Shop RadioShack for Great GiftsRIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd. Part number: TOUR9630SILBLKSPT
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Bottom Line:
- Despite the lack of Wi-Fi, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is a feature-rich and well-performing smartphone that will serve Sprint's globe-trotting customers well.
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CNET editors' review
RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint) price range: $149.99 - $649.99
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 07/27/2009
- Released on: 07/12/2009
The good: The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 boasts world-roaming capabilities as well as Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The smartphone features a high-resolution display and an easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard. Sprint offers a number of services for the handset and it also supports BlackBerry App World.
The bad: The BlackBerry Tour doesn't offer Wi-Fi. You can't save downloaded applications to a memory card.
The bottom line: Despite the lack of Wi-Fi, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is a feature-rich and well-performing smartphone that will serve Sprint's globe-trotting customers well.
Editors' note: The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 for Sprint is largely similar to Verizon's version of the smartphone in terms of design and features. For this review, we highlight the different features and performance of the Sprint model. For more details on the device, please read our full review of the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 for Verizon Wireless.
Both Sprint and Verizon Wireless made its customers very happy when they announced the July 12 release of the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630. However, when it came to launch time, Sprint didn't quite deliver on its promise, as customers were met with back-order messages and in-store stock shortages. Though it's not clear how this mess happened in the first place, Sprint has apologized for the delays via Twitter and said additional shipments are on the way and it is working with RIM to meet everyone's needs.
While obviously not the best way to launch a product, the positive side is that the BlackBerry Tour 9630 is worth the wait. We finally received our review unit, and just like Verizon's model, we think the smartphone offers a great combination of a slick but functional design, updated features, and great performance. The phone is a solid upgrade for BlackBerry owners and an excellent choice for Sprint's globe-trotting customers whose needs can't be met by the HTC Snap or the Palm Pre. The Sprint RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is available for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates; at this time, Sprint has not announced a camera-less version of the Tour, like Verizon.
Design
Sprint's BlackBerry Tour is largely similar to Verizon's model in design, with the exception of a couple of minor differences. For example, it has a silver bezel instead of a charcoal gray one. Also, while keeping the partial soft-touch finish on back, the battery cover is completely smooth and doesn't feature a patterned texture like the Verizon Tour, so it feels a bit slick.
Overall, though, we're fans of the Tour's design, especially the full QWERTY keyboard and high-resolution display. Sprint packages the smartphone with a travel charger (but no international adapters like Verizon's), a microUSB cable, a belt holster, a wired stereo headset, a 1GB microSD card, a SIM card, a software CD, and reference material. For more add-ons, please check our cell phone accessories, ringtones, and help page.
Features
Just like Verizon, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 replaces the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition for Sprint, bringing the smartphone up to speed in features while continuing to offer dual-mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities. Dual-mode functionality means the handset supports both CDMA and GSM technology, so domestically, the BlackBerry Tour will use Sprint's CDMA network, but will then automatically detect and switch to the international GSM bands when traveling overseas. In addition, the BlackBerry Tour supports the 2,100MHz UMTS/HSDPA band, so you can even get 3G support while abroad.
You are not limited to using the SIM card that Sprint provided and can swap it out for an international SIM card, but you will need to call Sprint Customer Care first to unlock your phone. Sprint offers voice coverage in 185 countries and data coverage in 150 countries. Before you embark on your trip, however, be sure to check Sprint's international rates, which range from 59 cents to $5.99. You can check rates here (PDF).
The BlackBerry Tour's other phone features include a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, smart dialing, conference calling, speed dial, and text and multimedia messaging. Bluetooth is also onboard with support for mono and stereo Bluetooth headsets, hands-free kits, AV remote, serial port profile, and dial-up networking. To use the smartphone as a modem, you will need to sign up for one of Sprint's Mobile Broadband plans, which start at $59.99 for 5GB per month.
While 3G-capable, the BlackBerry Tour does not have integrated Wi-Fi, nor does Verizon's model. However, Sprint recently announced that it will release a Wi-Fi-enabled model at the beginning of 2010 and will require device manufacturers to include Wi-Fi on all of its future smartphones. While this puts some in the predicament of waiting or just buying the Tour now, we'd say that if you have good Sprint 3G coverage now and Wi-Fi isn't a priority, you'll be fine getting the smarpthone now.
The rest of the Tour's core features--e-mail, operating system, personal information management tools, GPS, media player, and so forth--are the same as Verizon's model; for more details, check out our full review here. Sprint makes a number of its services available to the Tour, including Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, and the Sprint Music Store. There's also access to several social networking applications, including Facebook, Flickr, and MySpace, and you can always get more apps from Sprint's software store or BlackBerry App World. Note that the latter doesn't come preloaded on the device. You'll have to download BlackBerry App World from your mobile Web browser, but it's a simple and fast process. The one downside is that you can't save apps to a media card, only the phone's main memory.
