X

RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint) photos

CNET takes a look at Sprint's version of the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630.

Bonnie Cha
Bonnie Cha was a former chief correspondent for CNET Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.
Bonnie Cha
336862302440FT.jpg
1 of 10 James Martin/CNET

RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint)

Despite a rocky launch, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 for Sprint is available now for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates.
2 of 10 James Martin/CNET

World phone

The BlackBerry Tour 9630 will replace the RIM BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, bringing the smartphone up to speed with an updated operating system and newer features while keeping the world-roaming capabilities.
336862302440DT1.jpg
3 of 10 James Martin/CNET

Sprint vs. Verizon

Design-wise, there is very little difference between the Sprint BlackBerry Tour and Verizon's version of the smartphone. We did have a slight preference for the latter, however, since it has a textured back while the back of the Sprint model is all smooth and feels a bit slick and plasticky.
336862302440PALM.jpg
4 of 10 James Martin/CNET

Functional design

The BlackBerry Tour's design is a mix of the BlackBerry Bold and the BlackBerry Curve, taking good points from both phones. The 3.5-inch display is extra sharp and vibrant, so it was really great for viewing photos, videos, and Web pages.
336862302440POCKET.jpg
5 of 10 James Martin/CNET

BlackBerry Tour's measurements

The Tour measures 4.4 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide by 0.6 inch thick and is 4.5 ounces, so it's slightly bigger and heavier than the Curve but definitely more pocketable than the Bold.
336862302440DT2.jpg
6 of 10 James Martin/CNET

Full QWERTY keyboard

While not as compact or sleek as the Curve, the trade-off is you get a more spacious QWERTY keyboard. The rectangular buttons are a good size and have a slight bump to make them easier to press.
336862302440BUTTON.jpg
7 of 10 James Martin/CNET

Messaging machine

We found the Tour's keyboard quite easy to use, and the smartphone is packed with messaging capabilities, including support for personal and work e-mail accounts, instant messaging clients, and text and multimedia messaging.
336862302440RT.jpg
8 of 10 James Martin/CNET

Right-side controls

On the right side of the smartphone, you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, a volume rocker, a customizable shortcut key, and a microUSB port.
336862302440DT3.jpg
9 of 10 James Martin/CNET

World roaming

Sprint ships the BlackBerry Tour with a SIM card, which will allow you to make and receive calls while traveling overseas. You can also call Sprint customer service to unlock the phone for use with international SIM cards. Note that domestically, the BlackBerry Tour only operates on Sprint's CDMA network so you can't plug in an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card and use their network.
336862302440SS1.jpg
10 of 10 James Martin/CNET

Murky photo quality

The photo quality of the Tour's 3.2-megapixel camera was OK. While images were fairly clear, we weren't pleased with the murky and dull colors.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos