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| RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8120 (T-Mobile) |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
_it00.jpg) The BlackBerry Pearl is ultimately a likable phone, and one we've had no trouble recommending. For such a small smartphone, it has plenty of features, and presents them in a way that is easy to follow for new smartphone users, clearly its target audience. The Pearl 8120 on T-Mobile is a great addition to the Pearl lineup with its UMA calling. We like any option that improves reception and cuts calling costs in one fell swoop. We'd like it even more if the phone had the 3G networking and GPS navigation of its competitor cousins, but for many customers, the HotSpot @Home service will be an even smarter option than those features. Release: April 2008. Price: $200.
Pros: UMA calling is a cheap and convenient. Slightly improved hardware design.
Cons: Interface polished, but not much improved. Lacks impressive media playing and Web browsing options.
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Mediocre |
67%
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Very good |
Excellent |
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| RIM BlackBerry 8820 (T-Mobile) |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
_it00.jpg) The BlackBerry 8820 on T-Mobile gets it right when it comes to Wi-Fi, and we definitely like the HotSpot @Home service. We'd like to see plenty more improvements to the aging BlackBerry UI, including a nicer looking calendar and more productivity apps, but we think some business customers will find the UMA capabilities useful, and perhaps even cost-cutting. We could lament the lack of good multimedia options, but there is always the BlackBerry Curve and the Pearl for that. The 8820 might be the priciest of the bunch, but it also might offer the right mix of features for BlackBerry fans. Release: March 2008. Price: $350.
Pros: T-Mobile HotSpot @Home UMA calling. Great call quality and battery life.
Cons: Aging interface. Out-of-date browser. Needs better Office tools and prettier calendar.
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Mediocre |
60%
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Excellent |
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| RIM BlackBerry 8700g |
| Full review » Features » Gallery » |
 With its bright screen, full-QWERTY keypad, EDGE and Bluetooth support, and characteristically superb e-mail handling, the 8700g is a strong choice for anyone looking to take the BlackBerry plunge. That said, T-Mobile customers who want a BlackBerry device that fits in a pocket might be better off with the slightly smaller (if tougher to use) 7105t, which features a pseudo-QWERTY thumbboard, while bargain hunters may want to scoop up the 7290 for just $100 (or the similarly priced 7105t, for that matter). Release: April 2006. Price: $100.
Pros: EDGE and Bluetooth support; Speakerphone; Vivid display; Top-notch messaging
Cons: Slightly loose thumbboard assembly; Hotmail and MSN unsupported (for now); Poor rendering of HTML e-mail messages
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Mediocre |
50%
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Very good |
Excellent |
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| Samsung Behold II |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 With the Samsung Behold II, Samsung tries to make Android better by using the TouchWIZ interface, but in stead the phone's performance takes an obvious hit compared to other Android devices we've reviewed. Samsung has also redesigned many of the system menus and apps on the phone, but we think the original Android approach is better. We had hoped to see improved multimedia and video playback on the Behold II, but yet again we've seen standard Android phones performing better. All that said, if you're looking for a mix of great battery life, call quality, camera, GPS navigation and Web browsing in an all-touch phone, the Samsung Behold II will not let you down. But beware that obvious "multimedia cell phone" footprint, as there's little here that deals with the latest trends in social network integration or the latest and greatest in messaging trends. Release: November 2009. Price: $230.
Pros: High-quality OLED screen looks great.
Cons: Samsung's TouchWIZ interface hurts Android experience. Keyboard is cramped and difficult.
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Mediocre |
70%
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Very good |
Excellent |
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| RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 The BlackBerry Bold 9700, especially the T-Mobile version we reviewed, is the quintessential modern BlackBerry. It does everything right that BlackBerry fans love, but it doesn't improve on the formula one bit. Calling, messaging and business features are top notch. Besides the superlative battery life for which BlackBerry devices are known, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 is T-Mobile's first 3G smartphone with UMA calling, which means you'll always have good reception if you have a Wi-Fi network nearby. If you don't mind digging through the BlackBerry App World (and digging FOR the App World), you'll find great social networking apps for keeping up with Facebook, uploading photos to your favorite sites and more. But if RIM wants the BlackBerry to stay competitive, it's time to get serious about the Web browser, a feature that has lagged behind for years now. Plus, when you're using the BlackBerry Bold 9700's aging, menu-heavy interface, it's too easy to be reminded of the phone's pager heritage. Worst of all, RIM's flagship BlackBerry Bold 9700 doesn't bring anything new to the party. It does everything well that we've already seen a BlackBerry do, and now we'd like the phone to learn some new tricks. Release: November 2009. Price: $200.
Pros: Great battery life. Well organized inbox aggregates all incoming messages. UMA calling is very convenient.
Cons: Interface still bland, poorly organized. Web browser lags behind competition.
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Mediocre |
Good |
77%
VERY GOOD |
Excellent |
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