Performance
We tested the dual-mode (CDMA 800/1900; GSM 850/900/1800/1900; UMTS/HSDPA 2100) RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 in San Francisco using Sprint service and call quality was excellent. On our end, conversations sounded clear with very little to no background noise, and we had no problems using an airline's voice-automated response system. Friends seemed even more impressed with the phone's call quality, noting that it sounded like we were calling from a landline. They also had high praises for the speakerphone, as did we, though we thought the sound was just slightly lopsided given that the speaker is located on the left spine of the phone.
We paired the BlackBerry Tour with the Samsung WEP350 Bluetooth headset and the Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones. Using the smartphone's 3.5mm headphone jack, we plugged in our Bose On-Ear headphones and enjoyed rich-sounding music tracks.
Video playback was also good. We watched a couple of MPEG-4 clips, and audio and images were both synchronized. We were also impressed with the quality of Sprint TV, as playback was smooth with minimal choppiness, unlike some other of Sprint's smartphones. The Tour's 3.2-megapixel camera had decent picture quality. Images were clear, but we just wish that colors were slightly brighter.
Sprint's EV-DO Rev. A network delivered good data coverage during our test period here in San Francisco. While the BlackBerry Tour's browser leaves much to be desired, CNET's full site loaded in 55 seconds, while CNN and ESPN's mobile site came up in at 5 seconds and 9 seconds, respectively. The smartphone's GPS/A-GPS was also quite reliable and accurate. The Tour consistently came up with location, though not to the exact point, within a couple of minutes or less, both on BlackBerry Maps and Sprint Navigation. We also used the latter to get voice-guided directions from the Marina District of the city to CNET's downtown headquarters. The app returned with an accurate route and we were satisfied with the text-to-speech instructions and traffic data as well as the business searches.
The RIM BlackBerry Tour features a 1,400mAh lithium ion battery and has a rated talk time of 5 hours. The Tour beat the rated talk time by an hour in our battery drain tests. According to FCC radiation tests, the smartphone has a digital SAR rating of 1.43 watts/kilogram. The Tour has a Hearing Aid Compatible rating of M3.
User reviews
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Awesome!! If you're on Sprint, order it today.
by derailed33 on July 22, 2009
Pros: Keyboard, multitasking, SCREEN is AWESOME (The 8830 looks like "Pong" compared to this), Camera w/ image stablization
Cons: Can't seem to listen to music using included headphone set (maybe a Pandora issue?). Some odd character sizes in emails...not sure what that's about. I know they needed to save space...but did they have to go to a micro USB charger?
Summary: If you're on Sprint... It's a HUGE upgrade, and you should go buy it immediately. Skipt the Pre...it's a toy... This is a powerful phone that ...
Summary: If you're on Sprint... It's a HUGE upgrade, and you should go buy it immediately. Skipt the Pre...it's a toy... This is a powerful phone that can deal with both work and play. Get it!!!
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nice phone, but too many problems initially.
by larrymcj1 on August 10, 2009
Pros: New OS, fabulous display, form factor, keyboard
Cons: Horrible sounding call quallity (to called party), very short battery life, takes an inordinant amount of time to reset, and has to be reset too often.
Summary: I've been a BlackBerry user since the first one came out...I love BBs. When the new Tour came out I was standing in line to get one, but ...
Summary: I've been a BlackBerry user since the first one came out...I love BBs. When the new Tour came out I was standing in line to get one, but a week later I was also standing in line to return it...literally! I in a line of five people and four of us were there returning the Tour.
Along the same call quality line, if you use the Tour with any Bluetooth device, including a hands-free system in a car, the person you're talking with simply can't hear you.
Many other issues involving poor build quality, trackballs that won't scroll from right to left, loose battery cover, but I could live with them. That I couldn't be heard by people I was calling was a showstopper for me.
Perhaps an updated OS and next manufacturing run on the hardware will fix these problems and I'll try it again. For now it's back to my old trusty Curve.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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BEST BLACKBERRY YET. PERIOD.
by theshepherd1 on July 30, 2009
Pros: Great look, great keyboard, Sprint's network is awesome, just all around a great phone!
Cons: No Wi-Fi, I never use it, but it's nice to say that the phone has it for if you ever do really need it. Call quality not always the best.
Summary: I've owned Sprint's BlackBerry Tour for about a week now and I can honestly say that this is the best BlackBerry on the market today. I've owned ...
