With the BlackBerry Bold 9700 now official, we can take a look at the known specs for the device. Overall, things are to be expected. The device takes everything that the 9000 had, and improves on it. The easiest way to understand the Bold 9700, is to see how it compares to its predecessor.
As you can see from the above image, the form factor is significantly more compact in the 9700 than with the Bold 9000. Every dimension of the 9700 is smaller, especially the weight. The Bold 9700 weighs in at 89 grams, while the Bold 9000 weighs in a 136 grams.
In terms of available features, the Bold 9700 packs everything that the 9000 had, but a few changes have been made. Most notably, the device uses a trackpad, whereas the Bold 9000 uses a trackball. This is unofficially the new standard at RIM and it’s very welcomed. Trackballs tend to break and a trackpad will mean the device lasts much longer. Also improved is the camera. The standard for RIM is now 3.2MP, which provides decent pictures, good enough for sharing on the Internet at least.
The media capabilities of the 9700 are better than the 9000. The 9700 packs 480×360, whereas the Bold 9000 comes in at 480×320. Again, everything we’re reading about this device tells us it’s a little better spec wise with a much more modern form factor.
There isn’t anything spectacular to report in terms of new media functionality but that is to be expected. We do know that this device will ship with OS 5, meaning the media experience from a software perspective will be a little improved. Overall, OS 5 is going to make this device a little better in terms of navigation and user interface.
The battery life has been significantly improved on the 9700. RIM has managed to add 1.5 hours of talk time and 8.5 days of life to the battery. This may turn out to be the most loved feature of them all.
So it looks like the Bold 9700 is shaping up to be a top-of-the-line device. Running on 3G HSDPA networks, packing a 624 MHz processor, 256 MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and WiFi, 3.2MP camera and a sharp display, you can’t go wrong with this BlackBerry.
The website says that the Bold 9700 has only 256mb of memory, whereas the Bold 9000 has 1gb of memory.
I think your comment about the weight is misleading. I belive your comparing a 9000 w/battery to a 9700 w/o battery. The specs don’t specify the 9000 is with or without battery. But, I think its pretty obvious that it does when the other stats are so close while the weight is a much more drastic change. The real statement should be compairing 122 grams (9700) to 136 grams (9000).
I don’t see why the 9700 is better. Yeah, sure, it has an extra 40 lines of vertical resolution like the Tour and 8900, but I prefer the larger and wider display of the 9000. Since the display is wide, so is the keyboard, which IMO is the perfect size. I currently have a 8310, and I’m gonna get the 9000 instead of the 9700 even without price being a factor.
How is the 9700 any different than the new Tour w/ the trackpad? The 8900, Tour, and 9700 look almost identical. To me, there isn’t enough distinction between RIM’s product line-up.
I still prefer the old design of the Bold, this new one is even smaller than a Tour. I prefer the bigger size keyboard and will stick with my Tour on Telus even though they will be carrying it soon on their new network.
I agree with previous two comments. Especially Jon’s. When you look at 9700 it feels cheaper overall. It resembles 8900 more than tour. Side buttons are plastic for god’s sake! I did not have a chance to handle one in person yet, but 9700 looks like an improvement over 8900 rather than 9000.
When you look at bold, it looks bolder and classier with its touch of silver, it’s button placement and its profile. Why couldn’t they just take bold body, replace it with a trackpad, and make everything else same as Tour. Was it so hard?
Anyway, does anyone know if the screen sizes (measurement) is identical to bold or is it slightly bigger? I can see resolution is a tiny bit better but screen size also matters.
I am thinking of getting this with T-Mobile because I want to go back to T-Mo and take advantage of loyalty unlimited plan. I hope T-Mo 3G will not suck bad. Honestly, my wife’s 8900 is pretty fast as it is, I can’t imaging how great it would be on 3G. Another reason to go T-Mo is availability of UMA.
With all said and done, I have been waiting for 9700 to upgrade my 8300.
The one thing that I noticed when I upgraded from my Curve 8330 to the Bold 9000 is the audio was so good on the Bold. When I play a song (w/o headphones) it sounds better than any phone I have had. Any specs on the speakers/audio?
It really nice but i think the in-built memory (256 mb) is very low for a hand-held of the this class.
The shape is very awesome i think it will sell more in my home country NIGERIA.
But the first Bold 9000 still stand out and remain a mechanism
A better comparison would be 9700 versus 9630. The 9700 won’t compete with the 9000 for long since it is replacing that device. But comparing the GSM flagship device to the CDMA flagship device would be helpful for people deciding. Especially for Canadians since Telus and Bell will have both.
Of course it isn’t really a fair comparison until the Tour2 (Apex?) launches with trackpad and wifi.
Why does the 9000 have 1GB of memory and the 9700 only 256MB??
Nikolaus, 9700 comes with 2GB flash memory.
The 1GB on 9000 was not for application storage, it was only media/file storage.
