BlackBerry 9630 Review: Part 1
We’ve been playing with it non-stop all weekend. We’ve tastelessly shown it off with a dash of hood on video. But the review is now finally ready. We decided to split this into two parts, one now and one right before launch. That way no one will see things that aren’t final and vice-versa. It will also be a nice way to keep track of what’s changed/been modified. We’ll also do something new here… if you have any questions, drop them in the comments and we’ll edit the post and answer them in the Q&A section of the review!
UPDATE: We’re re-posting this review with all photos. Enjoy!
Hardware:
You can literally think of the BlackBerry 9630 as a BlackBerry Storm with a QWERTY keyboard. It’s that exact. From the cell radios (quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, single band UMTS/HSDPA, 1X/EVDO) to even the layout of the keys on the side, it’s almost identical. It definitely follows RIM’s styling cues from the Curve 8900 and obviously the Storm as well. This will be tough for people contemplating switching to Verizon because it offers 90% of what every BlackBerry user has dreamed and it’s on the nation’s best network.
You know where we’re going here, don’t you? Wi-Fi. Verizon told us they really looked forward to releasing BlackBerry devices with Wi-Fi, blah, blah, blah. Cutting it short, as you all know, the 9630 doesn’t have Wi-Fi. There were rumors of pre-release devices floating around with Wi-Fi, and that obviously clears up any “technical” limitations (seriously, do you honestly think “we can’t fit it on the circuit board” is an excuse anymore?. This blunder is on Verizon’s shoulders, RIM, we excuse you this time.
Listen, we’re not going to really dive into it as our thoughts on this are pretty well documented, but, is it so difficult to stop being little bitches and just let people jam out with their Wi-Fi? We really don’t understand the difficulty, not one bit, and we’d love it if someone could fill us in and make things clearer. It’s just crap all around and it’s really frustrating that the perfect phone on the perfect network has a glaring hole in it.
Sorry, friends. No Wi-Fi on this one.
Phone:
Voice calling is an important part of any phone (duh), and it’s a combination of hardware and software. As far as the hardware portion goes, this is probably the best phone we’ve ever used. Yeah, seriously. The speakerphone is absolutely off the ringer. It is just insane how loud and clear it is. We’re not talking about phone performance like holding onto calls, and all that, just connecting the call and having a conversation. And in that area, both the ear speaker and speakerphone excel beyond almost any other phone, ever. Add in Verizon’s network and you’ve got one bad ass piece of machinery.
This is a tried and true BlackBerry — you know by now — everything is logically arranged and organized as far as the phone goes.
Battery:
The BlackBerry 9630 uses the same battery as the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Storm; a 1400mAh cell. Since we’re not running this on Verizon at the moment and the software isn’t final (read: not close), take these results pretty lightly, ok?
- 4 hours of talk time
- 3 hours of video playback
- 8 hours of music playback
- 18 hours of light email, messenger, SMS, browsing.
Screen:
The screen on the 9630 looks great. It really looks like a plasma display with a glass lens over it. Colors are rich, sharp, and images are crisp. One thing we don’t like is the bezel around the screen. The Bold and 8900 LCD basically goes right up against the outer case of the handsets, yet with the 9630, there’s a black bezel around the LCD. We would have loved for the screen to be a tiny bit bigger because as it is, the Bold is still reigning champion of BlackBerry screens, if only for size alone.
In terms of resolution, you’re looking at the same res at the 8900 and Storm, 480×360.
Keyboard:
As you’ll read below, the keyboard is also a mash-up of the Bold and the Curve 8900 as is the size of the phone. It’s just right. We have to give credit where credit is due, and RIM still knows how to bang out some of the most perfected and usable keyboards on the planet. The keys are a smaller version of the Bold’s with a bit more click like the 8900. Since the Bold is as wide as a boat, the keyboard could afford to be laid out extra roomy. On the 9630, however, things are smaller obviously. This isn’t a problem for the keyboard for the most part, but one annoying thing is keys on the edge. What we mean is that the curved shape of the key is flush with the actual outer case of the device, and if you don’t hit the key precisely on the right spot, you’ll end up typing on the chrome bezel.
One other huge negative is the placement of the back button. We’re not sure why it’s so close together (well, we are) but we wish there was another way of working that out. On countless occasions we’ve hit the back button while pressing in the trackball.
Size:
The size of the 9630 is a perfect blend between the BlackBerry Bold and the BlackBerry Curve 8900. It fits squarely in the middle. It feels great in your hand and is incredibly comfortable to use. One odd fun fact: we couldn’t put our finger on it at first, but after a while it finally hit. The 9630 feels like the BlackBerry 7130 (Cingular model). Not sure why, but its like the wider 2009 version of that.
