BlackBerry Torch 9850
Phone Scoop Review
Sep 7, 2011 by Eric M. Zeman
Research In Motion's newest touch phone might be the BlackBerry that RIM's fanatics have been waiting for. Can the Torch 9850 fan the flames of desire in the CrackBerry faithful? read review ›
User Reviews
Average Ratings
EXPECTED MORE
A 9550 Storm 2 user, I purchased the 9850 Torch a few days ago. I really wanted this device to be an improvement of my current experience. Comparing Sure-Press Technology that I like, and A/B it to the new Torch guaranteed Sure Scratch, Sure Press wins on accuracy.
My Review........The device feels cheap. Going from a glass screen to plastic makes a screen protector a must. No frame for the screen. The device is formed to extend the screen around the back. The edges of the screen protector will be exposed...nothing to fit into. Bottom buttons were reminiscent of the original Storm. The screen is way too sensitive! On the app menu screen, centered by a "favorites" and "download" screen to either side, partial words from each are plastered on and visible on the app screen You see "nload" and "ites." Download screen...unnecessary Swiping the screen left or right opened apps you don't want. Must lock the screen constantly to handle this device or something is going to open up out of a holster or putting it in your pocket. You have to handle the handset with cashmere gloves. The Lags!!! Portrait to landscape Keyboard, 6-8 seconds. Portrait keyboard unusable. Use a Qtip to type 3 words per minute without a typo. 2 shift keys on the confined Fisher Price toy-like keyboard. The virtual qwerty is awful and lags. Side keys, horrible....two nibs size of a salt grain. USB port only on the left facing side. Should have had a convenience key. The browser... binoculars required to read a page...small fonts. The screen, though a half inch longer than the Storm, is smaller, left to right. Screen resolution is cloudy and dim, viewing in a fluorescent setting
Summary:
Operating precision & control weak...cheap components, no 4" screen. Camera...3Mps less than smart phone competition. Still spec deficient to Android.
I returned this piece of junk. My Storm2 will have to suffice. This is a stop-gap device released to keep RIM stock above 0.
Luv This Phone
My first experience with Blackberry's was the original Storm. Unlike many people I liked the phone, I even liked the "Sure Press". I'm glad I waited for the 9850 instead of the 9930 because the Storm spoiled me for big screens. The picture on the Torch is gorgeous. All the operations of this phone (IMHO) open smoothly and quickly. I'm luvin' the web experience. I'm not a guy who uses a bazillion apps so I'm not going to compare this phone to "you know who". If I wanted a bazillion apps on a phone I wouldn't have gotten the Torch. All I can say is I was sold on the Blackberry dependability and business applications with the storm.
Pros: Great screen, feels good in your hands, smooth web experience, of course the super easy Blackberry mail setup.
Cons: typing when phone in portrait mode is a challenge.
If you like Blackberrys this is great choice, if you want to B--ch about how it doesn't compare to the -phone, do it somewhere else please.
Horrible
This has to be one of the worst phones on the market today. You cannot text at all with this phone. A simple text that should take 20 seconds to type up will take you a solid minute to minute and a half because of all the mistakes it will make while you are typing. The phone also freezes up constantly. If you push a button, you might have to wait up to 15 seconds before the phone reacts. It sometimes will also send your text to the wrong person in your contacts. If this is Blackberry's "we're back" phone, then they should just close the doors and file bankruptcy. This phone is a complete dud.
