RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 in Smartphones

But battery life, which has always been one of the BlackBerry key strengths, is good, and the 1400mAh battery in the Curve 8900 means that in normal use it'll last for several days between charges - it managed a huge 98hrs 22mins in our real world tests. However, do bear in mind that if you switch the Wi-Fi and GPS on the battery will drain much faster.

Most existing Curve (and older BlackBerry) users will find the 8900 a worthy and welcome upgrade. The keyboard is good despite its compact dimensions, the screen great and the battery life extremely impressive. The feeble vibrate may be a problem for some, and the lack of 3G keeps it off our A List, but despite these niggles it still deserves a recommended award.

Author: Paul Ockenden