BlackBerry Pearl 8120
RIM's sleek-looking BlackBerry Pearl has been given a makeover, re-emerging as the much improved BlackBerry Pearl 8120.
Pros
- Main screen has been reduced of clutter
Cons
- Maps built in aren't that good
Bottom Line
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 updates last year's model in all the right ways and offers more than enough wow without being too flash.
-
Price
$ 659.00 (AUD)
The BlackBerry Pearl was a big hit when it came out towards the end of 2006. Building on the buzz around smartphones that maker RIM had built up with its solid e-mail access devices, the consumer-focused Pearl fulfilled many tech fans' expectations. Some people were disappointed at the mere nod to camera phones with just a 1.3Mp sensor but, in general, the Pearl delighted most who encountered it.
A year on and RIM's sleek-looking BlackBerry Pearl has been given a makeover, with a new purply-blue handset for those who like to ring the changes (a black version is still available). More importantly, our tests prove that the refinements to the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 aren't just cosmetic.
For a start, you now get Wi-Fi as well as GPRS and GPRS/Edge connectivity. In the office, the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 quickly found two or three Wi-Fi networks that we could log on to if we chose.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120's main screen has been reduced of clutter with a selection of five main applications -- Messages, the secondary e-mail in-box setup for this trial, a dual SMS and MMS alert, Calendar and Address Book. Below this is the standard BlackBerry icon which you click on to access the more familiar BlackBerry screen.
As before, it's a breeze to get online and to send and retrieve e-mail. Prompts appear when needed -- and only then. Most helpfully, the BlackBerry Pearl 8120's wireless radio icon now pops up to Manage All Connections. You're asked whether you want to turn on the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Mobile Network or turn on the lot in one go.
For times when you need to get a handle on where you are, the Pearl has Maps built in. While no match for the detailed and more localised WhereIS Maps of the latest BlackBerry Curve, it's nonetheless a useful inclusion for anyone travelling long-distance and needing to get a fix on where they are.
This BlackBerry Pearl 8120 does multimedia far better too: the 2Mp camera (with 5x zoom selectable via the central rollerball navigator and automatic flash) produced some surprisingly good snaps, even in low light. The memory is now expandable too, via microSD card. Slot one in and you'll be able to capture video to it (you still only get 64MB flash memory onboard).
Most Popular
Best Deals on PCWorld
- Mobile PhonesView all »
-
-
HTC One X S720E WHITE 16GB Un...
$427.97 -
Nokia Lumia 820 with 4G - 8GB ...
$298.00 -
Apple iPhone 4 8GB SIM Free / ...
$519.00 -
Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562 An...
$209.00 -
Sony Xperia Z C6603 White
$599.00 -
Sony Xperia go ST27 - Waterpro...
$219.00 -
HTC Windows Phone 8S Smartphon...
$319.73 -
Samsung Galaxy S III i9300 32G...
$469.97 -
Sony Xperia P LT22 16GB Black
$279.00 -
HTC Legend - Unlocked
$210.00 -
Sony Xperia E Dual Smartphone ...
$170.24 -
Samsung C3520 GSM Flip Mobile ...
$89.00 -
Sony Xperia Miro St23i Smartph...
$188.16 -
Samsung Galaxy S III LTE I9305...
$509.00 -
HTC One 32GB 801e (M7) 4G LTE ...
$766.11 -
Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 Whit...
$132.00
-
- TabletsView all »
- HeadphonesView all »
-
-
Audio Technica Audio-Technica ...
$94.49 -
Monster iSport Immersion In-Ea...
$199.00 -
Bose OE2i audio headphones Bla...
$170.00 -
Plantronics Blackwire C435-M M...
$139.31 -
Plantronics Voyager Pro HD - B...
$92.77 -
Audio Technica Audio-Technica ...
$199.00 -
Jabra PRO 930 MS Wireless Head...
$193.58 -
Sennheiser RS180 Headphone
$345.00 -
Klipsch Image ONE (II) Bluetoo...
$349.00 -
Plantronics HW261N SupraPlus B...
$95.18 -
Plantronics Explorer 395 Bluet...
$55.00 -
Sony XBA-2VP Balanced Armature...
$249.95 -
Sennheiser HD280 Pro On-Ear He...
$100.00 -
Shure SE535 Special Edition
$527.19 -
Plantronics HW261N-DA/M Suprap...
$248.98 -
Sennheiser CX300-II Precision ...
$62.99
-
- GamesView all »
-
-
Dell Alienware M14x Laptop
$2299.00 -
Dell Alienware M18x Laptop
$3299.00 -
Dell Alienware M18x Laptop
$3698.99 -
Dell Alienware M17x Laptop
$2199.00 -
Dell Alienware X51 Desktop
$1298.98 -
Dell Alienware M18x Laptop
$4299.00 -
Dell Alienware M14x Laptop
$1498.99 -
Dell Alienware M14x Laptop
$1999.00 -
Dell Alienware Aurora ALX R4 D...
$3498.98 -
Dell Alienware M14x Laptop
$1799.00 -
Dell Alienware Aurora ALX R4 D...
$5998.98 -
Dell Alienware Aurora ALX R4 D...
$4498.99 -
Dell Alienware M17x Laptop
$2798.99 -
Dell Alienware X51 Desktop
$1898.99 -
Dell Alienware X51 Desktop
$1498.98 -
Dell Alienware Aurora R4 Deskt...
$2698.99
-
Resources
Mobile Phones Product FinderFind the product you're looking for with our Mobile Phones search tool.




Be the first to comment.