.22 oz or 6 grams lighter) the form factor is essentially a carbon copy. I personally feel the 9700 is a bit small and weightless, but, the 9650 feels solid. It feels the way a BlackBerry should feel… Like the original Bold 9000.
Some people complain about the 9700’s keyboard keys along the perimeter of the phone stating they are too close to the edge which results in spelling errors. The 9650 takes care of that by providing a buffer in the form of a chrome bezel. Nice touch! This makes typing on the 9650 much more seamless and comfortable than the 9700.
The 9650 is now equipped with WiFi (802.11 b/g), something that Tour owners incessantly gripe about. I’ve tested download speeds over both 3G (Sprint) and WiFi and can definitely attest to the noticeable increase in speed. What took so long?!
Another major upgrade to the 9650 is the implementation of a trackpad as opposed to the god awful trackball. This thing is money! It’s responsive, set neatly with little to no wiggle room, and just adds to the over all sexiness of the phone. The days of replacing trackballs after 4 months of use are now gone. Rejoice!
All three phones still have a 3.2 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash, so no upgrade there. Some people complain about the positioning of the micro USB port but I haven’t encountered any issues nor has it effected my day-to-day use. There are still 2 customizable convenience keys located on either end of the phone and a two way volume rocker. I do like, however, the placement of the speakerphone grill (on the right side of the device). It allows for crisp sound quality when playing music or using the speakerphone during a call when laid flush on it’s back.
Conclusion
What do you think? Is the increase in memory (2X’s the amount), implementation of WiFi, addition of trackpad and slight decrease in weight enough to merit the 9650 the title of a Bold? I sure think so!
Think of it like this, if the Tour 9630 and the Bold 9700 met up after work for a few drinks this is the device they’d give birth to. It combines the sturdy form factor of the Tour, the trackpad and WiFi capabilities of the 9700 all while doubling the memory. This was an excellent move, RIM. Go out and get this phone!
Too many models that are basically all the same. Who is running the marking in that place, they should be fired!
The devices look similar, but, they truly are different devices. Radically different… No… But different enough to warrant the update. Think iPhone and iPhone 3GS…
Great correlation, Norman!
Not even close.
Great article! Thanks for the info, I thought they were basically the same until reading this!
I have an iPhone but I gotta say this is making me reconsider, AT&T sucks, and I hate that I have no real options on the customization, the flash on the camera is a big Win since I can’t even take pics half the time bc of low light
If you like a mediocre device that is basically a phone and glorified pager, then get the BB. If you want a modern, mini computer in your pocket, stick with the iphone or get an Android device.
Doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade really for the common user… other than the trackpad. Maybe the Wi-Fi. But still, very pedestrian move from RIM. Moves need to be bolder. No Pun Intended.
Weak upgrade by RIM. This device should’ve been the original Tour. Personally, I like the Bold2 over this device when it comes to form factor.
Couple of things to note regarding software and hardware…the 9650 BT will loop with DM when syncing via BT. I’ve already documented the issue with RIM and submitted the log files. Hopefully they’ll fix this soon. Secondly, all the touch pads are sticking up on the left, tilted down on the right. HW flaw. It’s on all VZW shipments. Third, boot time still sucks. The Bold2 is faster. Fourth, the Bold2 also provides the best battery life I’ve seen on a smartphone. I can get close to the end of the day on the VZW Bold, but my Bold2 lasts 2 days (or close to on very busy days) in comparison. I will say that call clarity has greatly improved on this model over the Tour.
Is it worth the upgrade? Only if you want to stick with VZW or Sprint and can’t deal with the crappy track ball of the Tour, or need PTT along with a BB. The added memory isn’t an issue unless you want OS6 on the device.
Thanks for the insight and clear breakdown in this review.
Loved that the information was simplified and did explain the changes/updates and their effects on the daily use the BB.
Since I’m not very tech savvy, sites and articles as such provide me a ‘go to’ place for reliable, current information in order to make right choices.
Keep up the good work…
Very informative. The new phone looks impressive when i just thought it was a rehashing of the same crap.
Over time (since May 2010), the trackpad on my 9650 has increasingly tilted down on the right and become upraised on the left (making it feel odd when it lightly snags my thumb). The entire keyboard has of late raised up, significantly more so along the bottom – to the point that I can now easily see the white under-keyboard lights (along the bottom edge) which normally ought not be visible at all to the user. I took the phone to a Sprint factory store; the technician was not able to repair this and said he wasn’t allowed to repair such things due to RIM’s emphasis on security (!) and that he couldn’t get parts for such. Likely I’ll try for repair at a different store, and if that doesn’t work out, try for a different phone model or, if hassled, a different carrier. Other than the above, the phone’s features work fine, except for the very very slow native browser.