BlackBerry Bold 9790 review: Bold and the budget

Introduction

Oh, look - it's another BlackBerry Bold! But what's the catch? And where is the difference really? Sure it looks a bit smaller than the 9900 but it's the same QWERTY / touchscreen combo. So far, so good.

   
BlackBerry Bold 9790 official pictures

Now, let's play spot the difference. The Bold 9790 is powered by a different processor and HD video is one of the first things scrapped. To make amends, the phone has what's probably the best BlackBerry still camera to date. Both the screen size and resolution have taken a cut but we haven’t told you the best part yet. The Bold 9790 looks no worse than the Bold 9900 and costs less.

Now, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 is merely the next-in-rank. It doesn't have the premium features of the flagship but it makes sense as a potential replacement of the year-old Bold 9780. What it does is add touchscreen to a classic package, aiming to keep the BlackBerry experience up to date.

Key features:

• BlackBerry OS v7
• Enhanced email and data security with BlackBerry Internet Service
• 2.45" 16M-color TFT touchscreen of 480 x 360px resolution
• QWERTY keyboard
• Quad-band GSM support and quad-band 3G with HSDPA
• Dual-band Wi-Fi b/g/n connectivity
• NFC support
• GPS receiver and BlackBerry maps preloaded, digital compass
• 5 megapixel auto-focus camera, LED flash (surprisingly good camera, too)
• VGA@30fps video recording
• 1GHz processor
• 768MB RAM
• 8GB of inbuilt storage
• Optical trackpad
• microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
• DivX and XviD video playback support
• Office document editor
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Smart dialing
• Compact body and solid build quality

Main disadvantages:

• BlackBerry Internet Service account is a must to enjoy all phone features
• No HD video recording
• No front-facing video-call camera
• No Flash support
• No FM radio
• No haptic feedback
• Super stiff lock button
• Poor audio output quality
• Poor loudspeaker performance
• Wobbly back panel

The 9790 is part of the premium Bold line but comes across as more mindful of budget than your average high-end BlackBerry. It pretty much does the same job as the flagship but charges less and is not without charms of its own.

   
BlackBerry Bold 9790 live pictures

The Indonesian debut of the BlackBerry Bold 9790 reveals something about RIM's market strategy. It makes sense for the 9790 to stay out of the Bold 9900's way and focus on emerging markets instead. Not that Indonesia is technically one - it's one of RIM's strongholds. On the other hand, the Bold 9790 did need a strong start and a launch at a traditionally loyal market was supposed to give it just that.

Anyway, we're about to see what a smaller and friendlier - though less powerful - version of the flagship can offer. And to whom. Follow us on the next page where the Bold 9790 feels just as good as the 9900, if not better.

Samsung refreshes the original Galaxy S again with the Galaxy S Advance

Samsung Galaxy S Advance

Samsung Galaxy S Advance

Samsung Galaxy S Advance

Samsung Galaxy S Advance

Samsung is apparently intent on keeping theGalaxy S name going, as it has just announced the Galaxy S Advance, an update of the original Galaxy S that was initially released in 2010. The Galaxy S Advance features a faster processor than its predecessor and includes a slightly-curved display, not unlike the curved displays found on the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus smartphones that Samsung builds for Google.

Spec-wise, the Galaxy S Advance appears to be aGalaxy R with a Super AMOLED display instead of a Super Clear LCD. As mentioned, the 4-inch WVGA (480 x 800 pixel) Super AMOLED screen on the Galaxy S Advance has a slight curve to it, echoing the older Google Galaxy S and Galaxy Nexus smartphones. Inside the Galaxy S Advance is a 1GHz, dual-core processor accompanied by 768MB of RAM. There is either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, depending on configuration, and the Advance supports microSD cards up to 32GB in capacity.

On the back of the Galaxy S Advance is the now-familiar 5 megapixel camera with 720p HD (1280 x 720 pixel) video capability that has been on every Galaxy S smartphone released. There is also a 1.3 megapixel camera up front for video conferencing. A 1,500mAh battery provides juice for the Galaxy S Advance, and the phone measures 123.2mm x 63.0mm x 9.69mm (4.85in x 2.48in x 0.38in) and weighs 120g (4.23oz).

Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy S Advance with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and its custom TouchWiz user interface, but it is not clear whether or when it will be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The Galaxy S Advance will be gradually rolled out to markets across the world, starting with Russia in February, followed by Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast and Southwest Asia, Latin America, and China. Pricing has yet to be announced.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini

Mini by name and by nature, this is a refresh of the concept behind Sony Ericsson's X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro, the pint-sized and ultraportable handsets launched in mid-2010.

It packs a new 1GHz processor, and a bigger 3-inch screen with the Bravia Engine Reality Display tech used in the Xperia Arc (read: you get a 320x480 resolution touchscreen that's a bit brighter at times).

The user interface has received an overhaul too, so on paper the new Xperia Mini looks like a big leap forward for the tiny form factor.

And so it proves to be, offering a very usable – dare we say, pretty – interface that makes the small screen totally workable. Social media integration is great too.

The story's not perfect, though, with less-than-brilliant video codec support and a weak camera offering. The titchy screen won't suit gamers either, but those after a great little phone that won't keep their hands full with glitches and faffing about could be in for a treat.

LG Optimus 3D

It's big, it's weighty and it's pretty darn expensive, but that pair of characters tacked on the end of the LG Optimus 3D's name might justify all that and more for you. For this, ladies and gents, is a technological milestone: the first 'glasses-free' 3D phone.

The good news is that the effect works brilliantly and that all-important screen is complemented by some great Android customisations on the software side.

Web performance is stellar too.The bad news is that even for a dual-core, the Optimus 3D can feel sluggish, the battery life is poor and – oddly for a phone sold on the back of cutting-edge tech – it's 'only' running Android 2.2.

If you're undecided about joining the 3D revolution, then head on over to the review to find out more.

HTC Incredible S

Incredible by name and only slightly less so by nature, this phone is HTC's entry into the underpopulated 4-inch touchscreen arena. In fact, it's among the first UK handsets to fill that niche, but more are on the horizon.

BlackBerry Bold 9900

While RIM has a great reputation for push email and corporate handsets, it's not known for being an innovator. For this reason, the Blackberry Bold 9900 is an intriguing proposition, packing some higher-end tech into a rather attractive shell.

The capacitive (and high resolution) touchscreen screen is a particular marvel, but the inclusion of a near-field communications chip and the brand new OS 7 show that the Bold 9900 was made to break new ground for RIM.

The result is impressive, but only if you're happy to operate within the boundaries of BlackBerry's traditional strengths. Those looking for an outstanding web browsing or media experience will still find themselves disappointed. Still, head over to the review to find out more about what our review dubbed the best BlackBerry to date.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Could Sony Ericsson finally be about to deliver on the promise of, well, every smartphone it's ever made that wasn't quite good enough? Maybe it was stupid to hope, but we did anyway with this new mobile phone.

An attractive design with a curved back that's just 8.7mm thick in the middle? Check. Impressive new Exmor camera technology? Check. Good spec list, including HDMI output? Check. Superb video player? Check.

The hardware is extremely impressive, both in terms of looks and performance. Forget the fashionable dual-core phones – when done right, a single-core 1GHz processor can do it all, although busy, dynamic websites will cause the phone to chug a little.

As it is, we're prepared to overlook the Xperia Arc's few minor flaws (small buttons, odd text entry) thanks to its stunning good looks, superb screen and very decent photo performance. You can't help but love it once you've held its magically thin body and gazed adoringly into its dazzling Reality Display.