Description
Tech Specs
- QWERTY keyboard with trackpad
- 2.8-inch touchscreen (resolution of 640×480)
- 1.2Ghz processor
- Triband HSPA 2100/1900/850 Quadband EDGE 1900/1800/900/850
- 14.4 Down and 5.76 up HSPA+ radios
- 768Mbps of application ram, 8GB on board for storage and up to 32GB with a microSD card
- 5.0 megapixel camera with 720p video recording (camera lacks auto-focus)
- GPS/aGPS
- Accelerometer and Digital Compass
- Proximity sensor for screen
- Wi-Fi b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and 802.11 a/2 at 5GHz
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
- Debut of BlackBerry OS7
Touchscreen:
The Bold 9900 features a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen that has a resolution of 640×480. Even back in the Bold 9000′s days many wondered why RIM didn’t include a touchscreen. It would have been the best of both worlds. Some 2-years later we now have the 9900 returning with all its large keyboard glory along with a touchscreen. The touchscreen display is a welcome addition and doesn’t have that gimmicky Surepress setup the Storm had, which in theory sounded good but in application just slowed down the quick Berry typists out there. The display is responsive and quick thanks to the 1.2Ghz processor. After using the 9900′s touch+type setup I picked up my 9780 and instinctively touched the screen to swipe to a different menu, which shows how intuitive the touchscreen really is (and how realistically it should have been here long ago). If you’re pondering, “Do I really need a touchscreen 9900 Bold?”. The answer is Yes. It makes using the BlackBerry that much more efficient.
Reception:
The BlackBerry 9900, as is most of the GSM BlackBerry devices that I’ve experienced, is no slouch for reception. In weaker areas it’s able to maintain calls and sounds flawlessly. Oddly, an issue that’s been plaguing myself and friends lately is that the BlackBerry line seems to be EDGE happy. It keeps dropping back to EDGE (GSM) or flip flopping while idle. Either way I found my 9900 was also doing these odd drop outs to EDGE as well. It worked well on EDGE, if you’re asking.
I also took the 9900 on a typical Drive test*. I’m located in Markham, Ontario and I traveled for about 30 minutes on both side roads and a busy highway. Needless to say the 9900 handled the drive by test with ease, and oddly enough didn’t drop to EDGE while I was driving.
* The drive by test is:
Yonge and 16th, east on 16th to woodbine. North on woodbine to 19th. West on 19th to Bathurst. North on Bathurst to Jefferson. East on Jefferson to Yonge. North on Yonge to Bloomington. Bloomington east to Bayview. South on bayview to Stouffville sideroad. East on Stoufville sideroad to the 404 south. And 404 south to Elgin Mills
Sound Quality:
Incoming:
The 9900 is one of the best handsets I’ve used and heard in terms of incoming call audio and quality. BlackBerry’s niche is business. The 9900 is all business. If you’re the type to still does a lot of voice minutes, then I wholeheartedly recommend the 9900. It has a natural high caliber quality of incoming audio that anyone can appreciate and enjoy.
Outgoing:
The outgoing audio was equally decent. I had no real complaints there other the road noise. When receiving calls from friends who also purchased a Bold 9900 and were driving I could hear the road noise from the handset.
Speakerphone:
The Speakerphone, which is the same speaker on the rear of the slot where you remove the door, is plenty loud. So loud in fact that when I set up my 9900’s ringtones and all the chirps and bells that I have for Facebook, Twitter, BBM, Email and SMS I set all the volumes at 10. That was too loud. This is the first time I can remember commenting that the ringtone volume and alerts on a Berry were too loud. Which is actually a welcome change.