The device is a tad skinnier than the bold, less wide, and less tall too. So you’re basically getting the entire Bold package without much sacrifice. Well, one big sacrifice actually — Wi-Fi. Though people could use the argument you gain Verizon so it evens out. We’ll leave that up to you.
Toting the 9630 around, it really is the perfect mix of form, function and size for a BlackBerry. We would have loved for the phone to be thinner (really just a bad ass RAZR-type BlackBerry) but since RIM plans so far out (what, you missed this from a year ago?), we understand why the hardware is behind.
Reception:
This is mostly going to be left for Part 2: Launch Time, but on GSM, the phone even in its way buggy state performed just as good as it’s cousin, the 8900, in the signal department. Literally side by side you’ll see them get the same reception as far as the bars are concerned. The actual signal reading doesn’t differ either.
OS:
Think of 4.7.1 as the same OS the Storm uses minus the touchscreen. All the visual elements look the same — everything from highlights and gradients to slight UI changes –and even “gestures” work. We say that clearly not insinuating there’s a touch screen, but if you for instance scroll left or right in the media application for example, the photos will flick left or right. It’s a nice touch.
Screen animations are not in this build, so we’re not sure if things like the sliding screens from right to left will make it in the final version, but we’d guess they will. Or maybe RIM realized this is more of a professional device and those cheesy animations were getting in the way of real productivity rather than helping. Just a thought.
Browser:
The browser in its default mode now zooms into web pages much more than earlier versions. We’re not sure if this is going to be the final way of doing things here or if it’s just temporary, but it’s kind of irritating. Things are so far zoomed in that it makes text look enormous and images look tiny. Another issue with this current OS build is that you can’t click on any links with the mouse pointer. You have to go to menu, then hit “get link”. It’s not like we care, though.
The browser performs super fast over EDGE but it really isn’t in a condition to be thoroughly tested. If you load a page that is decently large, then proceed to scroll down, the web page text will stick, etc. We’ll leave this open-ended and update you if anything changes but look forward to a real torture test in Part 2.
For now, early, early impressions are that 4.7.1’s browser would be better than all the rest (just going on it supporting newer JavaScript and obviously RIM having time to iron other things out).
Build Quality:
The 9630 just has this Verizon “halo” all around it. Seriously. If we had never heard of the 9630 or seen pictures and you showed it to us, we’d say, “that’s the one going to Verizon, right?” The build quality is great and you can tell that Verizon’s getting more durable hardware than say AT&T is. Now, that’s not an official statement, but when you start getting phones with speakerphones as loud as this one, something is going on and this ain’t Nextel, folks.
You can tell that this phone will stand up to multiple daily beatings, and that’s a really good thing.
The Bold’s build quality left a lot to be desired. The 8900 feels pretty plasticky and cheap (the cheesy plastic battery door doesn’t help) so the 9630’s build quality is very refreshing. We, again, think it’s going to stand up to various drops, punts, and drop kicks.
There’s a quality feel to the device and while we wish the battery door was metal (long live the Storm), we don’t see a big problem here.
Picture courtesy of Tweet Genius. Coming soon!
Q&A:
Is it confirmed that the BlackBerry 9630 will be launching first on Verizon and then Sprint?
Nothing is confirmed at all, but we’re pretty confident this will hit Verizon first and they’ll get a pretty decent head-start.
Will the 9630 be able to function using AT&T’s 3G network?
Sadly, no. It’s the same story as the Storm — GSM/GPRS/EDGE for North America, UMTS for the rest of the world (where 2100MHz WCDMA is supported, obviously).
Will there be a U.S. version of the 9630 with U.S. 3G and Wi-Fi?
We doubt it. There just doesn’t seem to be room in RIM’s lineup with the Bold and Curve 8900 released. Remember there is a Curve with 3G coming, so that might be pretty similar. We wouldn’t expect that for a while. Like, end of year, early next year-type while.
Questions from readers will be listed and answered here. Additionally, hit us up with anything you want to see in our real video walkthrough — we’ll try and make sure it gets added in!
Conclusion:
We went through this with the Storm review and we told most of you to wait for the 9630. Most of you didn’t listen and you’re bitching everyday about your Storm. It’s ok, we’re here to help. Basically, to you know, not beat around the bush. Verizon + 9630 = the best BlackBerry experience on the planet. This is the phone you’ve been waiting for. Smash those Storms, donate them to charity, sell them on eBay or give them to your significant others you want to slowly and cruelly torture. This is it as far as Verizon goes. We said the Storm was the best phone on Verizon (hey, everything is relative, ok?) and this obviously takes it a step further. In its complete buggy state probably more than 3-4 months away from release, this is going to be the big seller on Verizon when it launches. There’s not a single person who wouldn’t want this phone. Young, old, black, white, rich, poor, disabled, not disab… never mind.
