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BlackBerry Bold 9790 review

6.8/10 AVG.
RATING
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BlackBerry Bold 9790
BlackBerry Bold 9790
BlackBerry Bold 9790
BlackBerry Bold 9790
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6.8/10
Informr score
The BlackBerry Bold 9790 currently has an Informr score of 6.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 15 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is the latest in a long line of phones from RIM. The styling is typical of BlackBerry with a sleek profile and elegant curves. It features a backlit QWERTY keyboard, which features all the keys you need, but they are a bit small. People with large hands might accidentally hit multiple keys, which can make writing e-mails and texting a bit of a pain. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is built very well and constructed with brushed stainless steel, giving the phone excellent drop protection.

The phone features a 1.2GHz processor and 768MB of RAM. While these numbers lag behind the competition a bit, the Bold 9790 still feels plenty snappy in everyday use thanks to efficient software. 8GB of internal storage is included, which can be limiting to some users. Fortunately, there is a microSD slot tucked under the battery which can accept up to a 32GB card. Call quality is very good as well. Voices come across clear and dropped calls simply do not happen. The Bold 9790 does lack 4G LTE hardware though, making it unable to take advantage of that network and its lightning fast download speeds.

The camera on the BlackBerry Bold 9790 is far behind the competition. It only uses a five megapixel sensor and most photos appear washed out and not very sharp. Video is not much better with muted colors and a lot of distortion if you move the phone a bit when recording. The BlackBerry OS is also starting to show its age. While it is still easy enough to use, it just feels outdated compared to iOS and Android. If you are coming from either of those operating systems, prepare for a disappointment.

Need to Know: BlackBerry Bold 9790

1. Good, solid design helps protect against drops. (The Good)

2. Performance is fluid and snappy. (The Good)

3. The operating system feels outdated when compared to the competition. (The Bad)

4. No 4G LTE. (The Bad)


BlackBerry
Operating system
Operating system
BlackBerry
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
2.45"
Screen Size
Screen Size
2.45"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
1230 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

Generally the feeling we got when using the Bold 9790 was that it's boring and out of touch. We know that's a fairly standard criticism of RIM and its products these days and is cited as contributory to the company's poor predicament of late. But in this case there's no smoke without fire. RIM hasn'...

- Paul Briden, Know Your Mobile
Dial-a-Phone
Dial-a-Phone

Despite initial scepticism of yet another BlackBerry QWERTY device in what seems to be an already saturated range, we were thoroughly won over by the 9790. The phone is compact, feels has a premium feel and offers instant usability without ever extolling its virtues in an overly pushy manner. The de...

- Dan Nixon, Dial-a-Phone
Recombu
Recombu

The role of the Bold 9790 is clearly to provide a bridge between the Bold 9900 and Curve 9360, which is quite a tough job. While the Bold 9790 is well built, it looks unremarkable, lacking the the generous screen, fantastic keyboard and premium build of the Bold 9900, although it's portability will...

- Hannah Bouckley , Recombu
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

Where the Bold 9790 falls down, though, is with App support. BlackBerry App World has got better, but it lacks official apps from a lot of big companies, there are fewer apps than available for Android and iPhone and less quality control.Given the small screen and lack of apps, the Bold 9790 is only...

- Barry de la Rosa, Expert Reviews
Digital Versus
Digital Versus

Who's going to buy the new BlackBerry Bold 9790? Business users are, and so will die-hard BBM fans and anybody who likes a good physical keyboard or not having to charge their phone twice a day. It's nippy, but the latest Bold isn't up to speed with photo, audio and video features, and the small dis...

- Florence Legrand , Digital Versus


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the BlackBerry Bold 9790 user manual here.


BlackBerry backs up the Bold 9790 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Bold 9790 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact BlackBerry support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find BlackBerry's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
2.45"

The BlackBerry Bold 9790's screen size is 2.45 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a Marvell Tavor MG1 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
5+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera.

There's no secondary front camera.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1230mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1230 mAh battery. BlackBerry's performance ratings are 1 days standby time, 318 minutes, 242 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Bold 9790 Specs

Overview
Release Date December 2, 2011
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare BlackBerry Smartphones

Processor Marvell Tavor MG1 1 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 768 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 1.35 W/kg
Body: 0.81 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA 7.2, HSUPA
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 2.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, DUN, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD (up to 32 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
2x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
VGA (640 x 480 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density Unknown
Size 2.45 inches
Secondary Display No
Multi-Touch No
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1230 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 347 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 242 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 318 minutes
Standby Time Up to 1 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 11.0 x 6.0 x 1.1 cm (4.3 x 2.4 x 0.4 in)
Weight 107 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type QWERTY
Navigation Type Optical pad, Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Blackberry
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voicemail Key: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Auto Answer: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Blackberry Connect
PC Synchronization: OTA
Java Application: Yes
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, MP4, AAC, AMR, WMA, WAV, M4A, OGG
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, AVI
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Viewable document types:
Games: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Apps: Yes
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): BlackBerry Bellagio
Related Links Manual (PDF)
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