"The Bold draws its DNA from the existing Curve and 8800 series. From the former you get, well, curves – something to soften the brick-like shape of the 8800, which dictates more the actual dimensions of the chassis as well as the style of keyboard (something we’ll go into later). The cambers of the Bold are however more elegant than those of the Curve, something you don’t notice until you put these two smartphones side by side.
The Curve has exaggerated roundings at the top and bottom, while the corners are more angled than curved. The Bold has a slightly gentler slope on the top and bottom but far more fluid curves at each corner. And while the Curve’s cross-section is in fact that of a slab (the shape is de-emphasised by the Curve’s soft black side insets) the Bold’s rear panel arcs tapers in.
The net effect of these organic flourishes is that while the Bold is larger than the Curve in almost every dimension (and a fraction heavier, at 133 grams against 110 grams), you quickly stop noticing the size differential one the Bold is parked in your paw. It sits in your hand almost like it belongs there.
(The iPhone exhibits almost the exact same traits to achieve that exact same degree of natural ‘holdability’. While I’d prefer to suggest this is a case of convergent evolution, one would be a fool to imagine that RIM’s designers didn’t study the iPhone and take away some learnings from it. Any smartphone designer who didn’t would be guilty of equal parts negligence and arrogance). " Read more here: