BlackBerry Curve 9380: The First All-Touch Model

BlackBerry Curve 9380 (2011)

English Definition

The BlackBerry Curve 9380 is a touchscreen-only entry-level business-oriented smartphone released in November 2011 by Research In Motion (RIM, now BlackBerry Limited), part of the iconic Curve lineup. As the first Curve model to feature a full touchscreen (ditching the physical QWERTY keyboard of its predecessors), it targets casual business users, students and mainstream consumers seeking BlackBerry’s signature email/BBM functionality with a more consumer-friendly touch interface. It runs BlackBerry OS 7.0, equipped with a 3.2-inch touch display, 5MP rear camera, 800MHz single-core processor and BlackBerry’s proprietary trackpad, competing with mid-range devices like the Nokia C7 and Samsung Galaxy Ace in the early 2010s smartphone market.

Core Specifications

Category	Details
Launch & Positioning	Released: November 2011; entry-level business touchscreen smartphone; single variant: 512MB RAM + 512MB internal storage; launch price: ~€250 (unlocked); colors: Black, White, Pink; model number: 9380; GSM/3G only
Display	3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen; 480×360 pixels (1:1.33 aspect ratio, ~184 ppi); 262K colors; multi-touch support; scratch-resistant glass coating; no high-brightness mode
Processor & Performance	Marvell PXA930 single-core processor @ 800MHz; Adreno 200 GPU; 512MB RAM (DDR2); 512MB internal flash storage; microSDHC expandable up to 32GB (dedicated slot); BlackBerry OS 7.0 (non-upgradable to higher OS versions)
Camera System	– Rear: 5MP sensor (f/2.8 aperture, fixed focus); LED flash; 4x digital zoom; panorama, HDR (basic); video recording: 480p (VGA) @30fps (no EIS)- Front: No front camera; no video call support
Battery & Charging	1230mAh removable Li-ion battery (model: M-S1); talk time: up to 5 hours (3G); standby time: up to 18 days (2G) / 12 days (3G); charging via micro-USB 2.0 (5V/0.5A); no fast charging; USB OTG (basic file transfer)
Connectivity	3G HSPA+ (14.4Mbps download / 5.76Mbps upload); GSM 850/900/1800/1900; Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only); Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (A2DP, AVRCP); GPS/A-GPS (BlackBerry Maps pre-installed); micro-USB 2.0 (data/charging); 3.5mm headphone jack; no NFC, no 4G LTE
Build & Design	Compact candybar form factor; plastic unibody (matte finish back panel); dimensions: 109×60×11.2 mm; weight: 98g; front-mounted optical trackpad (below touchscreen); physical call/end, menu, escape keys; volume/ mute keys on side; removable battery cover
Software & Features	BlackBerry OS 7.0; BlackBerry Messenger (BBM 6.0, free instant messaging for BlackBerry users); push email (Exchange, Lotus Notes, POP3/IMAP); BlackBerry App World; web browser (HTML5 support); organizer (calendar, contacts, tasks, memo); FM radio; no touch ID/face unlock (only password/PIN security)

Key Features & Market Position

First Touchscreen-Only BlackBerry CurveA landmark for the Curve lineup, the 9380 replaced the series’ classic physical QWERTY keyboard with a full 3.2-inch touchscreen, while retaining the iconic front optical trackpad for precise navigation—blending BlackBerry’s business-focused utility with a more consumer-centric touch interface for the first time in the Curve range.
BlackBerry OS 7.0 & Signature ProductivityRunning BlackBerry OS 7.0 (the last major release for BlackBerry’s proprietary OS before BB10), it delivered the brand’s core strengths: push email (real-time enterprise email sync), BBM 6.0 (with group chats and file sharing), and a polished productivity suite (calendar, contacts, tasks). The OS was optimized for the 800MHz processor, ensuring smooth performance for business-critical tasks.
Compact & Lightweight BuildAt just 98g and 11.2mm thick, it was one of the most portable BlackBerry smartphones of 2011, with a pocket-friendly candybar design and tactile physical keys for core functions (call/end, trackpad). The matte plastic back reduced fingerprints and added grip, ideal for daily on-the-go use.
Expandable Storage & Basic MultimediaA dedicated microSD slot (up to 32GB) addressed the limited 512MB internal storage, supporting media files (music, photos, videos) and app installations. It featured a 5MP rear camera with LED flash (rare for entry-level BlackBerrys in 2011), 3.5mm headphone jack and FM radio, catering to basic consumer multimedia needs alongside business use.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

First touchscreen Curve model, combining BlackBerry’s productivity with a consumer-friendly touch interface.
Iconic BlackBerry push email and BBM 6.0, unrivaled for business communication in 2011.
Ultra-compact and lightweight design (98g) for easy portability and one-handed use.
Dedicated microSD slot (up to 32GB) for flexible storage expansion (no hybrid slot compromise).
Removable battery for easy replacement/backup (a staple BlackBerry feature for enterprise users).
Optical trackpad for precise navigation, complementing the touchscreen for text selection and menu browsing.

Limitations

No physical QWERTY keyboard, alienating loyal Curve users who preferred tactile typing for emails/BBM.
Outdated single-core 800MHz processor, struggling with heavy multitasking or modern apps/games.
Low-resolution 480×360 display (184 ppi) with only 262K colors, lagging behind FHD/16M color competitors.
No front camera, making video calls impossible (a key feature in mid-range 2011 smartphones).
Basic 5MP fixed-focus camera with low-quality VGA video (480p), no OIS/EIS for shaky shots.
No 4G LTE or NFC, lacking future-proof connectivity for the emerging 4G era.
Non-upgradable BlackBerry OS 7.0, with no support for BB10 or Android apps (BB App World had a limited app library).
No wireless charging or fast charging, with slow 5V/0.5A standard charging.

Market Role

The BlackBerry Curve 9380 (2011) was RIM’s strategic attempt to modernize the Curve lineup—its best-selling entry-level business series—for the touchscreen-dominated smartphone market of the early 2010s. It targeted casual business users (e.g., small business owners, office assistants) and mainstream consumers who wanted BlackBerry’s unbeatable email/BBM productivity but preferred a touch interface over a physical keyboard, competing with mid-range touchscreen devices like the Nokia C7 and Samsung Galaxy Ace.

As a transitional device between BlackBerry’s physical keyboard legacy and the upcoming BB10 touchscreen flagships (e.g., BlackBerry Z10), the 9380 filled a niche for budget-conscious users who valued BlackBerry’s enterprise features but did not want to invest in high-end BB10 devices. However, its lack of a physical keyboard alienated core Curve fans, and its outdated hardware/OS could not compete with the growing Android and iOS ecosystems—foreshadowing RIM’s decline in the consumer smartphone market in the years to follow. Despite its limitations, it remained a popular choice for enterprise users in emerging markets (e.g., India, Africa) where BlackBerry’s push email and BBM were still the gold standard for mobile business communication in 2011–2012.