BlackBerry Torch 9850 Pro Reviews

I would not call RIM's decision to leave the physical QWERTY keyboard out of the design of the BlackBerry Torch 9850 a bad idea. It's a serviceable device and the touch controls are relatively well implemented in the new BlackBerry OS 7 interface. Plus, there's still the good old trackpad for some of the more precise on-screen selections that sometimes prove difficult to hit with your fingers.But without the typical excellent BlackBerry keyboard, what we're left with is a decidedly average piece of hardware. Although this is a huge departure for BlackBerrys, the Torch 9850 falls into line with just about every other smartphone on the market that has a touchscreen-only design.So with unexceptional hardware, our attention turns to the software and the thing is... there's nothing special about the operating system, which is has proven to only be a modest upgrade at the very best. Therefore, there isn't too much that sets the Torch 9850 apart from other smartphones that sport better operating systems and better software. I mean, if you're already a fan of the BlackBerry OS in general then you'll probably be satisfied since there aren't that many changes. But if you're looking for vast improvements and changes, they won't be found here. That's not to say that this is a useless device. Per the BlackBerry standard, it still has excellent email and communication capabilities, and some aspects of the new OS 7 interface are a step up from OS 6 and previous iterations. But I said this about the Bold 9930 and I'll say it about every other BlackBerry OS 7 device: you're better off waiting until RIM's QNX OS-based BlackBerrys hit the market. Then, I suspect, you'll be in for something new and different.

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 is a really solid smartphone. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it fills a glaring gap in RIM's device lineup. (It's a wholly different animal from the Storm/Storm 2 and much better than both of RIM's previous touch phones.) The 9850 is well-made, looks attractive, and all the aspects of the hardware function as they are meant to. Signal performance was a bit iffy, and that led to mixed results concerning call quality. Data speeds, however, were reasonably good. Battery life was decent for a touch phone, though some BlackBerry faithful may be shocked at the less-than-three-weeks of time between charges. The messaging components are all locked into place and are as robust as any other BlackBerry; email, SMS, IM, Twitter, Facebook are all ably conquered. The media prowess of the 9850 is an improvement over other BB7 devices thanks to the larger screen and improved camera. The only real niggle I have with the 9850 is the crummy software keyboard. I found it to be unusable, and that could be a deal-breaker for those who have an addiction to messaging. In the end, however, there's little to complain about. RIM has done a good job at bringing BlackBerry 7 to life in a classy and capable smartphone. I can easily see the Torch warming the hearts of BlackBerry fans.

We can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed by the Torch 9850. It's reasonably slim, feels well made and, aesthetics-aside, is certainly not a bad handset. The thing is, it just isn't as good as t'other Torch that's also been released today, the 9810, because a 3mm gain in thickness gets you a full keyboard when you want it (and you will want it) plus a bit more internal storage. Sure, you lose out on screen size, but we never felt like there was all that much to do with the extra pixels here anyway. In truth, though, all three of the new phones are let down by their software. BB7 is a minor upgrade to BB6 and, when compared to the fluid, intuitive experience of the PlayBook and its QNX-based operating system, we find ourselves here mired in menus and EULAs. This leaves the whole OS feeling dated, tired, and ready to retire, and so if you were hoping for something truly new in your next BlackBerry, this isn't it. That said, if you're not quite ready to move on to a younger, fresher OS, if you're down with BlackBerry for the long-haul, you could do worse than the Torch 9850. You could do better, though, too.

This latest Torch is certainly an interesting device, but I honestly can’t recommend it over any of the other BlackBerrys on the market. The virtual keyboard alone is one of the most frustrating I’ve ever used, and with alternatives like the Bold 9900 and Torch 9810 available, I can’t imagine why anyone would want this device instead. On one hand, it won’t attract those users who demand a physical keyboard, and on the other it fails to be a more attractive offering than most Android devices or the iPhone. I’m not quite sure who RIM had in mind when it designed this device, but the company should seriously consider playing to its strengths and making phones for the people who already swear by their BlackBerrys.

The Torch 9850 and 9860 are no doubt the best touch-only BlackBerrys ever made. If you liked the idea the Storm line brought to the table and were interested in getting a refinement of that formula, RIM has addressed most of the concerns. Even if you're not a RIM fan, it's generally a solid performer and might be worth exploring, especially if you can get a good deal.

It’s a Blackberry, with all the good except for a working keyboard. Interested buyers need to seriously consider if they want a Blackberry that’s no good at typing, that isn’t really business ready, and already feels outdated.

The RIM BlackBerry Torch 9850 for Verizon Wireless is a laudable midrange smartphone, but it faces stiff competition.

The $149 BlackBerry Torch 9850 is RIM's best attempt yet at wooing consumers who want a smartphone with a large display but don't want to give up BlackBerry standout features such as secure push e-mail and world phone capability. Still, RIM has a ways to go. For $99, shoppers can take home the EVO Shift 4G, which offers both a physical and a virtual keyboard as well as 4G data and Android's ever-expanding Marketplace. Power users looking for a physical keyboard are better off with the Bold 9900 or 9930, but the Torch is a pretty good choice for those who want the BlackBerry experience and a larger display.

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 is a bit of an anomaly, much like RIM's previous efforts at an all-touchscreen smartphone. It won't appeal to the BlackBerry faithful, who likely demand a real, hardware QWERTY keyboard (and based on the virtual keyboard packaged with the 9850, rightfully so), and it isn't compelling enough to attract those who are in the market for a smartphone with a big touchscreen. Hampered by buggy software and a dated OS, not to mention looks only a mother could love, the Torch 9850 is just yet another disappointment from RIM. Its a shame, too, because with a different OS, or even just a better keyboard, the 9850 could appeal to those looking for a smaller phone that has a really great camera. When it comes to touchscreen slab smartphones, I would tell RIM to try again. But honestly, how many tries does it take for RIM to figure this out?

The BlackBerry 9850 is a well-built messaging smartphone, but lacks the apps to compete with other leading smartphone OSes.

The Torch 9850 is a solid, capable little smartphone, and BlackBerry 7′s UI arguably suits the all-touch display most of all. With the 1.2GHz processor RIM’s handsets no longer feel like the slowest devices in the pack, and while we’d welcome more metal and less plastic in the construction, the styling is a reasonably successful compromise between classic RIM functionality and the curviness of a consumer device. With little in the way of must-have features however, it’s tough to recommend the 9850 to those who would otherwise be considering an iPhone or Android device.

This is the device that RIM should’ve put out three years ago when they embarked on the touchscreen form factor with the original Storm 9530. As we know, the key to success in the industry is partly related to timing, and it’s remarkable to witness that RIM is finally coming around to producing a decent all touch BlackBerry. Needless to say, we’re glad to see that they decided to completely drop all the gimmicks found with both Storm iterations. Of course, it’s better to be late than never because its $149.99 on-contract pricing alleviates some of the uncertainty of picking it up. If you’ve been burned by any of RIM previous all touch offerings, you’ll be enamored by the intuitive experience found with the Torch 9850.