News & Rumors

Live Images of the New 3G BlackBerry Pearl 9100!!

by Kevin Michaluk

on 20 Nov 2009 06:10 AM

165

First Live Photos of the new BlackBerry Pearl 9100!!

OoohHHH BaBy!! Any BlackBerry Pearl fans out there? I know there are. And I know so many of you have been waiting for Research in Motion to release an updated version of the candybar-styled BlackBerry Pearl 81xx Series Smartphone. Good news. The wait is getting shorter, because what you're looking at in these photos is the new BlackBerry Pearl 9100!

We've actually been sitting on these pictures of the new 3G BlackBerry Pearl 9100 for a while now with this post sitting in the queue ready to go live (for obvious reasons -- source's request -- we can't always post stuff the second we have it), but now that it's out there (good stuff Sal!!) we can post these babies up. Be sure to look below for more photos.

As you can see, the new BlackBerry Pearl (has gone by the codename stratus and/or striker we think.... codenames are so confusing sometimes) gets its styling from the latest generation of the BlackBerry Smartphones. The new Pearl really looks like a narrowed down BlackBerry Bold 9700, but with the full physical qwerty keyboard swapped out in favor of a slick new SureType design. We didn't post any photos of it here, but under the battery door the new Pearl features a newly-designed battery. Lots more specs and info to come soon, but for now enjoy the photos! For those who appreciate a small device, this is going to be the one you want.

BlackBerry Pearl 9100 (codename striker) Images

BlackBerry Pearl 9100 (codename striker)

Filed Under: News & Rumors;

165 Comments

Posted by aeldes1 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Looking good!!

Posted by Gogi Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Sal had the first pics, so its definitely not the first live pics. Nice pics though, its a beautiful device.

Posted by Kevin Michaluk Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Hey... just fixed up the post title so there's no confusion. Not trying to take anything away from Sal.

I actually had this post written up for over a week now with the photos and title written as such - just couldn't post it quite yet, but had wrote it up as if it were first (was going to go live with it soon). As soon as a glimpse of the 9100 showed up anywere though then was fine for me to go live. Should have re-titled to reflect the layout (wasn't thinking about it last week when I prepped it) but published it live off my berry as soon as i saw it pop up and did link to Sal's. All good either way. It's a nice device!!

Posted by avt123 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 811 days ago

You don't have to explain yourself Kevin. :) Good coverage as always man!

Posted by mareid34 Saturday, Apr 03, 2010 677 days ago

I have an 8100 and I love it. I actually tried to upgrade to the G1 and I hated it. I took it back & kept my pearl. It does so much more than the G1. Has anyone heard when or if the 9100 is coming out, I'm holding out for that one.

Posted by joemecu Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

I'm glad to see they're updating the device that made me a convert from dumb phones.

My 8100c is still in mint condition, with less scratches than my 9000. I forgot to put a screen protector on the 9000, and don't use a rubber skin much on it, like I did with the 8100c.

Posted by Juan911411 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Man that looks good. I saw the video that Sal had, now all we need is a review kevin.

Posted by Juan911411 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

are the red lines on the track pad a sticker???????

Posted by Touchpro247 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

It's just a sticker

Posted by vx1 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

well I am not a perl fan but I know alot of people are - this would be the perl to get it looks awesome :)

Posted by gbsn Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

pearls were always ugly looking for me, but damn O_o that one looks reaally nice and sleek

Posted by LutherSnow74 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

My first Berry was the Pearl 8130. I would love to have one of these. Kind of nostalgic....lol. Looks sweet. I love the size. Any Specs yet?

Posted by Suite360 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

How about doing something about the OS.......huh?

Posted by pineypl Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Salomandrin said it was running the new 5.0. How much newer do you want? ;-)

Posted by redman12 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 811 days ago

http://www.salomondrin.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/stratus7.JPG

There you go :)

Posted by firemanprice Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Pearl was my first BB phone. I love that phone, I felt like I was on top of the world with it. So its nice to see the upgrade to it. It looks good, for those of you looking for a entry BB smart phone this is a good start.

