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BlackBerry Curve 8900

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By Andrew Lim
Jan 15, 2009

If the BlackBerry Bold is too bold for you and the BlackBerry Storm doesn't float your boat, then you may want to check out the BlackBerry Curve 8900, RIM's latest email-friendly handset.

One of RIM's most compact phones to date, the 8900 looks great, and made us keen to discover whether good things really do come in small packages.

Editors' note:

This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.co.uk. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published. The 8900 has been announced for Asia Pacific but specific countries' availability will depend on when the operators roll it out.

Design

Adopting some design characteristics of the BlackBerry Curve 8310 and BlackBerry Bold 9000, the 8900 is a compact, attractive handset that shows off RIM's aesthetic prowess. It looks and feels like a quality product, and fits comfortably in the pocket. There's something satisfying about the 8900's dimensions; it's neither too small nor too big, nor is it too heavy or too light. It looks smart without looking boring, and will appeal to both teenagers and businessmen alike.


The 8900 provides a well-defined keyboard.

The 8900's screen is bright and large, and its full QWERTY keypad offers a reliable and straightforward typing experience. Each key on the keypad is raised at one edge, providing enough definition to find them easily with your thumb. As with previous BlackBerry Curve handsets, the 8900 houses a trackball that lets you scroll through emails, Web sites and other areas of the interface. Once you've mastered the trackball, which doesn't take too long, you'll find it a convenient navigation tool.

Two hard keys on the right and left sides of the 8900 can be configured to activate a variety of apps, but are set by default to activate voice commands and the 8900's camera. The 3.2-megapixel camera is situated on the back of the 8900 next to an LED photo light. We were relieved to see a 3.5mm headphone jack, but were less impressed by the mute and lock keys at the top of the 8900. Due to their flat design and lack of definition, they weren't as easy to press as we had hoped.

While it doesn't bring tons of invitation to the design table and is essentially a mini BlackBerry Bold, the 8900 is a well-designed handset. After all: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. On looks alone, the 8900 is a winner and, most probably, will be one of RIM's bestselling devices.



Tags: Research In Motion Ltd., E-mail, BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Curve, RIM BlackBerry
 
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