Let’s make it official and let’s take a deeper look at the latest “rumored” device by RIM, the Blackberry Essex, which will be the replacement of your “already old” Blackberry Tour (9630). This new and sexyfied version of the Tour goes by the code-name “essex” (still no number for it, but it looks like it will be 9650), but what you haven’t seen yet is that inside of the phone (on the engineering screens) is still referred to as another 9630. The essex is still a CDMA/3G phone, just like the Blackberry Tour that’s out right now for sale, but with a few upgrades:
1) Trackpad: RIM is little by little getting rid of those annoying trackballs that cause problems to most Blackberry users. The Trackpad on the Essex is great, just like the one you can find on a Second Generation Bold (9700), and always reliable. No more sticky trackballs!
2) WiFi: Another very useful add-on by RIM, just like on the Storm 2. No, you won’t be able to make calls through it, but you can certainly e-mail, browse the web, and even send BBMs while on it.
3) 2 GB of internal Memory: Another sweet advantage over your regular Tour. In case you don’t have an SD Card in your Essex you will be able to take pictures and make videos without worrying about buying one.
Rumor has it that the Essex will come out for Sprint here in the US. And as a matter of fact, my Essex is a Sprint phone, but if you are a Verizon Wireless costumer there is nothing to worry about, because we will be getting the Essex too. I had a chance to talk to a “higher up” person from Verizon and they confirmed that they will be getting a “Trackpad Tour”, although they didn’t want to confirm the name or number of such device, they are aware of it already. They haven’t talked about a release date, but on some websites December sounds like a winner, although I wouldn’t hold my breathe on that one. From my personal experience, although I could be completely wrong, December is too close and there hasn’t been many leaks of this phone, so that tells me we might have to wait a little bit longer for its release (My guess is in between the end of Q1 and beginning of Q2 of 2010).
Another rumor that was, and maybe still floating around is that the camera was upgraded, but I hate to confirm to you guys that it wasn’t. To put a stop to all those rumors once and for all I took the “same picture” with both phones (The Essex and the Tour), and they look almost identical. Here are the pictures for your consideration (Top one is the one taken on the Tour and the bottom one is the one taken with the Essex):
also heard from a few others that the Essex had more flash memory and a faster processor than the one in the Tour, but flash memory is still 256 MB on the Essex and still using the same processor that the Tour has.
Don’t forget to check out my Video Overview of the Blackberry Essex and some of the pictures I took today. If you have any comments or questions please let me know, because I’m here to help you as much as possible.
Too bad it does not have a faster processor.
Wonder how long it takes for someone to say “but the essex picture you took shows her skin tone better blah blah” without even thinking about how the angle is slightly different and shadows have changed.
Thanks for the new info.
Have you managed to activate it yet? lol
Great job by Verizon and RIM screwing over all the current Tour owners. You know, a lot of people don’t have the dough to drop for full retail devices. This release truly makes no sense and isn’t even worth the upgrade if you’re a current Tour owner. And you wonder why people hate on RIM and their ridiculous outpouring of “new” hardware, but still manage to keep the OS old and boring.
Thats the wireless industry, infact that is industry period. there is always going to be something bigger and better.
Except that there has never been a “sequel” phone released within 6 months, like this would be. What a joke and a slap in the face to Tour-owners. If it was one year out I’d understand – then they could use their annual upgrade and get it at the contract price. But 6 months? 6 months out and you have a phone that you paid $200 for and signed a 2 year contract which is now completely obsolete. What a joke.
I wish it has faster processor when released.
This phone is awesome, just one question though….
…is the back door as loose as it is on the Tour?
the question is, do I hold out for essex or pick up a storm 2 today (as my new every two is now).
I guess the better question is, do I want a damn touchscreen?
In all honesty I love my Storm 2 a lot more than the Essex, but it comes down to: Do you want a keyboard or a touchscreen?
Salomondrin, comparing the Essex and the Storm 2 on just typing, do you find that you can type as easily and effortlessly on the Storm 2? It seems like I type about equally as fast on a touchscreen or a keyboard, but that the touchscreen just requires a bit more concentration. Your thoughts?
Ryan, swing by a store with live devices and play who knows you might like it better.
I know I’m sticking with the essex though. xD
Essex is what my Tour (should have been) definitely want/need one to replace my Tour.
Thanks Sal – like many I’ve been holding out on an impulse purchase for the T2. But…what’s the deal with Wi-Fi supporting only the data side and not voice? All all of Verizon’s BBs and the Droid that way?
Thanks!
Hugh
Hey Sal or anyone, do you know if this phone will prioritize wifi over evdo for data?
hey everyone, sal does an excellent job of spreading the latest news about the newest blackberries and i applaude him. i also agree that this phone will not come out within this year, and maybe even later than he expects. if youve noticed, all of the newest blackberries have also come with the rubberized buttons on the sides and this essex still has the metal ones. i believe that the final product will have the rubberized buttons instead
Hugh,
i think what Sal means is that you cannot make calls over it (ie. UMA calling, T-mobiles Hotspot at home). That technology isnt support on a CDMA network.
Other GSM blackberries support this, Curve 8900, Bold 2 (not sure), but CDMA phones dont, which includes Tour 2 and the Droid
Thanks Corey, I get it now. Much appreciated.
Salomnondrin,
It looks like the keyboard is slightly smaller on the Essex and the Send, Menu, Escape and End buttons are slightly larger. Is the keyboard on the Essex more like the one on the Bold 9700? The bottom row of buttons (shift, 0, space, sym & shift) sure look shorter like those on the 9700.
By the way, still love the McDonalds Tour!
Scott. The bottom row is the same as the 9700. It is because the trackpad is larger than the trackball. The top row of keys (send, etc) eds more space making them a little larger. Hope it helps.
Hey Sal
Feeling the new look for the site. Keep up the good work. If you had to choose between the essex (t2) or 9700 which one would you go with?
I wish the tour 2 was larger sort of like the first bold. I am a man with XL hand and it just seems there are no CDMA BB that fit well in my hand
Hey Sal,
How is the battery cover for the Essex? I had the Tour but returned it because the battery cover was flimsy.
Yum… just YUM
I’m in the market for a new Sprint BB. Was the Dec. possible launch mentioned for Sprint or Verizon?
The quality of the Essex’s picture does look a little better compared to the Tour.
Always amazing how Sal gets these devices so early. I was in a Verizon store the other day and was talking to the manager. He was saying that RIM was not happy with the money that Verizon was spending on advertising the new Droid’s and that they might be punished by RIM.
Maybe that is why we are not seeing the improvements that we all hoped for with the Tour 2. RIM needed to upgrade the Storm for many reasons but #1 was that they were taking a hit with all the FRU’s that Verizon was sending out for defective devices. The Tour is being returned around 29% because of trackball issues so again, make a change to cut back on swap outs.
Just my take. What do you all think?
Fred
Great review I am a Verizon customer and use a storm 1 right now, but would like WiFi and maybe a keyboard. I am considering my options and your reviews and updates really help.
Thanks
Scott
I hope they DON’T rubberize the buttons on the side of this blackberry. That would ruin the aesthetic for me. :\
I’m anxious for this one to hit the market already!!!
hi. congrats for the website (sorry for being so late)
just want to confirm. this device have or doesn’t have accelerometer?
please reply. thanks a mill !
Sal, how do you compare typing on the Storm 2 vs the Essex? Do you find that you can type as easily and effortlessly on the Storm 2? It seems like I type about equally as fast on a touchscreen or a keyboard, but that the touchscreen just requires a bit more concentration. Your thoughts?