BlackBerry Curve 9360 vs. BlackBerry Curve 8520 Comparison : Price, Specs, Design - Is 9360 Worth the Upgrade?

So... you're a BlackBerry Curve 8520 owner and you're finally thinking about upgrading to BlackBerry Curve 9360?

BlackBerry Curve 9360 released in Q4 2011 and BlackBerry Curve 8520 from 2010, respectively.

But the question in your mind is, "Is 9260 worth the upgrade?"

Well, I've taken the liberty of comparing the two handsets in terms of design, specifications and software to help you make the right decision, hopefully.

Design

Design-wise, as expected of a next generation handset, BB Curve 9360 is not only thinner than BB Curve 8520 but also comes replete with more metal accents that not only make it look more elegant but also gives it a more solid feel in the hand.

The volume up and down buttons and convenience key of BB Curve 9360 aren't particularly design highlights of the phone but I can appreciate the fact that they are less stiff - if a bit - and as such, a tad easier to press than those of BB Curve 8520.

But if there's one thing that BB Curve 8520 owners will miss on the BB Curve 9360 in terms of design, I think it's the music control buttons on top of the handset. I'm thinking RIM ditched them in favor a slimmer profile.

Overall - that is, regardless of panel or side - I think BB Curve 9360 looks a lot better than 8520.

Specifications:

For this, check out our borderline traditional TP Specs Comparison:

TP Specs Comparison Table: BlackBerry Curve 9360 vs. BlackBerry Curve 8520
Detail/Feature	BlackBerry Curve 9360	BlackBerry Curve 8520
Availability and Price in Philippines	Out Now! Php 14,000 in malls	Still out! Currently Php 8,000 in malls Price upon release back in 2010 is Php 14,000
Dimensions/ Weight	109 x 60 x 11 mm 99 g	115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm 140 g
Screen/ Features	2.44-inch, 480 x 360 pixels, TFT, 16Million colors	2.46-inch, 320 x 240 pixels, TFT, 65K colors
Operating System	BlackBerry 7.0 OS	BlackBerry 5.0 OS
CPU	800 MHz	512 MHz
Internal storage	512 MB	256 MB
RAM	512 MB	128 MB
Wifi	Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
3G	Yes, 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA	No
MicroSD Card Slot	Yes, supports up to 32GB	Yes, supports up to 32GB
Camera	Back, Still Camera: 5 MegaPixels, 2592x1944 pixels, fixed focus, LED flash Video Capture: VGA, LED video light Front, Secondary Camera: No	Black, Still Camera: 2 MegaPixels, 1600x1200 pixels, fixed focus, no flash Video Capture: QVGA Front, Secondary Camera: No
Accelerometer	No	No
3-axis Gyroscope	No	No
Digital Compass	No	No
GPRS/EDGE	Yes	Yes
GPS	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP	Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Built-in MicroUSB Port	Yes, v2.0	Yes, v2.0
Audio Jack	Yes, 3.5mm	Yes, 3.5mm
HDMI Port	No	No
Stereo FM Radio	No	No
Games and Apps	Yes, via BlackBerry App World	Yes, via BlackBerry App World
Java	Yes	Yes
Browser - Flash support	No	No
Battery Type	Li-Ion 1000 mAh	Li-Ion 1150 mAh

As you can see, BB Curve 9360 pretty much slays BB Curve 8520 in terms of specs (processor, RAM, camera, video recorder, name it), save for battery size. Actually, that's one thing I want to point out regarding 9360; It barely lasts me whole day on Wifi. I think RIM should definitely look into this and figure out how they can extend the uptime of their future smartphones.

Software:

BB Curve 9360 runs BlackBerry 7 OS vs. the BlackBerry 5 OS of BB Curve 8520 (Note that BB Curve 8520 comes with BB 4.7 OS out of the box, but you can upgrade it to BB 5. BB Curve 8520, however, does not support BB7).

BlackBerry 7 OS comes with key enhancements that will surely put a smile on the face of any hardcore BB fan. These improvements include a faster browser, the new Social Feeds app, BlackBerry Maps, BlackBerry Protect which lets you wipe, lock or locate your BB remotely, and a more appealing user interface.

If anything, I think BB 7 Operating System is the main selling point of BB Curve 9360.

So is BlackBerry Curve 9360 worth the upgrade?

If you want a thinner, more gorgeous Curve and you want to enjoy the many benefits of BlackBerry 7 OS along with the specs bump that BB 9360 offers - especially the 3G connectivity support, the faster CPU, the higher resolution display, and the 5 MegaPixel camera with flash - without breaking the bank, by all means, upgrade now. (And come on, BB Curve 8520 is already two years old -- that's like, uhm, a decade in tech years.)