Summary: I've owned Sprint's BlackBerry Tour for about a week now and I can honestly say that this is the best BlackBerry on the market today. I've owned the 8100, 8120, 8220, 8800, 8900, and now the 9630 Tour. The browser shows some slight improvements over previous versions which is really nice. I really like this keyboard -- The keyboard is one thing I did not like on any of the Curves. It feels much more comfortable to hold in your hand and isn't as clicky. Also, the screen is absolutely fantastic. There are just so many great things about this phone. Please don't let the few bad experiences you've heard from people turn you away. If you like BlackBerries, buy it.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Browser is down, not working, sprint and BB are aware
by vegga22 on July 24, 2009
Pros: Screen is nice, camera takes great pictures for a phone, and video recording.
Cons: Web broswer is not working and sprint and RIM has no idea why, because of this I can't access my work emails, apps store, sprint store, etc.
Summary: I had to re-order another BB tour from sprint and send back the originial due to the browser having MAJOR!!!! issues. Between the two phones I have spent over 4hrs ...
Summary: I had to re-order another BB tour from sprint and send back the originial due to the browser having MAJOR!!!! issues. Between the two phones I have spent over 4hrs on the phone with sprint (who by the way were all patient in trying to help me solve the issue.) According to several representatives I spoke to, Black Berry is fully aware of the issue and are trying to fix it but it's been 10 days and I can't wait no more. I have NO internet, NO GPS, not able to download apps, all due the browser not working. The tour seems like a rush and the R&D department didn't spent enough time on their due diligence. This is my first BB and i'm HIGHLY disappointed on BB and it's browser isssues. To all those shopping for a new phone and are thinking about buying this phone CALL sprint first and ask a representative if they have fixed the browser issue with this phone before purchasing, it's a nightmare to be on the phone with someone from a company who doesn't know how to solve this problem. We in corporate america are very busy and this is just unacceptable. I hope this helps.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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New to Blackberry and I don't plan on leaving!
by cameronsutor on July 19, 2009
Pros: -The BB OS is very quick
-3G
-great email support
-3.2 MP w/auto focus
-screen is the same that's on the 8900 (T-Mobile). It's great!
-256mb of RAM
-keyboard
-call quality is great
-world phone (ships w/SIM)
-true multitaskingCons: -no WiFi
-if you're coming from a phone that's not a BB, the OS will take some getting used to.Summary: WiFi wasn't a deal breaker for me because personally I don't think it's neccessary. If you have coverage, then 3G is enough. If you need to use ...
Summary: WiFi wasn't a deal breaker for me because personally I don't think it's neccessary. If you have coverage, then 3G is enough. If you need to use WiFi at places for work reasons, then buy a laptop and stick with a regular phone. I actually enjoy typing a text message or email on this thing. The keyboard is similar to the Bold (AT&T), just a little smaller. Blackberries aren't just for corporate business people anymore, it's something that everyone can use.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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new blackberry tour, sleek phone
Pros: i just upgraded from a handy dandy (AND EXTREMEMLY STURDY samsung clam-shell phone). right out of the box i really enjoy the feature rich environment.
Cons: not the most intuitive menu's/options. it'll take a bit of a learning curve but im sure i'll eventually get used to it.
no wifi (really, come on...)
no downloadable ring tones (... not a big deal, but yeash... EVERY phone has this now)Summary: I've had the phone for about 5 hours today. Thus far, its been a very enjoyable experience, and def worth the wait of seven thousand years before i upgraded. ...
Summary: I've had the phone for about 5 hours today. Thus far, its been a very enjoyable experience, and def worth the wait of seven thousand years before i upgraded. I chose this over the palm pre (unfortunately the pre just doesnt 'feel' solid, and the keys are pretty small for my pudgy fingers). Despite the obvious learning curve involved with the phone i've caught on pretty quick. now - in all honesty, the keys on the blackberry arent all that much more roomier than the pre...
all in all, i def LOVE the upgrade and would recommend this phone to anyone...
note - it came with a case. this is my first blackberry, so i dont know if they've always done this - but this is a nice touch :)
N.B. sprint adds on an 18 dollar 'upgrade' fee when you sign a new 2 year contract. argue that out with them... i think its somewhat rediculous1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The best BB I have used and a great upgrade for Sprint!
by jayazi on July 28, 2009
Pros: Screen, keyboard, camera, media features are all great on this phone.
Cons: Browser is so-so (I downloaded Opera Mini 4.2 and it works great) and the 2.5 screen is a little small for web viewing.
Summary: I have been using my 8830 for the past couple of years and decided it was time to upgrade to the Tour. The Tour is a much nicer phone all ...
Summary: I have been using my 8830 for the past couple of years and decided it was time to upgrade to the Tour. The Tour is a much nicer phone all around and I have had no issues with it whatsoever. Setup was easy with Sprint and it was also a breeze to get it synced up with my iMac via Mark Space Missing Sync software. The keyboard is great which was a big selling point for me since I use it constantly for my business. I would definitely recommend this phone and think it is the best blackberry out there.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I'm sold, I'm a blackberry forever!
by MRoseberry on July 19, 2009
Pros: Processing Speed, communications (email, text, mms, etc.....)
