Final Conclusions
When it comes down to making the final call for any review, you have to measure the results versus the expectations: designer expectations, consumer expectation, market expectations and even (ahem) blogger expectations. As RIM’s new flagship device, the forerunner to another era of BlackBerrys, the BlackBerry Bold carries with it some very lofty expectations. Fortunately for RIM, these expectations have been unanimously met. From hardware to software, 3G to media capabilities, battery life to phone quality, the BlackBerry Bold matches if not betters all competitors in the field (with the notable exception of web browsing, but let’s save that for the BlackBerry Thunder). No member of the BlackBerry Nation will be able to pick this device up and then willingly put it down in favor of their older model; non-BlackBerry users should take the opportunity to see what all the fuss is about.
These statements are neither hyperbole nor the afterglow of ‘shiny new toy’ fetishism. With the BlackBerry Bold, RIM has finally moved their secure communications platform beyond email and into the spotlight, as both an enterprise and lifestyle device. This achievement brings with it even higher expectations for future offerings.
Final Score: 5/5
