Welcome to August 2009, and RIM has just released the phone that is about to become the unofficial uniform of every teenager in Britain. The BlackBerry Curve 8520, better known simply as the ‘Gemini,’ is a technical masterclass in ‘accessible’ engineering. It has ditched the premium chrome and leather of the Bold for a rugged, rubberised finish that is built to survive the rigours of the school bus and the local park. At 106g, it’s light, tactile, and features the first major technical departure for the brand: the ‘Optical Trackpad.’
The headline technical innovation is that tiny, touch-sensitive square that has replaced the mechanical trackball. No longer do you have to worry about pocket lint clogging up your navigation; the optical sensor is reliable, precise, and significantly more durable. It also introduces dedicated media keys on the top of the device, Play, Pause, and Skip, which are a bold technical admission that the BlackBerry is now as much about music and YouTube as it is about emails and spreadsheets. The keyboard remains a triumph, offering that signature ‘clicky’ feedback that makes ‘BBMing’ (BlackBerry Messenger) the primary form of communication for an entire generation.
Under the hood, the 8520 is a 2G-only device (EDGE), which is a significant technical compromise to keep the price low. However, it features Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), which is a godsend for the UK youth market who want to stay connected without burning through their ‘pay-as-you-go’ data. The screen is a 2.46-inch LCD with a 320 x 240 resolution; it’s not as sharp as the Bold, but it’s remarkably bright and clear. It features a 2.0-megapixel camera without a flash, which is basic but functional for a quick snap to send over BBM.
One of the best technical features of the 8520 is its sheer efficiency. Because it lacks 3G and GPS, the 1150 mAh battery is a marathon runner, easily lasting three or four days on a single charge. It also features a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD slot that supports up to 32GB, making it a very capable MP3 player. The Curve 8520 is the phone that democratised the ‘smartphone’ experience for the UK masses. It’s not a high-spec beast, but it is reliable, social, and perfectly tuned to the needs of its audience. It is the definitive ‘social’ phone of the decade.