Posted by YousufAli Monday, Nov 23, 2009 809 days ago

Auction to buy the striker

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180436204140#ht_2200w...

Posted by 95se Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

I still have my 8100 and I'm planning on replacing it with the 9700, but this is tempting...

Posted by chochopr Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

That looks beautiful, too bad I'm more of a full key board person. Rocking and loving that NEW Blackberry Bold 9700

Posted by brodcaster Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Finally, it's the Pearls time to shine!

My first BlackBerry is a Pearl 8100. I enjoy it a lot up to now. I was planning on getting the new Bold but when I saw this, No way I will switch to any BlackBerry device no more. The Pearl will always be the winning BlackBerry device.

Thanks for this refreshing news!

Mabuhay Pearl!!!

Posted by YousufAli Monday, Nov 23, 2009 809 days ago

Shitt...check this out

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180436204140#ht_2200w...

auction to buy the striker

Posted by deterrant Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

it looks really good,can't wait to see a review and see the specs for this new pearl

Posted by smithwicky Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

I would love to have this one to go with my collection. What would be even better is if they stopped focusing on remaking their devices and focused more on the apps and software. Still really cool.

Posted by experiment626 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Beautiful even though I'm not a SureType person. If it's got 9700-type specs it's a winner.Now scrap those horrible Pearl Flips!

Posted by asherwiin Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Hey, I love my Flip!!

Had an 8100 Pearl, but got so tired of people looking and constantly asking me "...Is that Pearl in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" that I traded it in for the more compact 8220, and haven't looked back since (or had a look, for that matter...)

Posted by billm85 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

looks like a piece of junk

Posted by pineypl Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Random comment or do you have some design critique to go with your comment? Would love to know why you say it is junk.

Posted by billm85 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

its the same thing as every other blackberry device, but smaller...OHH WAIT it has wifi now like OMG!!@!@ took them long enough...ohh and it has a TRACKPAD!!#!##@!#@# really thats the best that they can come up with??

Posted by Spawn12 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Wow retarded comment of the yr goes to....

Anyhow so what if its the same device but better specs...they arent that much different to the iphones are they??...plus RIM are sticking to a form factor that works for them...you honestly believe in your little mind that RIM are going to change the complete layout and looks of the Pearl??...geez get over yourself FFS.

Anyhow not a really a fan of the Pearl series of phones but great to see that RIM are bringing them up to date with 3G and wifi and also the trackpad.

Looks like a very nice sleek device.

Posted by billm85 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

haha - so after all of that garbage you just said, your final comment was you are not a fan and you basically stated my points about the wifi and trackpad, but in a different context...LOL nice work!

you were just kissing RIM's butt :)

Posted by Madeyefergy Friday, Nov 20, 2009 811 days ago

Yes, you are a tool.

Posted by ELvolution Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 811 days ago

I don't understand where the huge problem is with this unit....its a pearl...the compact of the blackberry world. I mean what did you expect here? a touchscreen and no connectivity upgrades from the original?

Obviously its going to keep that "Pearl" appeal..and follow along with the design and functionality of the new generation of BB's.

I think it's been pulled off perfectly.

...Kind of like how they brought back the Dodge Challenger lol

Old school appeal, new school styling....win-win

Kudos to RIM. <--oops was that ass-kissing? lol

Posted by billm85 Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 810 days ago

lol this phone is far from perfect moron - it will still take 7 minutes to boot (which is a HUGE problem).. i dont know about you, but that is just a little annoying (well that is with every blackberry)...any yes i will always think that pearl sucks (they should design a new model instead) - not a lot of people like 2 letters on one key

and your comparison to the dodge charger is beyond stupid...you must not know too much about cars either...but hey, you are doing OK! :)

for the guy who made a comment about being a tool? would you like to elaborate? was it because i dont like the phone that you love so much? WAAAAAAA get over it loser

Posted by taylortbb Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 810 days ago

You may think that two letters on a key is stupid, and I may hate that form factor too, but that doesn't mean there isn't a market for it.

If you want to keep going with the car analogies, I would never buy a pickup truck. This doesn't mean pickup trucks are stupid and should be banned, it just means that I don't like them.

