We'll be following up shortly with our full BlackBerry Style 9670 review, but in the meantime figured we'd throw up our initial hands-on video impressions to ease the wait for all the flip phone lovers out there. The BlackBerry Style will be available from Sprint starting this halloween, October 31st for $99.99 on a 2 year contract (see announcement). It's an attractive price for what really is a solid little BlackBerry. If you're a fan of flip phones, you'll definitely want to head into a Sprint store and put yours hands on one. I'm not sure photos or even video quite do the Style justice.
To be honest, my expectations for the BlackBerry Style were set pretty low. The pre-release photos that leaked out onto the net didn't show off the 9670 in the best of light, and heck, we even ran a poll on CrackBerry here asking readers whether the Style was Hot or Not, and a full 81% of respondents said Not and that RIM should just skip the 9670 and move on to the next device. Ouch. Painful. But after using the Style I can definitely see why Sprint wanted this phone and why RIM built it. With 512MB flash memory, BlackBerry 6, 5 megapixel camera and a decently sized screen, the Style has solid specs and serves up pretty snappy performance. There is a big user base of people out there who simply love the flip phone form factor and who want a full physical keyboard. The BlackBerry Style fills that void. Check out the video above to see the Royal Purple BlackBerry Style in action, and stay tuned for the full review!
Reader comments
BlackBerry Style Hands-On Video Impressions!
Sweet!
I want one, it looks so cute
I tried the phone at a Sprint store on Sunday. Snappy performance and nice resolution on the screen. big improvement over my Tour. (Yea still rocking the Tour)
My upgrade for Sprint is now due. I really would like to pick up a new BB, but don't want to buy the current Bold as it's been out for over a year now.
I am bummed to see Sprint brought this phone as a new Bold would have been my choice.
Just can't get past this phone being a flip. Not a big fan of flip phones.
And that's a real bummer because this phone is nice and speedy. Nice performance and the OS 6 is very nice.
Guess I am going to wait for the next BB on Sprint. Hope I don't have to wait too long.
i need this app as i suffer from SOMETIMERS and CRS (cant remember sh..
also cant figure out how to pay with paypal. help me out and give me a reminder
I think this device is going to suffer the same fate of the BB Pearl Flip. Utter and total failure.
I think I'll take that bet. This is not the BB Pearl flip. This phone was designed for flip phone devotees (they exist in the tens of millions) and a lot of those folks don't find the traditional BB calculator form appealing.
I see a shelf life similar to the Tour. I don't know why they reinvented the wheel, but this time made it more triangular, and with the spokes on the outside.
If I were on the Sprint network I would deff get the style in purple. I love flip phones and almost didn't get my first bb (8320) years ago because I didn't want to loose the flip factor :) I have obviously revised that view since I am on my 3rd bb (9800) but yeah, maybe AT&T will get a bb flip next year or so. I love bb6 and would love to see a BlackBerry flip phone with bb6 AND touchscreen. A torch/style hybrid lol anywho that's my 2 cents, lovin my Torch!!!
I really like what I saw here in the video but I still have to get it in my hands first before I have a real opinion about it. I hate touchscreen and I always carry my BB Curve in my front pocket. I held and cruised through a friend's BB Torch a couple of weeks ago and I'll admit it was cool. Again, I hate touchscreen. I'm with Sprint so we'll see on 10/31...
i'm pissed off that my torch 9800 doesn't have the charging sensors for a charging dock! the micro USB charging dock for the torch is almost useless. I will probably still buy one but would much prefer the sensors.
Ditto
I love the style , first off its leaps and bounds above the 8220 wich was my first blackberry. And as a girl i love ,love , love the shinny purple. Wish my Torch had come in the shinny purple. I wonder what carrier will have it in Canada and when it will be coming available.? In in the US right now until Nov 1st, should i pick one up without contract even though i already have the Torch, I probably wont,lol. But it is a real nice phone much better than i expected. Big wish that the Torch had come in the royal purple though , its so shinny.
I understand that RIM needs to reach other markets but they also need to satisfy us Blackberry addicts! I need to see a revamped Bold 9000. I love my 9700 but the size and possible capabilities of an upgraded 9000 would be like a dream come true.
