Apple iPhone 3GS vs BlackBerry Bold 9700
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Apple iPhone 3GS and the BlackBerry Bold 9700, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| Our rating | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Battery | 1,220 mAh | 1,500 mAh |
| Storage (max) | 32 GB | 16 GB |
| Screen size | 3.5 in | 2.44 in |
| Main camera | 15 MP | 15 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 135 g | 122 g |
| Released | Jun 2009 | Nov 2009 |
Summary: Apple iPhone 3GS is ahead on our rating, storage (max), screen size. BlackBerry Bold 9700 is ahead on battery, weight (lower is lighter).
★ Which should you buy? Apple iPhone 3GS is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs.
Researched with AI assistance by infozme.com from manufacturer and retailer sources — see how we research & rate phones.
Display
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| Type | TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors | TFT, 65K colors |
| Size | 3.5 inches | 2.44 inches |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels | 480 x 360 pixels |
| Protection | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | — |
| Pixel Density | 163 ppi | ~246 ppi |
Platform
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| OS | iPhone OS 3, upgradable to iOS 6.1.6 | BlackBerry OS 5.0, upgradable to 6.0 |
| Chipset | Samsung APL0298C05 (S5L8920) | Marvell PXA930 |
| CPU | 600 MHz ARM Cortex-A8 | 624 MHz |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX535 | — |
Memory
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDHC (up to 16GB, 2GB card often included) |
| Internal | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB storage, 256MB RAM | 256MB RAM, 256MB Flash memory |
Main Camera
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| Single | 3.15 MP, autofocus | 3.15 MP (or 3.2 MP), autofocus |
| Features | Tap to focus, geotagging | LED flash, 2x digital zoom |
| Video | 480p@30fps | Yes |
Selfie Camera
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| Single | No | No |
Battery
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| Type | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery |
| Capacity | 1220 mAh | — |
| Talk time | Up to 12 h (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G) | Up to 6 hours |
| Stand-by | Up to 300 h | Up to 19 days (or 21 days) |
| Internet use | Up to 9 h (Wi-Fi) / Up to 5 h (3G) | — |
| Video playback | Up to 10 h | — |
| Audio playback | Up to 30 h | — |
Body
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| Dimensions | 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm (4.55 x 2.44 x 0.48 in) | 109 x 60 x 14 mm (4.29 x 2.36 x 0.55 inches) |
| Weight | 135 g (4.76 oz) | 122 g (4.30 oz) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Keyboard | — | Full QWERTY |
| Navigation | — | Optical trackpad |
Comms
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g |
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS | Yes, with A-GPS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | 2.0 (proprietary 30-pin connector) | microUSB 2.0 |
Launch
| Apple iPhone 3GS | BlackBerry Bold 9700 |
|---|
| Announced | June 8, 2009 | October 2009 |
| Status | Discontinued (8GB model discontinued September 12, 2012) | Discontinued (December 2011) |
| Released | June 19, 2009 | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Apple iPhone 3GS or BlackBerry Bold 9700?
BlackBerry Bold 9700 — 1,220 mAh for the Apple iPhone 3GS versus 1,500 mAh for the BlackBerry Bold 9700.
Which is lighter, Apple iPhone 3GS or BlackBerry Bold 9700?
BlackBerry Bold 9700 — 135 g for the Apple iPhone 3GS versus 122 g for the BlackBerry Bold 9700.
Which is newer, Apple iPhone 3GS or BlackBerry Bold 9700?
BlackBerry Bold 9700 — Jun 2009 for the Apple iPhone 3GS versus Nov 2009 for the BlackBerry Bold 9700.
Is the Apple iPhone 3GS or the BlackBerry Bold 9700 rated higher?
We rate the Apple iPhone 3GS 8/10 and the BlackBerry Bold 9700 7/10.
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