BlackBerry Torch 9800 Review: Keeping RIM's Flame Alive

Messaging and BBM

RIM has also changed the messaging architecture, adopting an iOS- and Android- like approach by masking the distinction between SMS and MMS. Instead, both are found under text messages and treated like the same thing. 

SMS - Sending Location and Virtual Keyboard Frustration

The messaging application is threaded and what you’d expect it to be from a modern messaging application. RIM did a nice job adding a send location feature which locates you, brings up a map, takes an image, and lets you MMS the whole thing off. This is so much better than the send location functionality on iOS (which sends a vCard with your address) or Android. Generally I wind up taking a screenshot and MMSing that off - RIM basically does just that. It’s pretty handy.

BBM looks essentially how it did with the latest revision in BB OS 5, though again tweaked subtly to accommodate for a touchscreen. 

I found myself switching between BBM and the browser constantly (holding down menu pops up the application switcher) and experienced very little lag. 

Torch as a Phone

The Torch brings a touchscreen dialer that’s different from the one on the Storm. With the keyboard out, you can’t start typing someone’s name and find their contact. Instead, input is taken from the numeric dialer pad on the keyboard. For contacts, you have to tap the symbol and then type.

BlackBerry 6 - Dialer

The dialer works, it’s there, but feels just a tad spartan. 

In a call, you have options to mute, hold, add calls, and go to speaker. Just like every phone. You’re also always shown the current handset volume level in the top right. What’s tricky here is that pressing the hangup button is often my way of getting out of applications and back to the launcher. In a call, when I wanted to look something up, I hit this and was disconnected - like what is supposed to happen.

What RIM wants you to do is tap on the buttons at the bottom which are shortcuts to things like the dialer, contacts, notes, and calendar. 

One thing I noticed about the Torch is that I can actually see the IR LED for the proximity sensor strobing with the naked eye while calls are in progress. I’ve never seen that on any other smartphone. It doesn’t really bother, but thought I’d note it.

How loud is the Torch’s speakerphone? It’s not bad, but nothing stellar, just average. Frankly, I was expecting a bit more loudness from the brand that has such a stellar pedigree for loudest in class speakerphones. Alas, it doesn't quite measure up on paper. Ambient noise level is 52 dBA, and we measure exactly 6" above the phone. 

On the Torch, the speakerphone is up top just behind the large standby lock and mute button. There’s a narrow separation you can get your thumb in - that’s the speaker.