BlackBerry has announced the launch of its latest Curve series handset for the Indian market, the BlackBerry Curve 9360. This launch is right on schedule as per the plans shared by a BlackBerry spokesperson earlier this year.
Curve 9360 replaces the older Curve 8520 and brings along a sleeker, better looking version of Curve for its users in India. We got to lay our hands on the new device for some time. Read on to know our impression of the BlackBerry 9360 Curve:
The BlackBerry product design team deserves an applause for making this device as good looking as it is. Although BlackBerry 9360 is the same in terms of length and breadth BlackBerry has managed to take 2.9 mm in thickness and 7 grams off the phone. There is not much change as far as weight reduction is concerned but while holding the device every gram counts. Along with the change in dimension the company has also given the smartphone a completely new look and has added Chrome trimming all over the device, which gives it a sleeker look as compared to its predecessor.
Curve 9360 has a 2.44 inch TFT LCD screen like its predecessor, but the display has 246 PPI pixel density as compared to the 163 PPI pixel density display used in the Curve 8520. The display is definitely better as far as visual reproduction is concerned and plays HD video as well. Although Curve 9360 is directly targeted at the youth it still misses out on the multimedia shortcut keys featured on the Curve 8520, but the standard 3.5 mm audio connector and microUSB connector ensure easy connectivity with most other devices.
The device is powered by RIM’s newest BlackBerry 7 OS, and runs on an 800 MHz single core processor so you can expect this device to be fast. However, more information will only be delivered with a more detailed review of the phone. Curve 9360 comes with 512 MB of RAM, a 512 MB ROM, 4 GB of Internal Memory and an option to expand the memory up to 32 GB via a microSD card.
Curve 9360 also gets a 5 Megapixel camera with flash, which is a big leap over the 2 megapixel camera featured on the 8520. The device can record video as well but it is still capable of recording in VGA mode only.
The keypad and trackpad have both been upgraded and improved and the keys now offer better feedback and require less effort to get work done. The keys have been made smaller in size but have been spaced out well for speedy, more comfortable operation. The trackpad is somewhat similar to the one on the Bold 9900. It is accurate and highly sensitive as well, thus improving navigation multifold as compared to the 8520.
This is just a first look preview of the Curve 9360, but keep looking at this space for more updates on the device as and when we get the device for a fuller and more detailed review covering the performance and usability aspects as well.