BlackBerry Curve 9220 Review

The Curve 9220 takes over from the 8520, which has been a run-away success for RIM. Being the cheapest BlackBerry on offer, the 8520 attracted youngsters who simply wanted BBM and little of RIM’s other features targeted at enterprises. It is also responsible for the company’s popularity in consumer segment, which had not been the case earlier.

The 9220 takes design cues from the 8520 and there is very little to differentiate the two from the front. Still the designers have managed to make it sleeker while adding a bigger battery, added a new BBM shortcut key on the left edge and removed the music keys on the top. The exoskeleton still remains plastic though I like the quality of plastics RIM has used unlike what we see even in most high-end Samsung smartphones. Overall, if one has used the 8520, one will feel right at home with the 9220.

Hardware And Software

RIM has stuck to the basics by altering hardware that really matters to the consumer. While the display still remains to be at 2.4-inches with a QVGA (320×240 pixels) resolution and the camera at 2-megapixels with no autofocus, it has doubled the ROM to 512MB and increased the battery to 1,450 mAh from 1,150 mAh. RIM hasn’t revealed the processor but I won’t be surprised if it also underwent an upgrade.

Combine this with BlackBerry OS 7.1 and the difference is noticeable. Everything works like a charm and the battery almost lasts twice as long as the 8520. Keeping in mind the needs of the Indian user, RIM has added FM radio for the first time. The dedicated BBM key is a handy feature but I doubt if it would become a standard feature in future BB10 smartphones.

The 9220 is one of the few phones that run on the latest BlackBerry OS 7.1. In fact, many BlackBerry models that are priced higher than the 9220 haven’t received the update, yet. The UI is much fluid and contemporary, especially considering those who have been using the 8520. Apps can now be connected with BBM, which could come handy especially when it comes to sharing stuff from Twitter and Facebook. I could not find the option to set up the phone’s mobile hotspot feature, which was considered to be one of the major USPs of the new OS. RIM might have skipped this feature for the 9220 as it doesn’t support 3G. Overall, existing 8520 users would find it refreshing, especially when it comes to the browser and other UI elements.