RIM does introduce new things. The first SureType phone was a big change for RIM. The Pearl was too for introducing the trackball. The Storm was the next major change. It's only been a year since the Storm, revolutionary changes happen 18-24 months apart. That's also no reason to not refresh existing models. If you have loyal Pearl owners don't turn them away by refusing to update their phone and instead telling them to get a phone in a new form factor that may not work for them.

Regarding the problems with BB OS. Hardware design and software design are not interchangeable skills. I say this as someone who does software work but could never design new phone hardware. Slowing down the pace of new phones wont speed up the pace of software, they're two different divisions. RIM is working on their OS, this is very clear. But that's no reason to not introduce new phones in the interim.

Posted by xBBGirlx Saturday, Feb 27, 2010 713 days ago

rim afterall, like all others look to appeal to the various markets out there..

Posted by otaku2 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 811 days ago

>> great to see that RIM are bringing them up to date with 3G and wifi and also the trackpad.
The 8120 already has WiFi, so the 9100 is not the first WiFi Pearl.

Posted by mbs Friday, Nov 20, 2009 811 days ago

What, then exactly, were you expecting? A mini-Storm? An all-new form factor? A RIM-labeled iPhone? It's the updated Pearl for crying out loud, not a whole new invention.
You don't like BlackBerry phones? Fine. You're entitled to your opinion (no matter how wrong it is), but just what did you think an updated Pearl would have? What would you have added?

Posted by bogwart Friday, Nov 20, 2009 811 days ago

Some people think they are so cute, don't they?

Posted by nyick Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

My first bb was a Pearl too... Loving the looks of this baby but would be great if there was an all white option... Can imagine everyone rocking out their pearls while dumping they're bold 2 aside...

Posted by Jwolf854 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

My first BB was a 8130 that I loved. Aside from it being a little slow sometimes it was a great phone. I now have a Bold 9000 and depending on the internal specs on this baby, I may drop the Bold for the smaller form factor and really sexy look! These pictures are really impressive. What a nice way to start off my Friday morning!

Posted by falosmic Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Ahhh the Pearl...this is where it all began. All the later models were built off the Pearl 8100. Good to see that it's finally being revamped. Looks awesome !

Posted by pineypl Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

I started with a Sprint Pearl and think the form factor is a winner for carrying a phone. I have a Bold 9000 and really miss the sleek design of the Pearl. Never had a problem with sure-type and custom dictionary. I got as fast on that as I am now with the Bold. Just takes a little practice.

I kind of miss the highlighted number keys from the original Pearl, although the all black keys are quite sexy.

I may downsize when my contract comes up.

Posted by pcwilliams Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

if only it was a world phone, i'd be on that. i have a 8130 now, but i need a world phone & wifi, so i am waiting on the tour2. but if i had to choose between the tour2 & a world 9100?....world 9100, hands down.

Posted by VDub2174 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

It seems like the Pearl has been the starting BB for many people just like myself. I really did like the the form and keyboard layout of the Pearl but the internal memory was too low. If the 9100 has a good amount of memory then I may think of getting it probably as a backup since I have the Tour now.

Posted by skyboxer Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Even though I prefer a full keyboard, I've always thought the pearls were the best looking Blackberries. This one does not disappoint. Looks very thin, and would be comfortable in the pocket, if not the pocketbook.

Posted by google123 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

whats the specs? the screen res needs to be high! high i tell ya! otherwise it will suck! wifi? yay or nay?

Posted by Kaminsky Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

I know what my little sister's next berry is going to be...this pure coolness....

Posted by guppy1967 Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Bud does it have volume controls and convenience keys on the sides? Hard to tell from the photos.

If we are dreaming, i would love a new pearl, or tour/bold with a real keyboard AND touch screen. (has this been done to death in the forums?)

Posted by palmberry Friday, Nov 20, 2009 812 days ago

Sigh. Can blackberry ever diversify. Their phones are so damn boring. Bold Curve Pearl Emerald Nightstick Storm Transmisson, whatever goofy names they come up with, they pretty much all look the same.