BlackBerry Pearl 8120 caught in live shots

Research in Motion's upcoming BlackBerry Pearl 2 (also known as the 8120) has finally been spotted in real-world photos, says an admin at the BlackBerry-oriented Pinstack forums. The test unit on display comes in the previously speculated gold color option and features a noticeably improved button layout with easier to hit navigation buttons and firmer keys. The finished version also includes the hoped-for 3.5mm headphone jack and 2-megapixel camera, and shows off an improved version of RIM's SureType predictive text plus an improved e-mail client.

Investigation of the software confirms that Wi-Fi comes at the lack of GPS mapping, but doesn't provide an immediate clue as to the intended carrier; no branding appears either in code or on the phone's shell, suggesting that the leaked 8120 is an internal RIM example. No indication was given of when the updated smartphone would be released with the new leak, though more recent rumors have slated the phone's American release for early September at a price comparable to the original Pearl.