The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the premiere device in RIM’s latest fleet of BlackBerry 7 smartphones. At the time of this article, the device has already been extensively reviewed, including specification breakdowns, head-to-head comparisons with other platforms (informed or not) and exhaustive descriptions of every minute detail. I would love to be able to say that I am going to give you a completely objective, unbiased review, but I freely admit that my love for the BlackBerry platform will colour my opinions a bit.

Initial Impressions

The device is slim, sleek, and sexy, immediately out of the box. It feels comfortable in the hand, and the weight difference between it and my usual daily (9800) is very noticeable. The screen resolution is a nice step up from what I have enjoyed in the past, making things really pop on the display. One very pleasant surprise for me, oddly enough, was as mundane as the new style of battery door, incorporated in the design. No more clasps or buttons to fumble with (the Storm was god-awful with it’s dual spring-loaded clips) and no slide off door (the 9800 causes me frequent hassles). Set flush with the rest of the back of the device, a small amount of lift applied at the bottom slot pops it right out. The glassy look of it with the BlackBerry logo actually built right in is sharp, and knowing that I won’t lose bits of the logo over time (owned three 8900s and not a single one has the logo intact) is a nice touch. I can’t say that I’m very keen on the “carbon fibre” look, but it does go well with the overall design. The device feels solid and well built overall.

Hardware

As far as the guts of the device go, I ignore them. Yes, it’s got a faster processor and more RAM, but really, what point is there to me attempting to review them? Um, they’re shiny? They work? Never mind that, the hardware that really matters to me with any device is situated on the outside of the device, and it’s things that I use constantly.

The keyboard is phenomenal. I have never used a better keyboard, with just enough resistance that I know I’m making a keystroke, but soft enough that banging out a long email is a breeze. The slightly wider form factor borrowed from the original Bold 9000 gives me just enough space on the keyboard that it doesn’t feel cramped, even with my big mitts. I actually found myself finding excuses to use it, BBMing contacts and writing out emails on it just so I could bang out paragraphs with ease.

The exterior buttons are easily accessible, and one favourite feature is the revamped top of the device, featuring a single dedicated lock button. I have never used the mute button on any device, and the dedicated media keys on my 8530 have gone completely ignored, but I always lock my device when it isn’t in hand. The positioning of the button is perfect, easily used when holding the device with one hand, as it should be.

I found the speakers on the device quite disappointing, giving excellent sound quality, but not near enough volume. Given the high volume level of the 9700 and 9800, I had expected more from RIM. I could no longer start my music, set my device on the counter, and putter around the kitchen listening to my favourite tunes, instead having to keep the device close at all times. Inconvenient and clumsy, and still hard to hear at times when placed in the holster.

The screen, while it may not be up to the standards of some other manufacturers (see: Apple, retina display) is crisp, and as a touchscreen, flawless. RIM has at least put the Storm’s clunky touch navigation behind them, creating a proper touch interface that feels true and smooth.

The Peripherals

The device comes equipped with the standard suite of add-ons, including GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth. These all functioned as they should, providing me with no issues, and no inconsistencies. Also included is the built in NFC capabilities, although I could not do anything with that particular technology at this time.

The actual phone function of the device performed well, with excellent call quality and no complaints from the person on the receiving end. Given that I make approximately 10 phone calls a month, this is not a huge feature for me, but even those making heavy use of the device as an actual phone would have zero issues. Again, the issue with the speaker volume hampers the use of it as a speakerphone.

OS

The OS feels more like a OS 6 refresh, not providing any real noticeable changes. While RIM has incorporated a few nice UI tweaks, like the ability to do away with the trays, most of the core functions were already present in the previous generation of the OS, so no earth-shattering differences here.

Overall

RIM read my mind with this device, with only a couple notable exceptions. The device is a pleasure to look at, and built perfectly for my wants and needs. Through heavy use, the device never let me down with lag, even while doing some serious multitasking. I could use the keyboard all day long without a complaint, and the screen resolution upgrade really does make for a very pleasant experience overall to use. I found that the battery would typically last me about 12 hours with some heavy usage, and while that isn’t on par with the insane battery life I enjoyed on the 9700, it beats the tar out of devices like the 9800, which might get me through 10 hours with only moderate usage.

While not entirely perfect, the 9900 comes closer than any BlackBerry I have used to date. If you already are a fan of the BlackBerry platform, I highly recommend it as your next device. If you aren’t yet, try it out. You may find yourself becoming a fan in spite of yourself after using it for a bit. I’m a firm believer in “to each his own” when it comes to mobile tech, but this device has a lot to love about it, making it a serious contender in the smartphone market.