Sprint BlackBerry Comparison - 8830, 8130, 8330

It is not uncommon to see threads from members at BlackBerryForums asking “Which device should I get?”. For the first-time BlackBerry user, this is a very logical question, as the last thing you want is to get ‘stuck’ with a device you don’t like. While many carriers have a ‘trial’ period during which you can test drive a potential new device, it’s a bit of a pain in the rear to go through the returns process for something you simply dislike (better than being stuck with it, but still an inconvenience).

I don’t know everything about BlackBerry devices, but I have been using and supporting these little addictive pieces of plastic for several years - I know just enough to be very dangerous. Lately, I have been using three different devices – the Sprint 8830 World Edition, the Sprint 8130 Pearl, and now the Sprint 8330 Curve. Since I’ve had the opportunity to use them each side by side, I wanted to share my experiences in order to assist others’ decision-making process.

I started using the BlackBerry 8830 almost a year ago when they were first released. This was my first trackball device and my initial reaction was, “WOW!” When the BlackBerry Pearl was launched in 2006, I remember thinking “Nobody will ever like that stupid trackball thingie,” but I couldn’t have been more wrong with that thought. The BlackBerry Pearl (8130) was launched a few months after the World Edition device.  Ooohh - a camera *AND* a video recorder! Plus I was back to using a SureType keyboard, which I really like.  This one was used for personal use only, as I wanted a clear separation of personal “stuff” from my work device. A few weeks ago, I started using the BlackBerry Curve (8330), which replaced the Pearl. As many who have come before me, I think I have found the perfect device for me.

So what’s different with them all, you ask? And even though it won’t even buy one fume of gas these days, here is my two cents.

Where you can use them

The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition is just that – a ‘World’ edition. It uses CDMA in North America, but uses GSM around the rest of the world (courtesy of the SIM card from Vodafone). However, if you plan to use it outside the United States a lot, you may also wish to change your data plan to the unlimited $69.99 data plan to avoid paying per kilobyte. The other two devices cannot be used outside North America, so if you travel to Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East, or Down Under (or space, perhaps?), then don’t tease yourself by reading the rest of this article (just kidding – keep going).

Size and Feel

The BlackBerry 8830 is the largest device. The Curve is a little smaller and the Pearl follows as the baby of the bunch. They are all much thinner than devices I’ve used in the past, such as the now-ancient 7520, so I love that about all of them. While I can type like a fiend on the Pearl’s SureType keyboard, there are times I prefer the larger keyboard and screen of the 8830 and Curve models.  For example, when I’m browsing and want a larger screen for viewing webpages.

Regarding the ‘feel’ of the devices, the BlackBerry 8830 and Pearl are both pretty slippery, leading to more than a few drops for both (on the carpet only, I swear). The Curve, however, has a coating around the sides that has a smooth rubbery feel, thus allowing for a grip now found with the other two devices.

Keyboards

You already know the Pearl has the SureType keyboard while the other two have full keyboards.  I’m used to SureType devices having the keys right next to each other, with no space between.  However, the 8830 also has this…zero space between the keys.  Having used other full-keyboard devices, the way the keys are mashed together was a little hard to get used to.   I love that the Curve went back to having just a wee bit ‘o space between the keys – it makes it so much easier to type being able to tell where one key ends and another begins.

Another thing I like about the Curve keyboard are the Cap keys.  They are larger than on the 8830, so they fill out the keyboard nicely (instead of leaving ‘dead’ space on the bottom row of the keyboard. 

Screen

This one is almost a dead heat with all three devices having very clear, high resolution screens. I had a taste when the 7100i and 7130e devices were released, but these new LCDs are so much better. The only difference here being the size – the BlackBerry 8830 and Curve have the same size screen, while the Pearl is slightly slimmer in width and larger in height.

Media Card Support

Each device can support fairly large microSD media cards – the 8830 currently supports 4G while the other two devices support 8G. I bought a 4G media card when I got the Pearl… and although I have a zillion pictures, a few dozen videos and ringtones, and over one hundred songs, I still have 3.2GB free! The location of the media card slot in each device varies - some more accessible than others. The Pearl’s slot is on the left side (above the Convenience Key); the 8830 finds it located above the battery compartment; and the Curve requires a lift of the battery. The Pearl is the only one that does not require a battery pull, which is a far superior feature of accessibility and functionality.

Camera

The BlackBerry 8830 doesn’t have a camera, so we’ll let it sit on the sidelines for a moment to gather some elderly dust. As for the other two devices, the Curve definitely comes out ahead. Both the Pearl and Curve have a 2.0MP camera, but something with the Curve seems to take much nicer picture… darn near digital camera quality. The larger screen provides better vision for your surroundings, in addition to allowing ‘full screen’ mode for the image capture.

Browser

All three devices have the luxury of EV-DO speeds, which allows webpages to load much quicker than their EDGE siblings. One thing I did notice within OS 4.3 found the Pearl and Curve devices is that they no longer have a status bar at the top of the webpages. To tell you the truth, I really miss having that status bar at the top since I spend a lot of time using the browser and often want to know the time or battery life or signal strength while browsing webpages.

Overall

Having used all of the current CDMA devices from RIM on the market, I would definitely go with the Curve if I were to walk into a store to make a purchase. The other two are great devices and fill the needs and wants of certain people, however the Curve simply appeals to both consumers and business people.

To wrap this up, if you are looking to purchase a new BlackBerry, be sure to do your homework. Ensure coverage. Make a list of what is important to you with your new device (GPS, camera, keyboard, etc). Once you have those needs, go take one for a spin in a retail store and then make the best educated decision on what’s right for YOU.

Written by BlackBerryForums.com Moderator Juwaack68