RIM BlackBerry Style 9670 Pro Reviews

The BlackBerry Style is a new form factor to RIM, but it's nothing new to the mobile world. It's bringing back and old form factor actually, but with...style. The Style will be great for return BlackBerry customers looking to change it up a bit and first-time smartphone owners looking to knock out some emails.

BlackBerry Style 9670 from SprintThe BlackBerry Style 9670 is an impressive little device. It proved useful, reliable, and even has -- dare I say it -- style. The clamshell form factor grew on me very quickly, especially given the usefulness of the external screen. RIM proves with the this smartphone that it still can deliver an innovative new device rather than just a refresh of a proven model. Seasoned pros and BlackBerry newbies alike will both find a lot to like about the Style.

For Sprint customers, the Style is a very easy phone to recommend. It does everything the Bold does, but differently. It's pocket friendly, compact, and, er, well, "Style"-ish.

If you’re looking for a pocket computer that will do your taxes, play games that look like they belong on a PSP and surf the Web as easily as notebook computer, look elsewhere. Despite an extra layer of polish in BlackBerry OS 6, the Style is not ready to compete with the latest crop of iOs and Android superphones as a do-it-all overachiever. But with a unique clamshell design, full physical QWERTY keyboard and a $50 price tag on Sprint, it doesn’t have to. BlackBerry’s Style folds the company’s legendary messaging abilities into a compact, stylish (yes, we said it) package that does what a phone needs to do, and then some. For a text-happy teen, style-conscious adult or just someone who wants a practical clamshell design in a smartphone, BlackBerry’s Style will hit the spot.

Overall, the BlackBerry Style is an excellent choice for BlackBerry users looking for a phone with reliable hardware, excellent voice features and basic web computing capabilities. Running on 0S 6, it has similar speed to its touchscreen cousin, the Torch, but in the flip smartphone form factor. It’s the perfect hybrid for someone who wants all the features of a flip phone, which is said to be more conducive for talking, with the capabilities of a smartphone.

Consider the BlackBerry Style, then, a qualified success. For some, it will scratch an itch noticeably better than most other devices. But if you're simply looking for the best smartphone for the price, it's not what we'd turn to first.

I've used better keyboards on BlackBerry smartphones before, but the Style's keyboard is by no means a deal breaker. And the phone itself still rocks as a messaging device. The low resolution screen made surfing full HTML websites a bit painful, and without a touchscreen you'll have to rely on mechanically zooming using the phone's buttons. If you want web surfing and apps, an Android device is probably more up your alley. On the flip side, if you're on Sprint and don't want to ditch your BBM or your QWERTY keyboard for a sexier operating system, then the Style 9670 is certainly worth a gander.

After some time with the device, Style really is a good name for the 9670. As is often the case with stylish, things they usually lack in substance, and the BlackBerry Style 9670 is no exception. For those more concerned with a cute, flip phone, the Style is a very good, functional option. For the heavy users the constant opening and closing will wear on them, and for the tech savvy BlackBerry OS 6 doesn’t do much to bridge the growing gap between BlackBerry and Android/iOS. Still, there is a definite market for those wanting a phone like this, and while RIM is losing out on the edge of technology, BlackBerry devices are still well put together, easy to use and in general hassle-free. The BlackBerry Style may be lacking in many areas, but for the less demanding smartphone user it is definitely worth a look.

The BlackBerry Style is a terrific flip messaging phone for Sprint, though it doesn't offer the app selection of other top smartphone platforms.

This is a phone for people familiar with the BlackBerry OS, people that’ve used a BlackBerry phone before, and those who have a strong love for the BlackBerry system. I found it to be a phone with alright capabilities, and it’s always cool to be able to watch live TV and listen to radio stations on the phone, but the user interface is difficult to parse. It’s not an easy phone to use, especially when you compare it to the rest of the smart phones on the market now. The keys are easy to press, but it’s not easy to get in and out of the places you’ve got to go to be able to press the keys.

The BlackBerry Style isn't the most exciting BlackBerry device to hit the carriers, but it is affordable (in the US, at least). The Style might be a good fit for people who miss flip-style phones and want a handset with relatively compact dimensions, but the phone feels like a bit of a regression for RIM. Its mediocre camera and average keyboard prevent it from being a standout.

If you like the clamshell design and you want a messaging phone that can do more, the Style is a solid choice for $99. With its relatively snappy performance and a good camera, this device is one of the best mid-range offerings on Sprint. In fact, in some ways the Style is more satisfying than the $199 Torch on AT&T because you don't have to contend with a sluggish touch interface. If you're willing to deal with a relatively small internal display, this compact BlackBerry is a pretty good bargain.