RIM and Verizon, congrats. This will seriously screw with AT&T’s BlackBerry customers and poach more than a few. Just remember Wi-Fi is a friend and there are people that need Wi-Fi rather than want it.
We can’t wait until the 9630 launches, it’s going to be a great all around phone.
This review is almost enough to make me stop coming to BGR. I come to this site to read about phones, networks, and related issues, not prison love letters to Verizon. For a URL with “Genius” in the name you think maybe you would not try to play favorites and ostracize people who don’t have a certain carrier, huge turn off BGR.
When reviewing a device try to stick to the hardware and be ambiguous when it comes to carriers. I thought you knew better, so disappointed!! Grab a napkin, you have some Big Red sauce in the corner of your mouth and apparently they got it in your eyes to.
Well in regards to the Wi-Fi deal, I’ve had a Curve 8330 for 7 months now, and I have gotten used to not having Wi-Fi, but that’s because I live in an area that has some of the best Sprint Network Coverage I have ever experienced.(I live in Houston, Texas). But I will admit that it would be nice to have that option for Wi-Fi. I guess CDMA carriers preach that they have such great coverage that they don’t need it, and for GSM/EDGE/HSDPA Carriers ppl say that because of the lack of coverage their phones need Wi-Fi. I’ve played around with an iPhone 3G and a Blackberry Bold in my city and the Bold gets 3G pretty much most of the time, and as many of you know the 3G for the iPhone is spotty. I think that everyone would benefit from having the option of Wi-Fi. Its not a deal breaker, but it would make this BB that much better.
Suppose I am in Europe,let’s say in Sweeden or Hungary. Can I change my Verizon SIM card with a local SIM card and use the phone in these — and other — countries?
It’s what I do these days with my 10 years old Motorola 8890 cell.
If I can not do that much with the Tour, I see no point in buying it.
Thanks.
Well after reading some info about bluetooth 3.0 there actually is a need for wi-fi on this bb.
Verizon requires that all smartphone users have a data plan regardless if they want it or not. So your theory doesn’t make any sense. There must be some other reason…
I agree that screen does look pretty suspicious
@David. That is true, but Bluetooth 3.0, uses the 802.11 wi-fi protocol in order to support the higher speeds. So as opposed to 2-4mbps on 2.0, 3.0 has the potential to hit up to 24mbps. So go figure.
Does anyone have any kinda of specs about the speaker on the Tour, and if it will be loud like that of the Bold/Storm?
My god, could this reviewer be any more of a Verizon fanboy? Seems like every paragraph has a mention of how much of the “best network” it is.
Agreed!!!
From a reliable source at AT&T, the Tour will be released on AT&T after Verizon and Sprint with a touch screen capability and WiFi, making it a mini storm.
Uh huh, yeah I believe you. Really, I do.
@ Joe Kingsley
The info your source provided is inaccurate. The model you’re talking about will be called the BB Magnum. The Tour is for CDMA carriers.
Its just like the Storm and Thunder. The Storm is for CDMA and the Thunder is for GSM.
I was told the release name was not Magnum, but Twister.
@Joe Kingsley
Then why would you say “the Tour will be released on AT&T after Verizon and Sprint”?
Whatever.
I take that back… you are correct.
What exactly does the Tour offer over the Storm? It lacks Wifi, has a smaller screen, and runs the same bug-ridden OS. Exactly how is the Tour superior to the storm – I’m not being critical, I’m honestly confused…is it the keyboard? It seems to me giving up that huge screen is not made up by that tiny keyboard.
I don’t really care for wifi but everyone who does should go to
http://www.verizonwirelesssurvey.com
give them a zero and tell them you want wifi on your phones
As much as I wanted this phone, I won’t upgrade from the 8330 because of the call quality. I don’t give a hoot what BGR says about, go to a VZW store and test it yourself! I left voice mails with it and my 8330 Curve on my home line and the Tour’s audio quality was horrible. To confirm this I called several people and asked them the rate the two calls…hands down the Tour lost.
Next is ear speaker volume. To say the Tour is best here is also pure hogwash! Go compare again for yourself…the 8330 Curve earpiece volume is WAY higher at the max setting.
I’m on the best network in the world and I have to have a phone I can use to communicate with (read call quality on both ends). Everything else about the Tour is awesome, but what I’ve said about call quality is gospel…it’s just plain bad.
I have the Tour for Sprint and I think that it is a great phone. My call quality is good and I love the keyboard. My only problem is figuring out why the internet goes down when I have service. I have only had it for 2 days so I am still figuring some things out.
Had the tour for 2 weeks and it already rebooting it self for 6 times. Each time it reboots it took 5 minutes. Always happen during calls. I hate it, sometimes it hangs and no reception at all. Please consider not buying.