BlackBerry Pearl 8100

The Rise and Fall of the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 - A Look Back at One of BlackBerry's Most Iconic Devices

In 2006, BlackBerry made a bold move with the release of the BlackBerry Pearl 8100. With its sleek design, QWERTY keyboard, and productivity-focused features, the Pearl quickly became one of the most popular smartphones of its time.

But now, 15 years later, the Pearl has been discontinued, leaving many nostalgic for its heyday. So, let's take a trip down memory lane and explore what made the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 such a revolutionary device.

Design and Operating System

At the time of its launch, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 was a game changer in terms of design. It was sleek, compact, and had a unique pearl-like trackball for navigation. This little ball allowed for easy scrolling and cursor control, making it a favorite among business professionals.

But behind its stylish exterior was a powerful 32-bit Intel XScale PXA272 312 MHz CPU and 64MB of internal memory. It ran on BlackBerry OS, which was known for its robust security features and efficient email system.

Display and Body

The Pearl 8100 boasted a 2.2-inch 65K color display with a resolution of 240 x 260 pixels. While these specs may seem outdated now, they were top-of-the-line back then. The display was perfect for browsing emails, checking appointments, and even viewing wallpapers.

In terms of body, the Pearl 8100 measured 107 x 50 x 14.5 mm and weighed just 89.5g. Its compact size and light weight made it easy to carry around, making it a popular choice for professionals on-the-go. It also featured a QWERTY keyboard, which was a must-have for BlackBerry users at the time.

Camera and Battery

The Pearl 8100 may not have had the best camera specs, with just a 1.3 MP single rear camera and no front camera for selfies. However, it did come with a LED flash, which was a rare feature for smartphones back then.

The device also had a removable Li-Ion 900 mAh battery that allowed for up to 360 hours of standby time and up to 3 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. This was impressive for a smartphone at the time and made it a reliable choice for business professionals who were constantly on their phones.

Cellphone Network and Sound

The BlackBerry Pearl 8100 was a GSM device, which meant it could be used on most networks around the world. It also had GPRS and EDGE technology, allowing for faster internet browsing and data transfer.

In terms of sound, the Pearl 8100 had a loudspeaker and support for vibration and downloadable ringtones. However, it did not have a 3.5mm headphone jack, which may have been disappointing for music lovers.

Communications and Features

The Pearl 8100 did not have advanced features like Wi-Fi or GPS, but it did offer Bluetooth 2.0 for easy file sharing and connecting to other devices. It also had a document viewer for Microsoft Office files, a media player, and a SureType keyboard software for faster typing.

Miscellaneous

The BlackBerry Pearl 8100 was available in three colors - black, white, and red. It had a price of around 200 EUR, making it an affordable option for many professionals.

The End of an Era

The BlackBerry Pearl 8100 may not have had the same success as other smartphones of its time, but it was a groundbreaking device for BlackBerry and left a lasting impression on the mobile industry. Its productivity-focused features, compact design, and reliable performance made it a favorite among business professionals and paved the way for future BlackBerry devices.

However, with the rise of touchscreen smartphones and the decline of BlackBerry's market share, the Pearl 8100 was eventually discontinued. But for those who used and admired this iconic device, it will always hold a special place in their hearts as a symbol of a simpler time in the mobile world.

Latest BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Specs and Prices

LAUNCH

• Announced:  2006, September
• Status:  Discontinued

PLATFORM

• Operating System:  BlackBerry OS
• CPU:  32-bit Intel XScale PXA272 312 MHz

MEMORY

• Card slot:  microSD (dedicated slot)
• Internal:  64MB

DISPLAY

• Type:  65K colors
• Size:  2.2 inches, 15.6 cm2 (~29.1% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution:  240 x 260 pixels (~161 ppi density) - Wallpapers

BODY

• Dimensions:  107 x 50 x 14.5 mm (4.21 x 1.97 x 0.57 in)
• Weight:  89.5 g (3.14 oz)
• Keyboard:  QWERTY
• SIM:  Mini-SIM

MAIN CAMERA

• Single:  1.3 MP
• Features:  LED flash
• Video:  No

SELFIE CAMERA

• -:  No

BATTERY

• Type:  Removable Li-Ion 900 mAh battery
• Stand by:  Up to 360 h
• Talk time:  Up to 3 h 30 min

CELLPHONE NETWORK

• Technology:  GSM
• 2G bands:  GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• Gprs:  Yes
• Edge:  Yes

SOUND

• Loudspeaker :  Yes
• Alert types:  Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
• 3.5mm jack :  No

COMMUNICATIONS

• WLAN:  No
• Bluetooth:  2.0
• Positioning:  No
• Radio:  No
• USB:  Proprietary

FEATURES

• Sensors:  -
• Browser:  HTML - Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) Media player SureType keyboard software Organizer

MISCELLANEOUS

• Colors:  Black, White, Red
• Price:  About 200 EUR

Disclaimer: Specifications shown may be different from the actual product. We cannot guarantee that the information provided on this page is 100% correct. This content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice.