Verizon Wireless BlackBerry 8530 Curve

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 5 expert reviews

Excellent:

0
Good:

0
Average:

5
Bad:

0

Pros:

Good trackpad and keyboard experience, good GPS performance.
Compact, lightweight design, Fast processor, Spacious keyboard and responsive trackpad, Convenient multimedia keys
Lighter and faster than before. Finally includes Wi-Fi. Good voice quality. Excellent QWERTY keyboard.

Cons:

Battery life isn’t very good.
Poor Web browser, Low-res screen, No camera flash

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Last revision on August 15, 2011

Reviewers Liked

Good trackpad and keyboard experience, good GPS performance
Compact, lightweight design, Fast processor, Spacious keyboard and responsive trackpad, Convenient multimedia keys
Lighter and faster than before. Finally includes Wi-Fi. Good voice quality. Excellent QWERTY keyboard
The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 has 3G and GPS support, which the T-Mobile version did not. The compact smartphone also offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 2-megapixel camera

Reviewers Didn't Like

Battery life isn’t very good
Poor Web browser, Low-res screen, No camera flash
Low screen resolution. Middling camera. Updated Web browser is still clunky
The smartphone feels a bit cheap in the hand and has a low-resolution screen. You can only save apps to the phone's main memory

Expert reviews and ratings

For Verizon users who have been waiting for the new entry-level Curve, the 8530 is finally here. The Curve 8530 is a solid smartphone with decent specs, and it has the new trackpad and the dedicated media control buttons on top. The smartphone feels...

By MobileTechReview on February 17, 2010

Verizon’s second Curve is faster and sleeker than the original, but the Web browser needs...

By LaptopMag on December 17, 2009

RIM updates its popular Curve on Verizon by adding Wi-Fi, a faster CPU, and BlackBerry OS 5.0, but it's still not enough to lead the...

By PC Mag on December 09, 2009

While we're not huge fans of the design, the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 is a good choice for first-time smartphone buyers and offers more than its GSM counterpart. Read full review See all prices Check coverage in your...

By cnet on December 04, 2009

It's clear that the target audience for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 is new smartphone users. Those upgrading from the Curve 8330 will face a tough decision: the Curve 8530, which offers the trackpad and Wi-Fi; or the Tour 9630, which offers a higher...

By PhoneDog on December 04, 2009

The Blackberry Curve 8530 is a new smartphone for Sprint customers. Packed with plenty of features for work and play, it should satisfy a wide demographic. You can pick up the Curve 8530 for just $49.99 after rebates and a two-year contract from...

By Dev Hardware on April 07, 2010

Overall there are a lot of great features working for the BlackBerry Curve 8530. I did notice that the device would occasionally hang, and there is no GSM support in this . These were the two standout cons I noticed but they seem a small price to pay...

By Brighthand on January 04, 2010

As a lower-end version of the Bold, some of the Curve’s shortcomings in terms of build quality are expected. Current BlackBerry users, especially those who have owned the Curve, will love the familiarity of the BlackBerry OS and the physical...

By Skatter Tech on January 01, 2010

We’re really torn about the Curve 8530. On one hand we think it’s a great little smartphone that will please a large number of people at the somewhat decent price of $99.99 on a 2-year. The only problem is that you can get something like the...

By The Boy Genius Report on November 26, 2009