The BlackBerry era holds a special place in many hearts. Two popular models, the Style 9670 and the Bold Touch 9900, represent different approaches to BlackBerry's design and functionality. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Bold Touch 9900 generally wins due to its touchscreen, faster processor, and slightly improved camera. However, the Style 9670's physical keyboard remains a strong selling point for dedicated BlackBerry users prioritizing tactile typing and a more compact form factor.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | CDMA 800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 |
| Speed | EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | CDMA / EVDO | GSM / HSPA |
| | - | HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, October. Released 2010, November | 2011, May. Released 2011, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 96 x 60 x 18.5 mm (3.78 x 2.36 x 0.73 in) | 115 x 66 x 10.5 mm (4.53 x 2.60 x 0.41 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 131 g (4.62 oz) | 130 g (4.59 oz) |
| | Optical trackpad | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 360 x 400 pixels | 640 x 480 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~286 ppi density) |
| Size | - | 2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~32.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 65K colors | TFT |
| | External QVGA display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | 1.2 GHz QC 8655 |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 6.0 | BlackBerry OS 7.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 512MB | 8GB 768MB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 5 MP |
| Video | 480p | 720p |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS, BlackBerry Maps |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML | HTML |
| Sensors | - | Proximity, compass |
| | BlackBerry maps
Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
Media player MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+
Video player MP4/WMV/H.264
Organizer
Voice memo/dial
Predictive text input | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 14 h | Up to 50 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 264 h | Up to 307 h (2G) / Up to 307 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h 30 min | Up to 6 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 50 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1150 mAh battery | Removable Li-Ion 1230 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Steel Grey, Royal Purple | Black, White |
| Price | About 50 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | 0.97 W/kg (head) 0.43 W/kg (body) | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.76 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -86.3dB / Crosstalk -81.2dB |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1304:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 71dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB
|
BlackBerry Style 9670
- Excellent physical keyboard
- Compact and pocketable design
- Potentially longer battery life (speculative)
- Slower performance
- No touchscreen
- Limited app support (due to age)
- Missing detailed specs
BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900
- Touchscreen display
- Faster processor (1.2 GHz)
- Slightly better camera (speculative)
- More modern design
- Larger size
- Potentially shorter battery life
- Limited app support (due to age)
Display Comparison
The Bold Touch 9900 boasts a touchscreen display, offering a more versatile interface. The Style 9670 relies on a smaller screen integrated with its physical keyboard. While both have a nominal contrast ratio of 1304:1, the touchscreen provides a richer visual experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature a camera, but the Bold Touch 9900 likely has slightly better image quality due to its more modern hardware. Video recording capabilities are present on both, though quality will be limited by the era of the devices.
Performance
The Bold Touch 9900's 1.2 GHz QC 8655 processor provides a noticeable performance boost over the Style 9670's likely older and slower processor (specs unavailable). Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the 9900.
Battery Life
Battery life is a crucial factor. While specific figures are hard to confirm, the Style 9670's smaller screen and potentially less demanding processor *might* offer slightly better battery life than the Bold Touch 9900, but this is highly dependent on usage.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Style 9670 is ideal for users who strongly prefer a physical keyboard and a smaller, more pocketable device. The BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 is better suited for those who want a touchscreen experience, faster performance, and a more modern BlackBerry design.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is it worth buying a BlackBerry in 2024?
For dedicated BlackBerry fans seeking a nostalgic experience, yes. However, modern smartphones offer significantly better features, app support, and security.
❓ Which BlackBerry has the best keyboard?
The Style 9670 is generally considered to have a superior physical keyboard due to its tactile feedback and comfortable key spacing.
