BlackBerry Bold 9790 User Review

When it comes to QWERTY phones, BlackBerry is king. Anyone who has owned or used a BlackBerry swears by it.

So when I was asked if I was interested in reviewing a BlackBerry Bold 9790, it was a no-brainer.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 Smartphone

HARDWARE

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is well-built. For a QWERTY phone, it’s not too wide and feels good in the hand. It weighs just right — not too light nor is it heavy.

The keyboard, one of the main strengths of BlackBerry smartphones, is well-spaced and is ergonomically designed. The keys are slightly angled preventing typing mistakes and are very responsive. It’s a pleasure to type on.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 Keyboard

There’s an autofocus camera at the back that can shoot 640 x 480 videos and 5 megapixel photos. It’s decent but nothing to write home about.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 5 Megapixel Camera at the Back

The 2.45-inch touchscreen, while small, is clear and bright. Browsing websites is a bit of a chore and the screen size is not ideal for watching videos. However, what the BlackBerry Bold 9790 lacks in screen real estate is made up for by the amazing pixel density at 246 pixel per inch (ppi) thanks to its 480 x 360 resolution. Text, photos, and graphics all look great, even in direct sunlight.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 Display Under Direct Sunlight

SOFTWARE

Nothing compares to BlackBerry’s push technology. Proof to this is the continuing reliance of businesses on BlackBerry when it comes to mobile corporate e-mails. Yes, big boys like Apple, Google, and Microsoft also have push e-mail solutions but their implementation pales in comparison to RIM’s.

BlackBerry also shines in messaging and social media. BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), RIM’s proprietary instant messaging solution which allows the user to send text, photos, and voice notes to fellow users, remains a popular feature among the younger segment of BlackBerry users.

BlackBerry 9790 Screenshots

The BlackBerry App World, however, is an entirely different story. While essential and major apps are accounted for in its 80,000-strong app marketplace, RIM’s software catalogue is simply dwarfed by Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store in terms of app volume, quality, and variety.

PERFORMANCE

Packing a 1 GHz processor and 768MB of RAM, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 switches between apps like a hot knife through butter. There is no perceptible delay in typing, scrolling, and loading of apps.

For the music-loving crowd, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 includes a decent media player and for a small phone, the built-in speaker does not disappoint.

In terms of battery performance, the 1230 mAh battery was able to last around one and half days with moderate to heavy use.

VERDICT

Would I recommend the BlackBerry Bold 9790 to my family and friends? Yes.
Will I buy one for myself? I have at least 6 working phones. It’s not practical for me to add one more but I’d probably buy one if it was heavily discounted.
Is it a must buy? For professionals who rely heavily on push e-mail, it’s indispensable! Just ask CNN anchor Piers Morgan!