Blackberry Torch 9850 Review

RIM just hasn’t been able to make an all-purpose touch-based handset. They tried with the Storm, the Storm II, and the Torch (and subsequent models), but each new offering has failed in halting the shift of users leaving Blackberry for an iPhone, Android, or even Windows Phone 7 devices. The company once exalted by everyday consumers and businesses alike is giving it another go with the Blackberry Torch 9850, one of the company’s first phones running the latest operating system BB 7.0. Does the aging OS have what it takes to take on the relatively recent newcomers, or is RIM only beating a dead horse?

As one of the oldest cellphone manufacturers, RIM has produced hundreds of phones and has become exceedingly efficient at it. The hardware they design is rarely below average, though it simultaneously lacks the artistry and finesse seen in some handsets. The 9850 has a sleek, curved design with no sharp edges and is made to be held in the hand for long periods of time. Just like Blackberry owners expect and desire.

The front face features a 3.7” display with a bezel that curves carefully off the sides, connected to a reflective bezel which in turn connects to the removable battery panel on the back. Four buttons on the right side are easy to feel, yet difficult to spot, and manage to stay out of the way when in a pocket or in the hand. There is no accidental button pressing here. On the left is the micro-USB connector, and on the top is the lock key shaped like part of the phone, not like just another button. Four face buttons and a touch-sensitive button rest below the screen.