Not to be outdone by Apple and Google, Verizon's design firm Research In Motion has released the BlackBerry Storm, the latest in its beloved BlackBerry series.
Verizon’s BlackBerry Storm directly competes with Apple’s iPhone and T-Mobile’s G1 Google phone, further heating up the current touch-screen smart phone craze.
The BlackBerry Storm, released Friday, November 21, costs $200 after a $50 mail-in rebate and is only available with 2-year Verizon contract. The price is comparable to the iPhone and the G1 Google Android cell phone, but how does the new BlackBerry Storm stack up?
AppleInsider posted a review roundup of prominent technology critics to help customers size up the new BlackBerry Storm. The overall consensus? Mixed—but the iPhone still comes out on top. Reviewers, impressed with the hardware, agreed that the software and functionality leaves more to be desired.
Size, Resolution of BlackBerry Storm Compared to iPhone
Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal called the Storm “essentially a touch-based, large screen version” of Verizon’s earlier BlackBerry Bold model. Mossberg mirrored other critics’ positive reviews for the Storm’s enhanced resolution and brightness. Compared to the iPhone, the BlackBerry Storm has:
Smaller keyboard
Brighter screen
Longer Battery life than both the G1 and the iPhone
Better camera than the iPhone
Thicker and heavier with better hardware
Better network coverage for calls
The Storm has a distinctly BlackBerry flavor to its look and feel, reviewers said.
Drawbacks for the BlackBerry Storm
While reviewers were impressed with the Storm’s hardware, look, and feel most agreed that the software and navigability fell short of their expectations. Many had high hopes that the Storm would soothe their iPhone woes, however, it seems that resolving certain issues will take a few more design revisions by the major manufacturers.
BlackBerry Storm’s drawbacks include:
No Wi-Fi capability
Freeze-prone OS
Slow response for touch controls
Less Intuitive Navigation
Overall, critics, with high expectations, seem to be disappointed by the BlackBerry Storm’s software but were sufficiently wowed by the hardware.
Other iPhone Competitors
If the BlackBerry Storm and Google G1 Android don’t meet critics’ expectations, perhaps the host of other iPhone competitors will. Since the iPhone introduction, many companies are jumping on the touch-screen bandwagon. Other iPhone competitors include:
Samsung F700 ultra slim phone
Linux based FIC-GTA001
Chinese-only Meizu M8
Several others companies have planned iPhone competitors in the works, including Nokia and ASUS. While it’s hard to beat Apple’s smooth, intuitive design these companies are packing their smart phones with other features, such as Open Source capabilities, better screen displays, and longer battery life.
Currently Nokia leads the SmartPhone market, with Apple’s iPhone in second and Verizon RIM in 3rd. Experts believe Verizon is poised to steal 2nd from Apple in the 4th quarter with its BlackBerry Storm model.
The copyright of the article Verizon BlackBerry Storm Vs. iPhone, G1 in Cell Phones is owned by Stephanie Cox. Permission to republish Verizon BlackBerry Storm Vs. iPhone, G1 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Mine is going back to the store tomorrow. Not impressed. Back to my
Voyager.
Nov 23, 2008 12:32 PM
Guest
:
I JUST HAD GOT THE STRM I WASNT IMPRESSED AT ALL...THE G1 IS BETTER THAN
THE STORM AND THE IPHONE IS BETTER THAN BOTH OF THEM...IF URE READING THIS
DONT GO OUT AND BUY THE STORM..ITS REALLY A HORRIBLE PHONE
Nov 25, 2008 11:20 PM
Guest
:
i really like my storm. the clickable screen is way better than my dare for
typing accuracy which was a big complaint of mine. surely, software
updatess will really get this phone rocking
Nov 27, 2008 5:17 AM
Guest
:
so i like the g1 cause all the apps are free, and it has an application
where i can scan barcodes and find the cheapest price of an item close by.
it also has an accurate gps with google street views which is nice. a
zombie game that is integrated with the gps where zombies chase u which is
funny and a full keyboard as well as a custom unlock pattern i mean comon
ive used the iphone for a while, i really dig the g1 it might not look as
fancy but i think its better while not as smooth as the i phone its not bad
at all i havent had any freezing issues i can use mobile banking on my
phone because the Bank Of America application. The iphone was stylish and
fun and popular, but no keyboard is really lame and no free applications,
but i wont lie verizon has better reception everywhere lol
Nov 29, 2008 3:50 AM
Guest
:
G1 and Iphone is better I just return my storm today, I play it all day
yesterday and I notice that the software freeze and take time to swicth
from music to browser. And doesn't have Wi-Fi I just thankful I didn't lose
my money for this phone :)!!!
