BlackBerry Bold 9700 in the flesh!

We’ve finally gotten a review unit of RIM’s newest handset, the BlackBerry Bold 9700. See more photos and first impression after the jump.

bold 9700

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is more like a re-fresh of RIM’s BlackBerry Bold 9000 back in 2008 but in some respects, it looks like they’ve just focused on replacing the problematic trackball navigation with the new touch-sensitive optical trackpad.

BlackBerry Bold 9700
2.44â€²â€ screen @ 480Ã—360 pixels
Full QWERTY keyboard
Touch-sensitive optical trackpad
256MB storage, 128 MB RAM
up to 16GB on microSD card
3G/HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
3.15MP autofocus camera w/ LED flash
624 MHz processor
Blackberry OS 5.0
GPS with A-GPS support
Li-Ion 1500 mAh

Compared to the original BB Bold 9000, the screen is a bit smaller (2.6″ vs. 2.44″) because the overall dimensions have been downsized. However, the resolution has improved at 480×360 pixels over 480×320 which should indicate sharper display. RIM made it a bit smaller and lighter but not any slimmer.

There’s some improvements in the rated talk time and standby time too. The internal storage went down to 256MB from 1GB but compensates it with up to 16GB via microSD. The CPU also got a bump from 512MHz to 624MHz while the camera went up to 3.15MP from 2MP.

We’ll know how this handset performs in a week or two and hopefully I’d be able to take a hold of the old model to get some hands-on comparison.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

20 Comments

dan says:

15 years ago

how much?
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fernand says:

15 years ago

saw this kanina sa vira mall greenhills, they’re selling this for 35k.
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dan says:

15 years ago

wow, mag laptop nalang ako hehehhe
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frocks says:

15 years ago

@dan: 28k at ebuystore.com.ph, but i’m sure it’ll be a lot more expensive everywhere else.

looks like another great phone from RIM!
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Metz says:

15 years ago

Black Berry phones are always wickedly cool :) I wonder though how many people actually know that RIM stands for Research in Motion hehehe :) When I first heard of it I though a dance troupe hahah :)

Great review as always Abe :)
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Andre Marcelo-Tanner says:

15 years ago

let me know about the AGPS, through what service and what charges?
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wayne G. says:

15 years ago

nice! wish i could have one…
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Gerald says:

15 years ago

I’m looking forward to your review soon though I’ve read a dozen of reviews already. I’m planning to have this model by the end of this month so your review will be very helpful in validating my decision to go Berry. :)
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Jhay says:

15 years ago

Makes me drool even more. :D
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daddy joey says:

15 years ago

the rim. when will i have the money to buy one… :)
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keysi says:

15 years ago

i had durve 8520 before i had this.

this is so far the best blackberry, ever.

though surfing is tad easier in iphone’s safari pa rin.
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BungeeJump says:

15 years ago

Still prefer Nexus One
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Kat says:

15 years ago

I’m selling blackberry handsets.. :) anyone interested just send me an email.. ;) its katrina.p****@****.***
Thanks! :)
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annaflorence says:

15 years ago

This is the first time i’m reading yuga from my touch… The bar which is supposed to be at the bottom ends up in the middle… Wah…
I want to find out if tjis unit has a document reader

-Sent via YugaTech Mobile App
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Rosanna Castrillo says:

15 years ago

Is it true na if you are a prepaid user of BB phones, you cannot use some of the applications? Please confirm if this is true. Thanks. :)
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Vitalka says:

15 years ago

Every month BlackBerry is taking higher positions… Soon it will be a competitor for Apple iPhone 3G and Google Android.
And, people really like their BB, cause quality is very high. Only full QWERTY keyboard is unusual at the first 2-3 weeks. All the rest is fine and easy.
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Hannah says:

15 years ago

I am seriously considering to go for this Blackberry Bold 9700…. is it true that its the best best blackberry model? Thanks
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madhawa says:

14 years ago

BlackBerry phone is very big. It is very bad phone.I hatttttttttttt.
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Fernando Matos da Silva says:

14 years ago

hola me podias dar el precio del Blackberry 9700
cuanto cuesta e transporte para Europa se tiene
se tiene garantia gracias
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Bappy says:

13 years ago

Blackberry for Bangladesh…………..
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