RIM BlackBerry Bold

Elsewhere the Bold is as well-equipped as you'd expect a modern smartphone to be, with high speed HSDPA connectivity - the first BlackBerry to do so - plus assisted GPS, which you can use in conjunction with the pre-installed BlackBerry Maps or Google Maps to find out where you are in the world. Note that for turn-by-turn driving instructions you'll have to add third party software, such as Telmap.

Usually this sort of specification is enough to drain a smartphone of its juice in two or three days, especially if you use the GPS frequently. But the Bold is different. It has a high-powered, high-capacity 1,500mAh lithium polymer battery under its backplate and, in testing, this lasted three and a half days before a charge was required. In that time we used the GPS a few times, did a lot of surfing and had the email service running constantly. It's an impressive performance that matches that of the Nokia E71 with ease.

In fact, just as we were with the E71, we're big fans of RIM's latest do-it-all emailer. It's a powerful phone, one that's very pleasant to use, and its new look interface, improved keyboard and screen and highly impressive battery life earn it a well-merited Recommended award. Only its slightly porky profile and less-than-zippy responsiveness prevent it overtaking the E71 as our A List choice.

Author: Tim Danton