Get info about new reports and updates
Entry-level BlackBerry adds optical trackpad, drops price
Pros
- Responsive optical trackpad
- Same software functionality as more expensive BlackBerrys
- Great value
- Wi-Fi
Cons
- No 3G network support
- Low-resolution screen
- Mediocre camera
- Mac software not yet available
- No GPS
The BlackBerry Curve 8520 is the first BlackBerry to feature an optical trackpad instead of the trackball found on previous models. Although some reviewers say they needed time to get used to the new feature, all say it is responsive and expect it will become standard on future BlackBerrys. Aside from that innovation, the Curve 8520 is a stripped-down BlackBerry aimed at the first-time smartphone buyer. Laptop Magazine's Todd Haselton says the Curve 8520 is "a bit watered-down" compared to its brand mates. It is very similar to the slightly more expensive BlackBerry Curve 8900 (Free with new contract), but lacks significant features, including support for high-speed 3G networks and GPS functionality. Verizon also offers the similar Curve 8530.
When it comes to software, the Curve 8520 is comparable to most other BlackBerrys. This, critics say, is both a positive and a negative. Reviewers unanimously praise messaging and calling options but condemn the web browser, which isn't the BlackBerry line's strongest suit. Media playback gets mixed reviews, though critics say this BlackBerry is more media-friendly than older versions. It features a standard headphone jack, as well as dedicated playback controls at the top of the device. The BlackBerry operating system also earns ambiguous reviews; some say it is very functional, while others complain that it looks tired in comparison to interfaces such as that of the Apple iPhone 3GS. Mac-compatible BlackBerry desktop software is unavailable as of the Curve 8520's launch, though manufacturer Research in Motion says it will be ready for download sometime in the fall.
Call quality is described as good overall. However, some reviewers note that the same conversation sounds worse on the Curve 8520 than it does to the person on the other end of the line. Battery life seems to be about average, but few testers report independent estimates of talk time. Most reviewers do go out of their way to note that the low-resolution display (320 pixels by 240 pixels) and the no-flash, 2-megapixel camera fall short. While the camera's digital zoom can be controlled via the trackpad, reviewers point out it is easy to trigger this unintentionally.
There is a good sampling of professional reviews of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 available online. Experienced testers at CNET, PCMag.com, InfoSyncWorld.com and MobileBurn.com all give the Curve 8520 comprehensive coverage. So does PhoneArena.com, but editors there look at a prerelease model. Laptop Magazine and PC Advisor's evaluations are a little more superficial, and the blog posts at Gizmodo.com and TechRadar.com are quite brief, though their more subjective impressions are still useful.
Where To Buy
Our Sources
1. CNET
Reviewer Bonnie Cha has few bad things to say about the BlackBerry Curve 8520. She likes the optical trackpad, dedicated media controls and the standard headphone jack, but is critical of the lack of 3G network support or GPS functionality. She points out that for not much extra, consumers can get the BlackBerry Curve 8900, which has those and other advanced features.
Review: RIM BlackBerry Curve 8520 - black (T-mobile), Bonnie Cha, Aug. 5, 2009
2. PCMag.com
Jamie Lendino's review of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 is rather critical. Although Lendino is very impressed with the optical trackpad, most other features on this smartphone leave him unenthusiastic. He reports that reception is poor and wind rejection "marginal." While he gets 8 hours 20 minutes of continuous talk time, he calls that "average" battery life, considering it's not using the high-speed 3G network.
Review: BlackBerry Curve 8520 (T-Mobile), Jamie Lendino, Aug. 10, 2009
Philip Berne recommends the BlackBerry Curve 8520, but has some caveats. While he likes the optical trackpad, he says that "all things (like price) being equal, we'd still stick with the Curve 8900." Berne says that the battery won't last as long as on some other BlackBerrys, but this judgment seems based on hardware specs and not on real-world testing.
Review: BlackBerry Curve 8520 Review, Philip Berne, Aug. 6, 2009
The BlackBerry Curve 8520 gets a Highly Recommended rating from Michael Oryl at MobileBurn.com. He says the trackpad, while a little harder to control than a trackball, won't get as dirty as a trackball. Call quality and reception are good, but Oryl doesn't provide an independent estimate of battery life. Oryl concludes that the Curve 8520 is "both an excellent smartphone and a pretty darn good deal."
Review: Review of T-Mobile's BlackBerry Curve 8520 with Optical Trackpad Controller, Michael Oryl, Aug. 13, 2009
PhoneArena.com editors take an advance look at the BlackBerry Curve 8520 in this well-documented preview. Screen, build quality, multimedia playback and the camera are deemed adequate, the reviewer says, because this Curve is an entry-level device.
Review: RIM BlackBerry Curve 8520 Review, Editors of PhoneArena.com, June 25, 2009
This review of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 is quite positive, saying that it is among the best values on T-Mobile. While this Curve is lighter than the 8900, its plastic casing doesn't feel "chintzy." Like other BlackBerries, messaging is a highlight, but web browsing is weak. Haselton says the camera is "bare-bones." No specific continuous talk time is given, but Haselton reports needing a charge after 24 hours of multitasking, including leaving the phone on standby overnight.
Review: BlackBerry Curve 8520 (T-Mobile), Todd Haselton, Aug. 7, 2009
7. PC Advisor
British website PC Advisor recommends the BlackBerry Curve 8520, though this review mostly describes features without going into detail about performance. Reviewer Rosemary Hattersley finds that the Curve 8520's lightness is the only downside of its build quality, and she describes the processing power as "nippy."
Review: BlackBerry Curve 8520 Review, Rosemary Hattersley, Aug. 4, 2009
8. Gizmodo.com
This brief blog post at Gizmodo.com isn't very complimentary of the BlackBerry Curve 8520. Matt Buchanan feels that Research in Motion cut corners to make this entry-level BlackBerry. He indicates that the Curve 8520 feels somewhat cheap, and it has the "worst BlackBerry screen in a long time."
Review: BlackBerry Curve 8520 Lightning Review, Matt Buchanan, Aug. 6, 2009
TechRadar.com's short blog post on the BlackBerry Curve 8520, by Gareth Beavis, features some photo documentation, but is quite cursory in its evaluation. The build quality is "solid," and Beavis notes that this is the thinnest BlackBerry yet. The trackpad and media playback are good, and Beavis likes the dedicated playback keys, which, thanks to their rubberized casing, can be indentified by touch.
Review: Hands On: BlackBerry Curve 8520 Review, Gareth Beavis, July 27, 2009