The BlackBerry Curve 8530 generally fits into the BlackBerry line up as a refresher to the now ubiquitous Curve 83xx, and is meant to sit between entry-level models like the Pearl and Pearl Flip, and higher end models like the world-dominating Tour and Bold.
For just $50 from Sprint, users get an innovative trackpad, Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, 3G coverage, and a surprisingly impressive 2 megapixel camera -- all rolled into a nicely sized form factor.
The Curve 8530 compares will the Tour 9630 -- both models are available from Sprint, but the Curve is more affordable.
BUILD & DESIGN
Overall the Curve 8530 has a fashion-forward design aimed at a younger consumer audience. Instead of a chrome bezel and pronounced convenience keys that you find on the Tour, you'll find a rubber strip around the side with convenience keys that seem to bulge out of its sides. On the top of the device you find a set of media-control keys.
The front of the phone shows off what is perhaps its best feature -- the trackpad in place of the traditional trackball. Whether you're a seasoned BB veteran or a newcomer, you'll appreciate the intuitive, easy to use reliable performance of the trackpad. This one feature alone might be enough to knock the Tour out of contention.
The keys on the keyboard are a "chicklet" holdover from the previous generation.
The Talk, End, Return and Menu keys are redesigned as if they are part of the screen -- not a design choice I'm particularly fond of.
The screen itself pales in comparison to the beautiful display on the Tour, but there is nothing outright wrong with it. There's nothing to complain about, but if you were to hold your Curve up to a Tour, you'd notice the difference.
The biggest annoyance, design-wise, is the LED indicator light. On a regular BlackBerry there's no way you're going to miss a message. You will not be distracted by the LED light on the Curve 8530, the indicator which is just a touch bigger than the tip of a ballpoint pen, and its light is... understated, to put it kindly.
Size and Weight
The Curve 8530 overall is smaller than the Tour, and feels lighter, though it still has a very sold and composed feeling to it. You won't hate yourself for dropping this phone -- it feels like it can take a beating which is refreshing compared to some of today's delicate phones.
PERFORMANCE
I've already mentioned that the Curve has a big leg-up over its brethren by having a touchpad instead of the trackball. The aspect where the 8530 really hits it out of the park is with its operating system. The Curve 8530 features BlackBerry OS 5.0, currently the only device on the Sprint lineup to do so.
The 5.0 operating system isn't revolutionary, but offers nice many little improvements, such as wirelessly syncing of contacts with certain email providers, the ability to flag messages for follow up, better application permission management, and vastly improved ability to manage ringing profile settings.
The processor on the Curve 8530 is less powerful than some of its contemporaries, including the Tour, and sometimes it would hang. For most of what you do most of the time, however, you won't notice this lack of power. Power users, on the other hand, should consider a more powerful device.
Voice Quality
Generally the 8530 is a solid performer, but its call quality is only just average.
There was a little background static at times and the sound itself was somewhat hollow. Not a deal breaker, but you get the distinct sense that you're using a cell phone when making calls on this device.
Wireless Data
This BlackBerry boasts a 3G Sprint antenna, GPS, Bluetooth, and best of all Wi-Fi. The latter of these is not available on the Tour -- another point in favor for the Curve.
Though Sprint's 3G coverage isn't as extensive as AT&T or Verizon in my area, wherever I did have coverage there were no hiccups to be found.
Additional Software
Of course, this smartphone includes the now-standard BlackBerry apps: the DataViz DocumentsToGo office suite, Pandora, BlackBerry Maps, and a slew of social networking apps.
Sprint's version of this BlackBerry also comes preloaded with a host of Sprint-specific apps, including Sprint Navigation, Sprint NASCAR, NFL, TV and music apps. Although these apps sound promising, I had a hard time getting them to perform reliably and sometimes couldn't get them to launch at all. This may be a downside of offering the same apps across all of its phones.
Camera
The built-in camera on new generation Curve doesn't have a flash, which is a step backward for BlackBerry. Its 2 megapixel camera also lacks auto-focus and has a lower resolution that the cameras found on other models (Bold 9700, Tour, Storm). Given these considerations however the camera still performs quite well.
CONCLUSION
On other carriers, the BlackBerry Curve 8530 is stripped down and made to fit nicely into place in its product line. For Sprint however, this is not the case. You get the newest operating system, the newest hardware with the track pad, Wi-Fi, all things you won't see on other Sprint BlackBerrys... at the best price.
The Curve 8530 will fall short in certain aspects, though -- it is less powerful than the Tour, its keyboard isn't as slick as it could be, its camera doesn't hit the benchmark of 3.2 megapixel with auto focus, and the screen isn't as impressive.
On balance, however, unless you're a world-traveling power user, the Curve is a much better deal than any other BlackBerry for Sprint right now.
Pros:
Cons:
