BlackBerry Curve 8900 InDepth Review Specs and Pricing

Design and Build Quality

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 was designed with the typical business professional in mind, featuring a sleek, compact form factor that made it highly portable. With dimensions of 109 x 60 x 13.5 mm and a weight of 110 g, it was comfortable for hold and carry. The device was encased in a durable black finish, which gave it an elegant yet robust appearance, appealing to both business users and consumers. One of the standout features of the BlackBerry Curve 8900 was its full QWERTY keyboard, which was beloved by users for its tactile feedback and responsiveness, making emailing and messaging a seamless experience.

Display

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 boasted a TFT display measuring 2.4 inches, with a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels and a pixel density of around 250 ppi. Although the screen size might seem modest by today's standards, at its time of release, it was considered quite decent. The display was able to produce 65K colors, which was standard for that period. The color accuracy and sharpness were satisfactory for viewing emails, text messages, and moderate web browsing.

Camera

Equipped with a 3.15 MP primary camera, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 allowed users to capture decent photos for a device of its class. It featured autofocus and an LED flash, which helped in low-light conditions. While it was not intended to replace standalone digital cameras, it sufficed for casual photography needs and sharing images on-the-go. The device also supported video capture in SCIF format, providing a basic video recording option for its users.

Performance

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 was powered by a 512 MHz processor, which ensured that the device could handle basic smartphone functionalities and multitasking without major issues. It operated on BlackBerry OS, offering a stable environment for messages, emails, calls, and calendar events. The system catered particularly well to business professionals who needed reliable communication and organizational tools.

Connectivity

As a communication tool, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 provided a variety of connectivity options. It supported GSM technology, and could operate on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 bands. Furthermore, it offered GPRS Class 10 and EDGE Class 10 for data services. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 802.11b/g allowed for wireless internet access, enhancing its utility in scenarios where mobile data coverage was weak or unavailable. Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP supported wireless audio streaming and file transfers, while the microUSB 2.0 port enabled physical device connections for charging and data transfer.

Battery Life

The device used a removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery, which offered up to 356 hours of standby time and up to 5 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. For a smartphone that focused heavily on communication, this battery life was adequate for a full day of active use, provided it wasn't pushed too hard with excessive browsing or media playback.

Storage

Internally, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 came with 256MB of ROM, which was enough to store a limited amount of applications and data. Recognizing the need for more storage, BlackBerry offered a microSDHC slot to expand the memory, allowing users to meet their storage needs efficiently by using removable storage cards, which facilitated easier data management and transferability.

Audio and Multimedia

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 featured a 3.5mm audio jack, which guaranteed compatibility with most headphones and audio devices. The loudspeaker was adequate for ringtone alerts and speakerphone calls, rated at 75dB for voice and ring. It delivered decent audio quality, with noise levels rated at -89.4dB and crosstalk at -88.9dB, providing a satisfactory audio experience for the user.

Miscellaneous Features

The device also included GPS with A-GPS support, which could assist with navigation and location-based services. As a discontinued model that was released in November 2008 and announced in the same month, it originally retailed for approximately 60 EUR, making it a budget-friendly option considering its features. The device adhered to SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) guidelines, with values for head and body reasonably within safety limits, both in the US and EU markets.

Conclusion

Overall, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 stood out as a reliable communication device tailored for professionals during its time. Its strong points were its robust build, QWERTY keyboard, and secure communication capabilities that became synonymous with the BlackBerry brand. Despite its limited multimedia and lower resolution camera compared to other devices today, it served its primary purpose of providing a functional and efficient communication tool. As smartphones have evolved, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 represents a nostalgic glimpse into the past, when physical keyboards were treasured for their tactile experience and reliability in communication.