The BlackBerry Curve 9360 and Q10 represent different eras of BlackBerry's smartphone journey. The Curve 9360 was a popular, compact device, while the Q10 aimed to modernize the BlackBerry experience with a larger screen and improved features. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The BlackBerry Q10 is the clear winner. Its superior processing power, improved camera capabilities (including video recording), and significantly better display contrast offer a more modern and enjoyable user experience compared to the Curve 9360’s more basic feature set.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - SQN100-1 |
| 4G bands | - | 2, 4, 5, 17 - SQN100-1, SQN100-5 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, HSPA, LTE (market dependent) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 | 25 - SQN100-4 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, August. Released 2011, August | 2013, January. Released 2013, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 109 x 60 x 11 mm (4.29 x 2.36 x 0.43 in) | 119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4 mm (4.71 x 2.63 x 0.41 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 99 g (3.49 oz) | 139 g (4.90 oz) |
| | Optical trackpad | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 480 x 360 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~246 ppi density) | 720 x 720 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~328 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.44 inches, 18.4 cm2 (~28.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.1 inches, 31.0 cm2 (~38.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 800MHz | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait (LTE version)/ Cortex-A9 (Non-LTE) |
| Chipset | - | Snapdragon S4 (LTE version)/ TI OMAP 4470 (Non-LTE) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 225 (LTE version)/ PowerVR SGX544 (Non-LTE) |
| OS | BlackBerry OS 7.0 | BlackBerry OS 10, upgradable to 10.3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 512MB 512MB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | 480p | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 2 MP |
| Video | - | 720p |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (after SW upgrade) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, UMA (carrier-dependent) | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML | - |
| Sensors | - | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV/FLAC player
MP4/H.264/WMV player
Organizer
Document viewer
Voice memo/dial
Predictive text input | HDMI port |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 25 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 336 h (2G) / Up to 288 h (3G) | Up to 360 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 5 h (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G) | Up to 10 h (2G) / Up to 13 h 30 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Purple, Pink | Black, White |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | 1.42 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) | 1.16 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.22 W/kg (head) 0.62 W/kg (body) | 1.41 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -85.9dB / Crosstalk -82.1dB |
Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -82.7dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 56h
|
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1054:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.856:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 69dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB
|
Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
|
BlackBerry Curve 9360
- Compact and lightweight
- Physical QWERTY keyboard
- Affordable
- Outdated processor
- Limited camera features (no video)
- Lower screen quality
- No LTE
BlackBerry Q10
- Faster processor
- Improved display
- Photo and video recording
- LTE connectivity (certain models)
- Larger screen
- Larger size compared to Curve 9360
- Potentially higher price (when new)
Display Comparison
The Q10 boasts a vastly superior display. While the Curve 9360's 1054:1 contrast ratio is decent, the Q10's 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast, coupled with a 2.856:1 sunlight readability rating, provides significantly better visibility and image quality, especially outdoors. The Q10's larger screen size also contributes to a more immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
The Q10 offers a significant advantage in the camera department. It features both photo and video recording capabilities, whereas the Curve 9360 is limited to still photos. The Q10's camera likely also has better image quality due to more modern sensor technology, although specific megapixel counts are not provided.
Performance
The Q10's Snapdragon S4 or TI OMAP 4470 chipset with a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor (or Cortex-A9) leaves the Curve 9360's 800MHz CPU in the dust. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall user experience on the Q10.
Battery Life
Both devices are reported to have an endurance rating of 56 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the Q10's more efficient processor and larger battery (likely) could provide slightly better real-world performance.
Buying Guide
The BlackBerry Curve 9360 is ideal for users seeking a compact, affordable BlackBerry with a physical keyboard and basic smartphone functionality. The BlackBerry Q10 is better suited for users who want a larger screen, faster performance, and a more modern BlackBerry experience, particularly those needing LTE connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the BlackBerry Curve 9360 still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with limitations. It can still handle basic tasks, but its outdated hardware means it will struggle with modern apps and websites. Network compatibility may also be an issue depending on your carrier.
❓ What is the main difference between the Curve 9360 and the Q10?
The Q10 offers a significantly faster processor, a better display, video recording capabilities, and LTE connectivity (in some models), making it a more modern and capable smartphone.
