Review of T-Mobile's BlackBerry Curve 8520

RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8520 is the third generation of the company's compact, full-QWERTY messaging smartphone line. It features the same basic form factor as the original 8300 series devices, but gets some nicely upgraded features and more modern styling in a package that is roughly the same sized as the more expensive Curve 8900. We reviewed a T-Mobile USA version of the Curve 8520, which supports the company's UMA based HotSpot @Home VoIP calling service.

Physical Aspects

At 106.5g (3.8oz) in weight and measuring 109mm x 60mm x 14mm (4.3" x 2.4" x .6") in size, the new Curve 8520 is slightly lighter than the Curve 8900, but basically the same size. The keyboard on the device is much like the original's and offers great feel, but the backlighting and color of the keys on the blue model we tested makes reading them difficult in dimly lit rooms. We suspect that the black version of the 8520 will be easier to read in such environments. The call keys and the menu and escape keys on the 8520 are flush mounted on the face of the device, but they still offer a good tactile click when pressed.
vibrant media

The new optical trackpad controller takes the place of the trackballs that we've seen on most BlackBerry devices for a few years now. The trackpad is basically an optical mouse that has been turned upside down. It works quite well in general, though is probably a bit more difficult to control than the trackball. The upside, however, is that the trackpad won't get gunked up by dust or facial oils the way a trackball will. In the end, I think the switch to a trackpad is a fair trade that works out for the user in the long haul.

On the top of the phone things changed up a bit from prior BlackBerry models. There is no lock button any longer, and we now have dedicated next and previous track music controls that sit on either side of the dual-purpose mute and play/pause button. A 3.5mm headphone port is located at the top of the left edge of the phone, just above the micro-USB charger and data connector.

As was the case with the more expensive Curve 8900, the overall build quality of the Curve 8520 is very good with one exception: the rear battery cover. It fits better than the one on the 8900 does, but is still slightly loose at times and can make some noise when the phone is used. It's not a deal-breaker by any stretch, however. Otherwise, the build of the device seems quite good, and the new built-in, rubber convenience and volume keys on the edges of the device look like they should be very durable, all the while keeping dust out of the phone.

The only thing about the BlackBerry Curve 8520 that is likely to leave many folks unimpressed is the display. Like the Curve 8300 series before it, the Curve 8520 sports a QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) display. While more than bright and crisp enough for most uses, the display lets the phone down when it comes to web browsing, as you can see in our videos. But using components like that QVGA display and the fixed-focus 2 megapixel camera, which is located on the back of the phone, is how Research In Motion was able to keep the cost of the phone down. For people that just want a BlackBerry for messaging, this will work out just fine.

Blackberry Curve 8520 T-Mobil

A great and simple phone. Super for entry level Blackberry users. You can mail, browse internet, use like an ipod, video, facebook, etc. It doesn't have all the features of the BB Bold (Camera Flash, GPS, 3G) but is a great low cost starter Blackberry. One key feature you get with this phone if used with T-Mobile US is UMA calling. T-mobile calls this wi-fi calling. UMA/Wi-Fi calling enables you to use a wireless hotspot or router to make a virtual call through the T-Mobile system. It is like having a T-Mobile antenna wherever you are. So if you have poor service in your house but have a wireless router you can make your mobile calls through the router. Note that these calls still count as T-Mobile minutes. In addtion, when roaming outside the United States, you can use this UMA calling functon to get off a roaming network, and make a call like you are in the United States. This is a huge savings in roaming costs.

BlackBerry Curve 8520

Somebody forgot to tell the BlackBerry Curve 8520 that it's supposed to be a budget BlackBerry device. Sure, the phone lacks some of the high-end features of other BlackBerry phones, like a high-res screen or GPS navigation, but the Curve 8520 does right all of the things that we expect from a BlackBerry. For e-mail and messaging, it's just as fast and well organized as any other BlackBerry phone. We even like the design. Though it's supposed to be low-end, the BlackBerry Curve 8520 packs some new additions we've never seen on a BlackBerry, like a responsive optical trackpad button and real multimedia playback controls. The keyboard is solid and we rarely noticed a dip in performance compared to more advanced BlackBerry phones. Plus, on T-Mobile's network, the BlackBerry Curve 8520 is capable of cut-rate calling with it's UMA Hotspot @Home calls over your Wi-Fi network. In the end, the BlackBerry Curve 8520 is an easy phone to recommend, especially since Amazon is offering the phone at launch for only a penny, with a contract. Release: August 2009. Price: $1.
Pros: Slick, lightweight design with a nice optical trackpad and media playback controls. Does almost everything the more expensive BlackBerry phones can do.
Cons: Lacks GPS and high-speed networking. Call quality is mediocre. Battery life not as impressive as other BlackBerry phones

exellent phone by the price, very complete in usability

this phone (BB Gemini 8520 curve) is the best by the price and functions, have gps, video camcorder, wi-fi, have tracking sensitive pad (non tracking ball) better becouse no damage and no dirty frequently, is fast when requarid be reloaded, support memory cards (i use a 4gb card and no problem), have very good stereo sound, good resolution in camera (but dont have flash), full qwerty keyboard, is not sensitive as others blackberrys is very stronge phone in durability, only thing bad as all blackberrys the battery end soon, endure one day or less.
I RECOMMENDED BUY THIS PHONE IS A EXELLENT CHOICE

BB 8520

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 features a responsive optical trackpad and dedicated media controls. The smartphone also offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera, and good call quality. i dislike that it lacks 3G support and GPS. You can only save downloaded apps to the phone's main memory.