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BlackBerry Curve 9370 for Verizon (photos)

Verizon's update to the quintessential Curve is small and stylish, but there are some pros and cons hidden within the design.

Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Jessica Dolcourt
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BlackBerry 7 OS at last

At long last, here comes Verizon's version of the BlackBerry Curve 9370, the third in RIM's wave of Curves outfitted with BlackBerry 7 OS.

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2 of 9 Josh Miller/CNET

Improvements

The OS brings with it a satchel full of improvements, including a much more vibrant display and support for NFC. The screen (not a touch screen!) and keyboard are a little cramped, but comfort navigating around comes down in part to the size of your hands.
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Travel-ready

Although Verizon is a CDMA network, the Curve 9370 is ready to traverse GSM territory--outside the U.S.--thanks to a SIM card slot.
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4 of 9 Josh Miller/CNET

Look and feel

It's a compact, but fairly stylish, handset.
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Some flaws

Unfortunately, RIM missed the mark with the thin, uncomfortable volume rocker and camera shutter button.
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Photo prowess

(Note: I took all photos using automatic controls. While resized, the photos are otherwise unaltered.) The 5-megapixel camera took some pretty good shots. This close-up of the flower bed outside CNET's office had a wide area in focus, and colors were vibrant without being candied.
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Not so much

The photo looked pretty good on the Curve 9370's 2.4-inch screen, but looked unfocused and grainy when blown up.
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8 of 9 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Play time

Peer closely at the toys on CNET copy editor Jeff Sparkman's desk and you'll see plenty of digital noise. Thankfully, the Curve 9370 maintains even focus throughout the shot, unlike many other smartphone cameras that trip up over this tableau.
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9 of 9 Josh Miller/CNET

S-s-s-studio

The camera phone did well in this typical studio shot, without washing the scene in blue, orange, or muddied hues.

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