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CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 05/14/2008
- Updated on: 11/07/2009
We imagine Sprint customers have been waiting a long time for this, but the time has finally come. Yes, the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 is now available, and it brings the same great design of its GSM counterparts and even adds 3G to boot. Like the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 for AT&T, the Curve 8330 has integrated GPS so you can use it with Sprint Navigation or some other mobile mapping application to get driving directions and local search right on your smartphone. It also offers Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera with video recording, and BlackBerry's tried-and-true messaging capabilities. The only downsides were the lack of Wi-Fi and the less-than-pristine call quality. That said, the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 is still worth it. Plus, Sprint's version of the Curve offers support for the carrier's multimedia services and more instant-messaging clients, making it a better value than the Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Curve. The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 for Sprint is available now for $179.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and discounts.
Design
Given the inclusion of a 3G chip, the Sprint RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 is slightly thicker and heavier than its GSM variant, measuring 4.2 inches high by 2.4 inches wide by 0.6 inch deep and weighing 4.2 ounces. The smartphone comes in a titanium color, though unlike the AT&T BlackBerry Curve 8310, the QWERTY keyboard features black keys and a black trim around the display instead of silver.
Speaking of the display, the Curve 8330 features a 2.5-inch nontouch screen with a 65,536 color output and a 320x240 pixel resolution. As with the latest BlackBerry models, the Curve also has a light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts the backlight depending on whether you're in a dark room, outdoors, and so forth. This function worked well, and we found the display to be sharp and readable in most situations--colors do tend to wash out in bright sunlight. Though the BlackBerry Curve 8330 comes with Sprint's home screen set as the default, you can change the background display and theme, as well as the font size and font type.
The rest of the Sprint Curve's design is pretty much in line with the other models. Below the display, you'll find the standard Talk and End keys, trackball navigator, and a Main Menu and back button. The last two controls have more of a concave shape than the bubbly ones found on the AT&T and T-Mobile versions. We didn't have a preference to either style as both are easy to press. The full QWERTY keyboard has smallish buttons, but the spacing between the keys allow for easier typing.
On the left side, you get a 3.5mm headphone jack, a mini USB port, and a customizable convenience key, while there's a volume rocker and another user-programmable shortcut key (set to activate the camera by default) on the right spine. The camera lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are located on the back. Finally, there is a microSD expansion slot, but it's located behind the battery, so it's a bit of pain to access.
Sprint packages its RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a wired headset, a 1GB microSD card, a software CD, and reference material. For more add-ons, please check our cell phones accessories, ringtones, and help page.
Features
The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 for Sprint comes loaded with features, some that make it a better value than the competition. To start, there's integrated GPS with support for Sprint Navigation. The carrier's location-based service offers turn-by-turn text- and voice-guided directions complete with text-to-speech functionality, local search, traffic updates, and other navigation tools. Sprint Navigation is an add-on service ($2.99 per day or $9.99 per month/unlimited use), so if you don't want to spend the extra money can get similar features from Google Maps for Mobile or the preloaded BlackBerry Maps app.
Now, while you get GPS, the trade-off is there's no integrated Wi-Fi (it seems we can't have it all). However, the omission is not so bad considering that the Curve 8330 is EV-DO capable. With it, you'll get data speeds of around 300Kbps to 600Kbps, with the potential to hit up to 2.4Mbps. This should make surfing the Net on your mobile much faster, and it'll also be smoother since the Curve 8330 includes an improved Web browser with a mouse-like onscreen cursor.
Another area where you can take advantage of the 3G speeds is multimedia. Unlike the Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8330, the Sprint model offers support for the carrier's various multimedia services, including Sprint TV and the Sprint Music Store. Sprint offers these services as part of the Sprint Power Vision pack, which ranges in price from $15 to $25 per month. Sprint TV gives you access to programming from a variety of channels, including CNN, Comedy Central, and Sprint Exclusive Entertainment. In addition, you can listen to live streaming music and talk radio from Sirius, VH1 Mobile, and MTV Mobile. Meanwhile, the Sprint Music Store offers simultaneous track downloads both to your PC and wirelessly to your phone. Songs cost $0.99, or you can get a six-pack for $5.94. Also, be aware that you'll need to store them to a microSD card; otherwise you won't be able to download the tracks.
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