Vibrant Screen (much better than my 8330)
Navigation, music store, documents to go!Cons: Keyboard seems more compact and more difficult to type on than my curve.
Summary: As a previous disciple of windows mobile phones the blackberry just out performs in every aspect!
Summary: As a previous disciple of windows mobile phones the blackberry just out performs in every aspect!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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My Honest Review
by makeupdiva212 on August 3, 2009
Pros: Great mutiltasking features, email, camera
Cons: call issues, browser sucks/doesn't always work or too slow, text messages don't always go through/received late, call quality sucks/ calls always drop even in high service areas!
Summary: I held off on my upgrade for this phone! I loved all of the features, but i don't know if it's because Verizon also has the tour & ...
Summary: I held off on my upgrade for this phone! I loved all of the features, but i don't know if it's because Verizon also has the tour & has more towers, but i ALWAYS everyday get a message saying your Verizon account is temporarily disconnected & I'm on Sprint! It's annoying. Also, lots of texts don't go through or i receive mine late. Don't get me wrong this is a great phone for email and business usage, but i think the browser is terrible! Most of the sites i go on that are content rich won't even load or the pictures wont load. If you need a phone with great email, calender, call log history, then this is it, but honestly if you like to surf the net alot this is not the phone. I run my own business and can't stand that when i need to make a call immediately that it doesn't go through or drops! I have traveled all over the Nyc with this phone and have yet to have all full bars for more than a few seconds! To me, the palm may have been a better choice. I will be switching and waiting for the second generation version of the Tour
I should"ve gave it 2 stars....
Updated on Aug 3, 20091 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Garbage.... the sound is WORTHLESS...
by gnc737 on December 6, 2009
Pros: I like the blackberry functions, email, etc....
Cons: the sound is HORRIBLE... sounds like youre trying to listen through a tin can filled with water. Unacceptable.
Summary: if I could trade this in for a new phone, I would. I've had 4 of these phones now and have traded them in for warranty as unacceptable sound. ...
Summary: if I could trade this in for a new phone, I would. I've had 4 of these phones now and have traded them in for warranty as unacceptable sound. Only one has worked as well as I would like and it was stolen. Oh well
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
- Part number: TOUR9630SILBLKSPT
- Description: Connect, browse, stream, download and more on global networks with 3G reliability. The BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone helps you stay in touch from almost anywhere in the world. A full-featured global smartphone including voice dialing, conference calling and a built-in speakerphone, it can travel along with you to most of the world on 3G networks. Going out with your BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone doesn't mean leaving your entertainment behind. With 256 MB of on-board memory and a built-in media player to play your songs and videos, you'll be entertained and informed from almost anywhere life takes you. Watch videos while you're on the train, play that energetic song when out for a run, or just share pictures and memories with friends over a cup of coffee. The BlackBerry Tour 9630 features a slim design that smartly goes with you wherever you are. Lightweight and sleek, the BlackBerry Tour 9630 ensures that sending messages, answering a phone call, browsing the web or simply holding it in your hand is a comfortable experience.
General
- Product Type BlackBerry With digital camera / digital player
- Service Provider Sprint Nextel
- Width 2.4 in
- Depth 0.6 in
- Height 4.4 in
- Weight 4.6 oz
Cellular
- Technology CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS)
- Band WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / CDMA2000 1X 1900/800
- Phone Design Candy bar
- Vibrating Alert Yes
- Phone Navigation Buttons Trackball
- Wireless Interface Bluetooth 2.0
Communicator Features
- Operating System BlackBerry Handheld Software
Messaging & Data Services
- Messaging Services Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger Service (AIM), Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger)
- Mobile Email Yes
- GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Yes
- EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates For Global Evolution) Yes
- Internet Browser Yes
- EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) Yes
Digital Camera
- Camera highlights With a resolution of 3.2 megapixels, this model will give you higher quality pictures than other phones.
- Sensor Resolution 3.2 megapixels
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Digital Zoom 2
- Camera Light Source Flash
- Features Video recording
GPS System
- GPS Navigation GPS receiver
Display
- Type LCD display
- Technology TFT
- Display Resolution 480 x 360 pixels
- Color Depth 16-bit (65000 colors)
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Supported Digital Audio Standards MP3, MIDI
Memory
- Flash Memory 256 MB
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headset jack
- Slot Provided 1
Power
- Type Power adapter
Battery
- Technology - Lithium ion
- Capacity 1400 mAh
- Talk Time 300 min
- Standby Time 336 h
Product series
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RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
Specs: WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / CDMA2000 1X 1900/800, 300 min, With digital camera / digital player, 4.6 oz
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