...still flashed by the latest PlayBook stuff?? :p
guess ur already BURNING for a certain PlayBook Hands-on...hope it won't take u toooo long to get one in ur hands...watch ur heartline man^^
And the screen would be on opposite sides of the phone while its closed so uhh... Who cares?
Begin waiting. I'm a lover of BB flips, and this one take the cake. Hope other carriers will have it too, not a fan of Sprint.
Hey Kevin, can you take photos when the phone is folded close? Will the image show on the outer small screen? Or do you need to open up the phone to take picture?
I would like to know the strength of the flip mechanism. I remember sending in for repair the old Motorola i90 phones because people were so brutal to them when flipping them open. I remember my boss flipping it open in the air, not even using his hands, and then one day he handed it to me and the top part was just hanging by a cord. My old Razr V3XX was like that too. After awhile and a ton of abuse it didn't last.
Can you increase the font size for the external screen? how about the font size in the main screen? or change both screen use the same font size? thanks.
Play with and throw around, not a phone you bring in any Corp setting. Very ugly and a shame this is the second offical 6.0 phone.
i wish they would make one for GSM
This phone will definitely have a market. It would be perfect for my wife (if VZW gets it).
Other pluses......no need for a screen protector. No butt dialing. etc......
I like it, though it's not for me.
Video chat next then :)
Does the camera placement mean video chat? That would be awesome!!!
we will like to say that the model in flip havent been so picked by mobile users but u never know blackberry must have gven a lot thought on this.
I definitely think this Berry will find it's niche that's for sure. When's the "unlocked version" give-away because I'd have no problem rocking the gray version! LOL.
I like the way it uses the buttons on the side to flip through the menus on the external screen. I'm really glad they didn't go touchy feely on that... whats the point of a flip if yer just goin to be touching that crap all over your pockets
Very nicely done RIM.. you really should have showed that feature off more!!!
the two tones looks great. get something in some blue or something and hey i might even get one. I'm kinda over the conservative black or white.
I think the camera placement was actually a smart thing to do if one can use the external screen to take photos.
one trend im not particularly fond of but can still live with is the flatter keyboards. Is this due to the phone being covered by the lid/slider forms? because I actually quite like how the keyboards on the 9700, 9000 are lifted up a bit. you can actually feel your way around better. But hey thats just me, just like how people think flips are so 2005 ;)
I would love to try one out. I think that it will be a good device and at $99, the price is definitely right. There's a lot of BlackBerry goodness in that phone.
any chance of it coming out in the gsm version?
I assume the camera was placed there to be able to take photos with the phone closed and just using the external screen.
I have to say the external display showing the notifications is really cool
Good vid covered the basics. Stoked to get mine It is launching first in the steel gray (black) color. Im sure some ladies may like the purple heck maybey even a few fellas lol but not me. Anyway this could make what some are calling an "old" form factor New again. Hey I keep saying the Lotus was & is popular and this baby is packed with way more and good reviews are coming in for it. Unless you really hate a flip Id say pick one up.
God. This phone is awful-looking. Anyone who wants this should totally get it for free.
I like it, it's not for me, but that the thing...it's not for ME! I think the ladies are gonna love this rather she's a CEO or a cheerleader. Some guys will too. Haters always saying that "all BB are the same" well here you go, it's different, and with the color, it has a lot of Style,lol.
The steel gray (black) color really does look better though. More professional of course too for those business users, but some will like the purple which launches a bit later.
Oh and of course that is your opinion.
This thing is ugly.
Lol because you dont like flips!! Im really believing that's the reason for all the haters well alot of people will like and buy this device.
Good review. It's much better than I expected.
I'd be more than happy to take care of it for you with a case covering all that noisy nonsense :)
I kinda want one but I also want to wait and see what kind of qnx trick rim has up is sleave! Lol Kevin you need to do another video with the chrome/gunmetal 9670 por favor Seniór
Theres another vid overview at phonescoop.com in the steel gray color can't wait to get mine if im liking what I see should love it in person!! I may have to do a review.
I'm going to check it out now! ***Okay check it out and man I really like this device but I think the screen is actually smaller and not bigger like I had hoped. Anyway here is the link to the phonescoope.com review (for mobile viewing) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAvSaFjGUMQ
Not review lol. Full review coming soon they say
"Official" unboxing video?