Introduction
After losing its throne in the smartphone industry to powerful contenders such as the Apple iPhone, Motorola Droid and Samsung Vibrant, Blackberry released the Blackberry Torch 9800 that has been designed to catapult them back right to the top. Being one of the first Blackberry phones to have the BlackBerry 6 OS, the Blackberry Torch 9800 seem to be a new and improved version of all the other units from BlackBerry. To know how this device really scores, read on.
Design and Construction
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 has a simple yet stylish design, while carrying the traditional look that all BlackBerry phones have. Although it is a touchscreen phone, it also comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, making it a unique device among the other touchscreen gadgets in the market.
User Interface
RIM was able to do an amazing job with the upgrade to the BlackBerry OS 6. Once you turn on the device, you would see a clean empty background which is ready to be customized. Similar to an Android phone, you could also just click on the bottom arrow to see your applications. Through the new OS and the touchscreen feature, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 is very accessible for both old and new users. However, it does not quite surpass the capabilities of the iPhone OS or the Android 2.1.
Features
The unit comes with features that would appeal to both professional and regular users. One of the best improvements that came with the OS upgrade would be the web browser. The new browser now supports full web pages and has a zoom functionality, making it comparable to the browsers that Android OS phones and the iPhone have. The BlackBerry Torch 9800 also comes with an improved media player which comes with a wireless syncing features.
Performance
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is certainly not lacking as far as its performance is concerned since it does have a 624 MHz processor; however, if you compare it to the newer models that already run on 1 GHz processor, it seems to be a weak contender. However, after trying to perform tasks and run applications, its processor seems enough since there is smooth transition between applications and windows. Call quality is also clear and crisp, something which BlackBerry phones are generally praised for.
The Verdict
The BlackBerry Torch is definitely a big improvement from RIM. Because of the upgrades and improvements offered in it, it can easily be a good contender against the current power players in the market. It is also a lot less expensive, making it a great choice for those who want a good and capable smartphone without having to spend a fortune.
Design and Construction: 3 out of 5
User Interface: 4 out of 5
Features: 3 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5
