BlackBerry Curve 8520 under review

The pros and cons of the new BlackBerry Curve 8520 have been discussed in a review this week, just a few days after Vodafone announced it would be adding the latest offering from Research In Motion (RIM) to its range.

As a cheaper option than its 8900 sibling – which is currently available on a range of networks in the UK – the new model could appeal to those in the market for one of the manufacturer’s third generation, qwerty keyboard-enabled devices.

In a review for Mobile Burn, Michael Oryl looked at the Curve 8520 and said although it looks like it belongs in the original 8300 series, the upgrades on the device give it more in common with some of the higher end BlackBerry’s.

Praised for being “slightly lighter” than the 8900, he said the new model feels great to hold and seems well-built. In addition, the “tactile click” of the buttons were highlighted as an interesting extra.

Where the BlackBerry Curve 8520 differs from others in the recent RIM line up is its lack of a trackball, something that has been included on many of the latest models.

However, Mr Oryl states that although difficult to get used to at first, it soon becomes second nature and is also less likely to trap dirt inside as the previous option did.

“The trackpad is basically an optical mouse that has been turned upside down. It works quite well in general,” he noted.

The review concluded: “The BlackBerry Curve 8520, from Research In Motion, turns out to be both an excellent smartphone and a pretty darn good deal.”