The trackball has been replaced by the optical trackpad we're getting very used to on BlackBerry devices, and for the most part it worked very well, scrolling through web pages and the like with ease.

There will always be those that miss the tactility of the trackball, but this is a more accurate (and more reliable) option in our opinion.

The messaging on the new keyboard was pretty easy to get your head around - the SureType predictive text was mostly accurate for us, and the button layout familiar, with the space on the '0' key.

However, choosing different words when there are multiple options was sometimes a little difficult as you have to scroll downwards to select each new option - there was no easy key to cycle through as far as we could see.

The delete key was also in the bottom left-hand side of the keyboard, which took some getting used to, but this is probably just more of a design feature and you'll easily get used to.

Video looked pin-sharp on the Pearl 3G, albeit a little bit small - you'll be able to get the likes of iPlayer on there, but we doubt you'll be using this phone to replace a dedicated media viewer.

The camera was a nice effort - the 3.2MP sensor captured some nice pics (although on a small screen photos generally do look nice) and the flash seemed adequate without blowing our mind - although it was hard to properly test it with daylight streaming through the window.

The internet was as swift as we're used to from BlackBerry phones, but we're desperate to get the new WebKit browser on RIM's devices, as the current option is just too clunky for words.

Overall, we were pleased with the Pearl 3G - the addition of the faster data connection and the new Wi-Fi 802.11n signal show that this is a real evolution in the slim device category for RIM.

If you're a fan of the more pocket-friendly BlackBerry range and looking for an upgrade in the next few months, then this looks like a cracking choice - but we'll be bringing you a much more in-depth look in the near future with our definitive review.