I believe original bold only had 128MB. As far as I know, 9000’s 1GB is pretty much useless, unless you use it as internal secondary storage (still cannot store apps or e-mails…)
Jon, tour doesn’t have WiFi.
@Huseyin, not sure why you directed your comment at me about wifi, I didn’t mention it in my first comment. I own a Tour, so I know it doesn’t have wifi! The trackpad and wifi seem to be the biggest differences for me but now that the Bold is smaller than a Tour, no thanks. I wanted the old Bold size and for cdma, the Tour was the only choice. Now the Tour is bigger than them all!
Ok, let me get this straight the 9700 has twice the space for apps as the 9000? Is that correct?
What a shallow PR/BS article. The 9000 has a larger keyboard (what you type on), Larger Screen (what you look at), and stereo speakers (what you listen to) I’m getting a new WHITE Bold 9000…
I think that RIM should have made the new “Bold 2″ have a
design almost identical to the first Bold. The first Bold
has a nice design. It has a big screen, bigger keyboard
aluminum metal around it, media card slot door on side of
device, and it has louder speakers(w/o earphones). But the.
thing I like about the Bold 2, is it has a trackpad navigation,
it still has a leather back door like the Bold one, higher
resolution and sharper display, 3.2 Megapixel camera with
autofocus and image stabilizing, as with the Bold one, a 2.0
Megapixel camera with no autofocus or image stabilizing.
My old 9000 device broke last week. It is not an easy decision – to buy the 9000 again or to wait for the 9700… I like the bigger app. memory, 3,2 MP camera, better battery and less weight of the 9700. But I dont like the smaller display (it is for my surprise a big difference, if you look at a 2,6 or 2,4 display) and the smaller keyboard. And I dont know, how will I get used with the touchpad….
Like I said before, I loved the Bold 9000, and I wish they would have just taken 9000 and slapped 9700 hardware and features into the same housing. And I am looking forward to a TRUE 9700 review with pictures including battery door, speakers, gaps and cracks, if it is creaky like others or if it is solid like 9000?
Let’s face it, we will never have the ULTIMATE blackberry, they will always try to leave something out, otherwise why would anyone buy the next one? They are taking pages out of Apple’s book, and it is not good. I want to see how this thing looks and performs in person. It seems like reviews are all advertisements. Same thing with Storm 2. Nobody is saying anything bad about it other than in comments. We will soon see when people like you and me start posting reviews.
There is something wrong with these commenting system. My comments disappear.
Jon, I am sorry, my comment was directed at John. Since there is no way to edit the comments I could not change it.
My comment was in reply to: “How is the 9700 any different than the new Tour w/ the trackpad? The 8900, Tour, and 9700 look almost identical. To me, there isn’t enough distinction between RIM’s product line-up.”
There are only two things I would change on my Bold:
- increase the application memory to 256 MB
- upgrade the camera to 3,2 Mpix
RIM, please, bring the good old Bold and its robust construction back! Why to change a winning horse?
One additional feature not mentioned here, is that the 9700 will be both 3.5 mm AND 2.5mm stereo headset capable (not that anyone cares, but I know I’ve been able to only find my old 2.5mm before while scrambling to get on a call while in my car.)
Here’s the full side by side directly from RIM’s site:
http://tinyurl.com/ygq9eao
I agree with Robert’s comments above. The improvements that I’m looking for in my 9000 are also:
- increase the application memory to 256 MB
- upgrade the camera to 3,2 Mpix
and
- increase battery life – though I haven’t had any issues so far.
Here’s another vote for:
RIM, please, bring the good old Bold and its robust construction back! Why to change a winning horse?
The Bold 2 (9700) isn’t a replacement for the original Bold (9000). I read somewhere that somebody from Blackberry said that just as they have a bunch of different curves (8310, 8320, 8900), they will increase the lineup for bolds. It’s not a replacement, just an addition so they can reach a larger market of people. Some people were saying that they didn’t like how the original Bold was so wide/big because it didn’t fit in their pockets. This way they can still be satisfied with getting all the features of a Blackberry device, without having to settle with the lack of features on the curve. They aren’t removing the original Bold, this is just an addition so anybody who wants the original can still get one.
Hi John. This doesnt make sense. Bold is Bold especially in the construction. A Curve is Curve in the same way. So why to make a hybrid between the Bold and the Curve? I think this is a wrong way of RIM.
Hey guys i need some help! I’ve been thinking about purchasing a blackberry, but i really don’t know which one to get. I’ve been thinking about the 9700 as my first choice then the 9000. I will soon be a first time blackberry user, so what would you guys recommend? seeing the review both phones are pretty similar.
for rogers the 9700 is 299.99 with a 3 year contract and the 9000 is only 99.99 with a 3 year contract.
I’m in the same boat as Justin, up and until last week I was set to buy the 9000 now with the 9700, I’m confused?
my usage will be small, the odd email and social networking
should i buy the blackberry bold 9000 or 9700?
I have the Bold 9000. Is it possible to swap out the trackball for the trackpad? Apparently you can do this with the Curve.
Thanks