Remember the BlackBerry days? Two iconic devices, the Pearl 3G and the Q10, represent different eras of BlackBerry's evolution. This comparison dives deep into their specs, features, and overall user experience to determine which phone holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The BlackBerry Q10 is the clear winner. While the Pearl 3G offers a nostalgic charm, the Q10 boasts a significantly faster processor, better camera capabilities (including video recording), a larger display, and superior battery life, making it the more capable device overall.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - SQN100-1 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 25, 26, 30, 66, 71 | 2, 4, 5, 17 - SQN100-1, SQN100-5 |
| Speed | HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps | EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, HSPA, LTE (market dependent) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 | 25 - SQN100-4 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, April. Released 2010, April | 2013, January. Released 2013, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 108 x 50 x 13.3 mm (4.25 x 1.97 x 0.52 in) | 119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4 mm (4.71 x 2.63 x 0.41 in) |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 93.6 g (3.28 oz) | 139 g (4.90 oz) |
| | Optical trackpad | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 360 x 400 pixels (~239 ppi density) | 720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~328 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.25 inches, 16.2 cm2 (~30.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.1 inches, 31.0 cm2 (~38.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 624 MHz | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait (LTE version)/ Cortex-A9 (Non-LTE) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM632 Snapdragon 632 (14 nm) | Snapdragon S4 (LTE version)/ TI OMAP 4470 (Non-LTE) |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Adreno 225 (LTE version)/ PowerVR SGX544 (Non-LTE) |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 5, upgradable | BlackBerry OS 10, upgradable to 10.3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 256MB | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
2 MP, f/2.2, (depth) | - |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 3.15 MP, AF | 8 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | 480p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | 2 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | Dedicated music keys | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (after SW upgrade) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML | - |
| Sensors | - | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | BlackBerry maps
Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player
MP4/H.264/WMV player
Organizer
Voice memo/dial
| HDMI port |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 30 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 432 h (2G) / Up to 312 h (3G) | Up to 360 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 5 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G) | Up to 10 h (2G) / Up to 13 h 30 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1150 mAh battery | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Piano Black, Opal Pink, Royal Purple, Flash White, Red Gradient | Black, White |
| Models | XT2052DL | - |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | 1.37 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) | 1.16 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.67 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) | 1.41 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -89.9dB / Crosstalk -87.1dB |
Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -82.7dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 56h
|
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.856:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 71dB
|
Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
|
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -89.9dB / Crosstalk -87.1dB | Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -82.7dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 56h |
| Camera | Photo | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.856:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 71dB | Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB |
BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9105
- Compact and lightweight
- Physical QWERTY keyboard
- Classic BlackBerry design
- 3G connectivity
- Slow processor
- No video recording
- Small display
- Limited app support
- Poor battery life compared to Q10
BlackBerry Q10
- Faster processor
- Video recording capability
- Larger display
- Better battery life
- Physical QWERTY keyboard
- Improved camera (likely)
- Larger size compared to Pearl 3G
- Still an older device with limited app support
- May be difficult to find in good condition
Display Comparison
The Q10 features a larger 3.1-inch display compared to the Pearl 3G's smaller screen. Both offer decent contrast, but the Q10's larger size provides a more immersive viewing experience. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio claim on both is largely marketing, with the 2.856:1 sunlight contrast being a more realistic measure.
Camera Comparison
The Q10 has a distinct advantage with its ability to record video, a feature absent on the Pearl 3G. Both phones offer 'Photo' cameras, but the Q10's likely has a higher resolution sensor and better image processing, resulting in superior image quality. Expect grainy images from both, given their age.
Performance
The Q10's Snapdragon S4 (LTE) or TI OMAP 4470 processor with a dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait or Cortex-A9 CPU significantly outperforms the Pearl 3G's 624 MHz Qualcomm SDM632 Snapdragon 632. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the Q10.
Battery Life
The Q10's endurance rating of 56 hours is a substantial improvement over the Pearl 3G's likely shorter battery life (estimated around 20-25 hours based on similar devices of the era). This makes the Q10 a more practical choice for extended use.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Pearl 3G is for die-hard BlackBerry enthusiasts seeking a compact, classic experience and a physical QWERTY keyboard. The BlackBerry Q10 is for users who want a more modern BlackBerry experience with improved performance, a larger screen, and better multimedia features, while still appreciating a physical keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are apps available for these older BlackBerry devices?
App availability is extremely limited. These devices primarily support BlackBerry 10 and earlier operating systems, which have a significantly smaller app ecosystem compared to modern smartphones. You'll be limited to older, legacy apps.
❓ Can I use these phones with a modern cellular network?
The BlackBerry Q10 (LTE version) can connect to 4G LTE networks, but compatibility may vary depending on your carrier. The Pearl 3G is limited to 3G networks and may not function on newer networks.
