BlackBerry Curve 9320 review

RIM's latest attempt at a cheap-as-chips smartphone

BlackBerry Curve 9320 review
The definitive BlackBerry Curve 9320 review

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If you think we were slightly negative about the BlackBerry Curve 9320's camera, hold that face. We're the same about the video recording facility too.

As before, you will encounter absolutely no problem if you're just planning on using the phone to shoot the occasional mini-movie for MMS or email. Anything more and you will be disappointed.

The video isn't bad - it looks OK on the screen but, again, the resolution just makes the experience look a little more shoddy. It's good old fashioned VGA quality, at 640 x 480. Again, you'd be forgiven for thinking you're in 2007. An MMS-friendly size is also on offer, at the expense of quality.

BlackBerry Curve 9320

There are various scene modes included just like in the camera app (although fewer of them) and image stabilisation rears its head here again but, also again, we couldn't really see what it offered.

There is a video light, but annoyingly you have to decide if you want to have it on or off before you start shooting your video, which is irritating - especially if you're moving around between light and dark or maybe shooting in twilight. You have to stop recording to toggle it on and off, which can ruin videos.

Annoyingly, there is what looks like an icon at the bottom of the screen for you to turn the light on and off. But unfortunately, it's just a notifier, letting you know if your light is on or off (like you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at the back of the phone) and is just a waste of screen real estate. It's annoying and shows that RIM hasn't really thought this whole bit of the OS through.

Most people won't notice or mind, but we did, and it irked us.

Another issue is that you have to put a memory card into the BlackBerry Curve 9320 to be able to shoot video. That's because you only get 512MB of storage. Retail units may come with a memory card included but our review device didn't, so it may be worth checking before you buy.