BlackBerry 5810: When RIM (Research In Motion) unveiled the BlackBerry 5810 on March 4, 2002, during Comdex in Chicago, it marked the company’s first device to integrate GSM voice service with BlackBerry’s signature push-email functionality.
Sharing the plastic housing of its predecessor (the RIM 957), the 5810 required a wired headset to make and receive calls, since it lacked an internal speaker or microphone.
With a monochrome display, full-QWERTY keyboard, and the famed trackwheel navigation, it was a productivity powerhouse in its time.
Today, conversations occasionally surface online about a mythical “BlackBerry 5810 back with 4G.” While collectors and forum users sometimes exaggerate compatibility hacks, no official 4G-enabled BlackBerry 5810 variant ever existed. That phone operated strictly on 2G GSM/GPRS. By contrast, BlackBerry models like the Bold 9900 launched much later and had 4G support in some rare variants.
What “5810 with 4G” Could Mean: Rumors or User Hacks?
In various tech communities, device enthusiasts mention running legacy BlackBerry models on modern networks using trickery or obscure MVNOs, but even such efforts cannot retrofit 4G hardware into a 2G-only device. The hardware simply lacks any LTE radio chipset. Thus, any reference to a BlackBerry 5810 “back with 4G” likely refers to workarounds or user myths—not an actual product variant.
Technical Specifications of the Original BlackBerry 5810
While no official 4G version was made, here’s the spec table for the genuine 5810 to help contrast what the mythical version would have missed:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Release Date | March 4, 2002 (USA launch at Comdex) |
| Display | Monochrome full-graphic LCD, 160×160 pixels |
| Keyboard | 34-key QWERTY backlit |
| Trackwheel | Side-mounted navigation trackwheel |
| Memory | ~1 MB SRAM + 8 MB flash |
| Processor | ARM 7EJ-S, 32-bit |
| Battery Life | Stand-by up to ~10 days (~240 hours) |
| Weight & Size | ~139 g; 11.7 × 7.85 × 1.8 cm |
| Network Support | GSM 1900 MHz, GPRS (2G only) |
| Audio | Wired headset only (no speaker/mic built-in) |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 3.6 (Java-based) |
Price – Then vs. Now
Originally launched at around USD 549, the BlackBerry 5810 represented a premium enterprise device for its time. Today it’s obsolete for modern cellular use, but collectors may pay based on condition. Below is a ballpark price table for USA collectors:
| Condition | Estimated Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Factory-sealed new | $600–800 |
| Used, working | $150–300 |
| For parts / non-working | $50–100 |
These prices are based on anecdotal reports from online auction listings, as the handset is no longer eligible for refurbishing or carrier activation.
Why No 4G Was Ever Offered?
BlackBerry began deploying true 4G LTE hardware only much later—devices like the Bold 9900 and subsequent BlackBerry 10 and Android models supported faster networks. The 5810 was launched in the early GPRS era. Its design reflected the state of wireless at that time: lightweight, Java-based OS, and convergence of email and voice. Retrofitting or redesigning it for 4G would have required a full hardware overhaul—something RIM never did.
Legacy and Influence of the 5810
Although primitive by today’s standards, the BlackBerry 5810 was pivotal in transforming mobile business communication. It kickstarted the mobile work era with integrated email, phone, organizer, and browser in one always-connected device. Its integration of GSM voice and data over GPRS combined with push email service set the template for modern smartphones. Business executives, government professionals, and on-the-go corporate users all found the 5810 revolutionary in its time.
Conclusion: Understanding the Myth vs. Reality
If you encounter “BlackBerry 5810 back with 4G” in blogs or forums, treat it with skepticism—it’s not a real handset variant. The real 5810 is a 2G pioneer from 2002, and no official version with LTE support was ever released. Instead, the term likely arises from nostalgic reinterpretation or user-made compatibility claims—but hardware cannot be retrofitted to support modern 4G standards.
For those exploring mobile history or collecting vintage tech, the BlackBerry 5810 remains a milestone device. But for functional connectivity on modern networks, only later models from BlackBerry’s Bold, Torch, or Android-era portfolio offered genuine 4G support.
Also Read: BlackBerry relaunches 2010s Bold Touch 9900 with 8GB storage and 768MB RAM