Dec 1, 2008 9:44 PM
Guest
:
I got my storm today and am liking it. I only used it for about a half hour
before applying its .75 update(not officially available yet) and feel
confident saying it made a huge difference towards resolving some of the
big bugs. Issues are something early adopters should expect. Blackberry
seems to have made a good start fixing them. On a different note the
clickable screen is something I thought sounded like a bad idea, but even
it has started to grow on me.
The storm does not have the polish
that the iPhone has, but until companies(especially apple) start releasing
their phones to other carriers the Storm gives Verizon customers some much
needed hope. And who knows likely by the time another option is available
Storm customers wont want to switch.
Dec 3, 2008 1:34 PM
Guest
:
I love my Black Berry Storm and it is by far the best phone I have ever
had. The I-phone is a good phone, the G-1 Google phone is decent but I love
my BB Storm and that combined with verizon's wireless superior wireless
service and 3-G network makes this new device superior to the At&t's
I-phone, and T-mobile's G-1 Google phone. It does take some time getting
use to the push in screen the Storm implements but once you do you would
realize it is a better alternative than the competition.
Dec 5, 2008 10:50 AM
Guest
:
Just giving my advise the BB Storm is a nice phone don't get me wrong, but
trying to compare it to the iPhone is like taking candy away from a baby.
The iPhone is much more superior the apps are way better and as far as the
camera on the storm it isn't that much better than the iPhone , honestly I
really couldn't tell the difference between both. The other thing I did not
like about the storm was the clicking , what if your in school and try text
messaging someone and your phone is just clicking away making slit of noise
and attention on you. The iPhone has the same clicking if u want the sound
and you also can turn off the clicking. The storm doestnt have wifi that's
a big problem . Anyway the iPhone is the way to go , but if you are stuck
on a contract with verizonand want to have a nice phone then get the storm
otherwise stick with the iPhone it's superior!!
Dec 9, 2008 2:18 PM
Guest
:
The apps on Windows Mobile are superior to iphone's apps. The iphone is the
"johnny come lately" to the touch screen phone game, trying to
rewrite history like its last name is Clinton.
Dec 16, 2008 8:38 AM
Guest
:
storm sucks i have the iphone 3g ist way better
Dec 20, 2008 10:55 PM
Guest
:
The other thing I did not like about the storm was the clicking , what if
your in school and try text messaging someone and your phone is just
clicking away making slit of noise and attention on you.
^^ Uh, see, your problem there is that you shouldn't be texting in school
anyways. Maybe that'll solve your problem. The Storm, however, is
amazing. I got to play with one in BestBuy the other day and found it much
better than any other phone (including iPhone and the G1) i've seen/used.
And I'm not just saying that because I'm a faithful BlackBerry customer,
but because it's true.
Jan 29, 2009 8:24 PM
Guest
:
g1 rules iphone is nice but no keyboard black berry storm i have no clue
Feb 13, 2009 3:36 PM
Guest
:
diz g1 phone go hard ju dig meh all those hatterz fall back asap
Feb 16, 2009 7:31 PM
Guest
:
OK , I am confused!When BB Storm was promoted on TV for months , I was
crazy about it , but I also liked the iphone.I am geting either one for my
B-Day , but I don't know which one should I get.HELP!!!!!
Mar 16, 2009 9:11 PM
Guest
:
the storm is better than the g1 and iphone. idk y ppl always say it freezes
if theynew how it worked it wouldnt even freeze you have to close the apps.
you cant have to mny apps up at once like a computer if u have to many apps
up at oce then it starts to get slow.the
Mar 27, 2009 1:29 PM
Guest
:
I am enamored with the G1 phone. G1 does not look as fancy. But all that
glitters is not gold. Like an informed consumer, I did the reasearch of the
other iphone contenders, I made my decision based on the online reviews and
friends that own the the other iphones. I chose the G1 for consistent
reliability, free applications, cutting edge software features, and 3g
technology. It does all the same things and has all the same essential
features as the others iphones, but the only difference is that, it's
actually better. That fact is evident when you assume ownership.
May 20, 2009 10:50 AM
Guest
:
man 4 get every 1 elese comment the truth is the both Iphone and G1 is
better than the blackberry storm. i mean who would want such a phone that
freezes up on you, 4 real do that is a scam. (PLEASE DON'T SPEND/WASTE YOUR
MONEY ON THE BLACKBERRY STORM, BUY A PHONE THAT IS WORTH YOUR MONEY LAKE
THE IPHONE OR G1).
Nov 21, 2008
