Screen
The 240 x 320 display can be a little disappointing after using the Bold for awhile, but it’s still totally passable compared to most run-of-the-mill screens. The aspect ratio would seem perfect for video in landscape, but for whatever reason, they don’t offer reorientation options. Humbug! It wouldn’t be totally weird holding it sideways, and would definitely make better use of the limited real estate. Alas, we’ll just have to deal with the giant bars on the top and bottom.
The bigger story with the display is the external screen. This is the first time a BlackBerry has had this option, and requires a lot of rethinking on how you normally use the device. Locking and unlocking (or holstering and unholstering) are typically a big part of checking BlackBerry alerts, but the Pearl Flip wins big points by circumventing this chore and simply showing you what’s up on the external 128 x 160 display. The colour’s good enough to show picture ID, the first couple of lines of text, and even some smooth animations. The volume keys let you flip through alerts, so you can even skim the last couple of messages to see if there’s anything worth cracking this sucker open for.
Sound
The sound out of the Pearl Flip’s bottom two speakers was surprisingly good. While it’s still not as full-bodied as the Bold, I definitely found the sound better than the Storm and 8900 Curve. The external screen makes navigating music a lot easier, especially if you’re on shuffle and what to know if you should skip a track right away or not.