US$ 406 US$ 299.00

Nokia stands for simple and durable, LG stands for superfine and Samsung stands for versatility… They best suit the customers with their uniqueness from upper level to lower lever. This time, we get Blackberry Curve 8520 on hand which is offering at a bargain price. As Blackberry used to be catered to the higher end, with their push into the consumer market the need for an entry model seems to be inevitable. We're more than welcome to extend our BlackBerry streak.

What’s inside? The Blackberry Curve 8520 phone, a battery, a charger, a data cable, a stereo handsfree, a CD-ROM and a user’s guide.

The new Curve follow the traditional Blackberry layout: 3.4” screen with a full QWERTY keyboard. It is just a bit thicker than the Curve 8900. The display is unfortunately only 320x240 like the Curve 8300, a noticeable downgrade from recent RIM units. It is still sharp and crisp though, and QVGA isn’t exactly poor. For an entry level unit it’s more than acceptable.

The keyboard layout is the same as always. The only different is the trackball has been replaced with an optical trackpad which is basically an optical mouse that has been turned upside down. It works quite well in general, though is probably a bit more difficult to control than the trackball.

The top of the phone offers the user media control buttons, the middle of which doubles as a mute button.

The top left hosts a 3.5mm headphone jack and microUSB data/charging port.

Turn to the right side, it is rubber convenience and volume keys on the edges of the device. They seem to be very durable by keeping dust out of the phone all the while.

The back houses a simple 2 MP camera. There is no flash this time around. The shiny black plastic is a fingerprint magnet but looks pretty when clean.

Take off the battery cover, you may access the microSD slot.

Reception on GSM networks seems on par with the 8900, it is generally good enough. It features the same basic form factor as the original 8300 series devices, but gets some nicely upgraded features like runs on faster CPU (512MHz processor), better user interface etc. and more modern styling in a package that is roughly the same sized as the more expensive Curve 8900, however, lacks of some significant features, including support for high-speed 3G networks and GPS functionality. A standard headphone jack, as well as dedicated playback controls at the top of the device and the reasonable price will be the trade-off. I can say Curve 8520 is more media-friendly than older versions.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 Video Review