BlackBerry Curve 9320 Review: Affordable QWERTY Smartphone

BlackBerry Curve 9320 (2012) – Entry-Level QWERTY Smartphone with OS 7.1 & Dedicated BBM Key

Definition

The BlackBerry Curve 9320 is an entry-level GSM/HSPA QWERTY smartphone announced on May 9, 2012, and released in May 2012 by BlackBerry (then Research In Motion, RIM). It is a member of the Curve series, tailored for budget – oriented users, especially those who value messaging, BBM (BlackBerry Messenger), and basic productivity. It features a 2.44 – inch QVGA display, a 3.2MP rear camera with LED flash, dedicated BBM key, GPS, Wi – Fi, and runs BlackBerry OS 7.1, targeting prepaid and mid – tier markets globally, competing with devices like the Nokia Asha 311 and Samsung Galaxy Y Pro DUOS.

Core Identity & Release Context

Launch: Announced May 9, 2012; released in May 2012; initial price ~110 EUR (unlocked); available via carriers like Vodafone, O2, T – Mobile, and prepaid retailers; model code: Armstrong.
Key Differentiators: Dedicated BBM hardware key; 3.2MP rear camera with LED flash (vs. 2MP on Curve 9220); 3G HSPA, Wi – Fi, and GPS (Curve 9220 lacks 3G/GPS); BlackBerry OS 7.1 with mobile hotspot support; 512MB RAM/ROM; expandable storage up to 32GB.
Market Role: Positioned as an affordable upgrade to the Curve 9220, targeting first – time smartphone users, students, and budget – focused business users who need reliable messaging and basic connectivity.
Legacy: One of the last Curve devices before BlackBerry shifted to BB10, popularizing dedicated BBM keys and solid QWERTY messaging in the entry – level segment, maintaining BlackBerry’s market share in emerging and prepaid markets.

Full Technical Specifications

Design & Display

Aspect	Details
Form Factor	Candybar with 4 – row physical QWERTY keyboard; optical trackpad (below display); dedicated BBM key (left – side convenience key); volume rocker, power/end key, mute key, send key; rear – mounted camera with LED flash.
Display	2.44 – inch TFT LCD; 65K colors; resolution 320×240 pixels (QVGA, 4:3, ~164 ppi); backlit; no touch support; typical brightness ~200 nits; ~28.2% screen – to – body ratio.
Build	Plastic frame + plastic back; no IP rating; colors: Black, White, Fuchsia Pink, Teal Blue (carrier – dependent).
Dimensions & Weight	109×60×12.7 mm; 103 g (3.63 oz).
Controls & Ports	Volume rocker, power/end key, mute key, BBM key, send key; 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB 2.0 (charging/data); Mini – SIM slot; hot – swappable microSDHC slot (up to 32GB, 2GB card pre – installed).

Performance & Software

Component	Specifications
Processor	806 MHz single – core Qualcomm MSM7227A CPU; Adreno 200 GPU; 512MB RAM, 512MB internal ROM (user – available ~256MB).
Storage	512MB internal ROM; expandable via microSDHC card (up to 32GB, hot – swappable).
OS	BlackBerry OS 7.1; supports push email (BES/BIS), BBM, IM (AIM, MSN, Yahoo! Messenger), organizer apps (calendar, contacts, tasks, notes); mobile hotspot (up to 5 devices); Java MIDP 2.1 support.
Sensors	No fingerprint scanner; no accelerometer; basic proximity/ambient light sensors for call screen wake/sleep and brightness adjustment.

Camera System

Camera	Specifications
Rear Camera	3.2MP main (fixed focus, f/2.8, LED flash); video recording: VGA (640×480 pixels)@15fps; still image resolution up to 2048×1536 pixels; features: geotagging, photo caller ID.
Front Camera	None; no video call support.

Connectivity & Network

Feature	Specifications
Network	Quad – band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), tri – band UMTS/HSPA (800/850/1900/2100 MHz or 900/1700/1900 MHz), HSDPA 7.2 Mbps / HSUPA 5.76 Mbps; GPRS/EDGE support.
Wi – Fi & Bluetooth	Wi – Fi 802.11 b/g/n (hotspot/direct); Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (A2DP for stereo audio).
Navigation	Integrated GPS with A – GPS; supports BlackBerry Maps and third – party navigation apps (e.g., TeleNav).
Other	3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB 2.0; FM radio with RDS; no NFC.

Battery & Charging

Aspect	Details
Battery	1450mAh removable Li – Ion battery; model: C – S2 compatible.
Charging	5W wired charging via microUSB; 0–100% in ~3 hours; no wireless charging.
Battery Life	Up to 7 hours of talk time; up to 432 hours (18 days) of standby time; mixed usage (email, calls, browsing) up to 2 days.

Key Features & User Experience

Dedicated BBM Key: Instant access to BlackBerry Messenger, a key selling point for social and messaging – focused users, enabling quick chat initiation and notifications.
Physical QWERTY Keyboard: Four – row, backlit keys with tactile feedback, optimized for fast typing and long – form messaging, a hallmark of BlackBerry’s user experience.
BlackBerry OS 7.1: Mobile hotspot support, improved browser performance, and better multimedia playback compared to earlier OS versions, enhancing productivity and connectivity.
Connectivity: 3G HSPA, Wi – Fi, and GPS provided reliable data access and navigation, addressing limitations of the Curve 9220 (no 3G/GPS).
Removable Battery: 1450mAh removable battery allowed easy replacement, extending device lifespan for users in regions with limited charging access.

Market Reception & Limitations

Reception

Affordability: Praised for its low price, making it accessible to budget users and first – time smartphone owners.
Messaging Prowess: Dedicated BBM key and physical QWERTY keyboard were highlights for heavy messengers and BBM users.
Connectivity: 3G, Wi – Fi, and GPS were significant upgrades over the Curve 9220, improving data speeds and navigation capabilities.

Limitations

Software Support: No upgrade to BB10 or Android, and limited app ecosystem compared to iOS/Android, reducing long – term usability as the market evolved.

Display Quality: QVGA resolution and 65K – color display were outdated compared to competitors like the Nokia Lumia 610, affecting media viewing.

Camera Performance: 3.2MP fixed – focus camera with no autofocus and low – resolution video recording (VGA@15fps) limited casual photography appeal.

Performance: Single – core 806MHz processor and 512MB RAM struggled with multitasking and later app updates, leading to slowdowns with heavy usage.