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Head to head: Blackberry Bold vs iPhone

Head to head: Blackberry Bold vs iPhone
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May 13, 2008
 | 7 Comments 
Tags: Blackberry | Bold | iPhone
We put the two smartphones head to head on specs, but which one is actually the smarter choice?
[UPDATE: See our First Look review of the Blackberry Bold here] Apple sold a lot of iPhones in its last financial quarter. 1,703,000, according to the company's last filed report, but the real test will be how it stacks up to other cutting edge smartphones like Blackberry's new Bold. The Bold sees Blackberry finally make the leap into 3.5G territory, and it's got other tricks up its sleeve like a big screen, WiFi, an improved Web browser (with zooming functions), though no touchscreen.

At the same time, a 3G iPhone is lurking around the corner. Apple has stated that it wants to attack the enterprise market that is RIM's bread and butter. It's widely tipped that the iPhone will be announced (and possibly made available) in Australia in June, right about when the Blackberry Bold is expected to make its Australian debut.

So which is the better phone?















Feature iPhone 2G Blackberry Bold Our Winner
Physical Dimensions 115x61x11.6mm, 135gm 114x66x14mm, 133gm Tied; both will slip into a pocket in basically the same way.
Display Screen 3.5" 480x320 480x320, Exact screen size not available at time of going to press. Some online reports indicate roughly 2.36" (W) x 1.52" (H), in line with other BlackBerry models. iPhone; they share the same resolution, but the iPhone's larger display screen gives it more data presentation capability.
Email Yes, via integrated client Yes, via BlackBerry Mail client BlackBerry. If there's one thing that RIM does better than anybody else, it's email.
Web Yes, via Safari Yes, via integrated Web/Mobile browser iPhone. Safari is a richer and more capable client, and it's much easier to use via the iPhone's touch screen, although the Bold does offer an improved Web browser to previous models.
Multimedia Music, Video, 2.0 Megapixel camera Music, Video, 2.0 Megapixel camera, GPS iPhone by a nose; GPS is useful on the BlackBerry (as is proper A2DP Bluetooth stereo), but iTunes makes sychronising stupidly easy.
Keyboard Virtual Physical BlackBerry. It's possible to get used to the iPhone's touchpad, but BlackBerry users can really fly with RIM's usually excellent keyboards
Connectivity Quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) and UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz) BlackBerry.
Modem-capable? Yes, with hacking on jailbroken models Yes, as a tethered, Windows-only modem BlackBerry
Storage 8GB or 16GB 1GB onboard, micro SD capable iPhone


The result? A surprising tie at four a piece. Taking it to the judges, however, we'd have to tip the Blackberry Bold as the better buy right now, especially for enterprises. The full integration of 3G -- something that RIM has struggled with in the past -- opens up a lot of possibilities for data that the 2G iPhone will struggle with. That could all change once we know what the 3G iPhone is capable of.
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Comments: 7
M9ROC
May 13, 2008 3:05 PM
 Guaranteed that the winner in sales will be the iPhone. Maybe the Blackberry is better for the enterprise market but these users will have them for work purposes and a lot will have the iPhone for personal use along with the Apple aficionados who would choose the iPhone over a Blackberry.


Comment made about the PC Authority article:
Head to head: Blackberry Bold vs iPhone?
We put the two smartphones head to head on specs, but which one is actually the smarter choice?

What do you think? Join the discussion.
John Smith
May 13, 2008 3:43 PM
 that doesn't mean the iphone is better, they will have made up their mind regardless of the features and most of those people will more than likely only use half the features anyway.

I personally think more should be said about the keyboard, from what i have heard sms is a nightmare on the iphone, so I can't even begin to imagine what emailing is like.


Edited by John Smith: 13/5/2008 03:44:27 PM
M9ROC
May 13, 2008 4:04 PM
 Correct, it doesn't mean the iPhone is better, but that hasn't stopped 1,703,000 people buying it anyway.

I won't be buying one but would rather have it over a Blackberry as they are slicker. I would only want one for the advantage of having my iTunes, photos and phone in one along with the some other features.

I never liked my last Blackberry. I'm left handed, the scroll wheel was on the right of it so made using it a pain. I know new models are improved but i simply can't be bothered with one. Besides, who wants work bothering them all the time!
nix
May 13, 2008 5:22 PM
 That's a key thing right there. If I ever get one, it's not going to have my work email address set up...
Frank Phones
Jul 31, 2008 7:04 AM
 And the winner should be.... Nokia E71. That is a beauty. Thinner and nicer looking than Bold and really QWERTY unlike iPhone.
hacker
Aug 19, 2008 6:44 PM
 i think blackberry bold deserves the gold because nobody can touch its email and keyboard features and it is a very good product
bbjai
Aug 19, 2008 11:52 PM
 Blackberry should be the winner for the enterprise business marker with the iPhone winning the consumer market handily. I've already seen a fair bit of Blackberry Bolds around my office (which is a Audit firm and makes high use of emails on the move) and no iphones yet. The support isn't there at the business IT level for the iphone.
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