The next iteration of the Torch — numbered 9810 — promises to be everything the 9800 was, and more.
In terms of device design, not much has changed from the previous version. The only thing that has changed is the body which is more brushed metal-like now as compared to the black chrome earlier. The left of the phone still features a micro USB port for charging and connectivity, while the right has the volume rocker and the Convenience key. The mute and the lock button are at the top, as is customary of many BlackBerry devices.
Slide out the bottom and you get the legendary BlackBerry keyboard. Albeit slightly narrower than the keyboard on the Bold series, the keyboard on the Torch continues to be a pleasure to type on and is miles ahead of other physical keyboards.
Where the 9810 improves upon the 9800 is the internals. The processor has been doubled up to 1.2GHz and the RAM has been pushed up to 768MB as compared to a paltry 512MB on the original. The result is a noticeably faster device which puts it in line with the other smartphones on the market. The internal storage has been doubled up to 8GB, which you will need for the images and videos.
This is because the Torch 2 is now capable of shooting HD videos at 720p. Still images will remain at a resolution of 5MP but the camera now features autofocus.
Perhaps one of the most noticeable bumps is in the screen resolution to 640x480, which results in a sharper display. The touch screen seems to be more accurate and responsive as well.
The 9810 also features the new BlackBerry OS 7, which touts improvements in performance, browser and graphic display. While part of this may be because of the bump in specifications, the improvements in the OS contribute to the fluid experience too.
Priced at Dh2,299 it is a great upgrade for 9800 users and a good device for those looking for a larger touch screen and keyboard combo. Although the 9900 finally has a touch screen and keyboard offering, fans of a larger screen will be happier with the Torch.
Bhavishya Kanjhan is a digital marketing professional and an early adopter of all things digital. Follow his tweets on @bhavishya
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