The Blackberry Torch 9800 smartphone is seen after being unveiled at a news conference August 3, 2010 in New York City.Getty Images
The BlackBerry Torch is, for our money, the best BlackBerry we've tried. The question is whether the best is good enough.
The Torch is RIM's latest BlackBerry, a hybrid smart phone with a touchscreen and a slide-out keyboard. There's a lot more to talk about in RIM's latest flagship device than can be fit in a mini-review, so make sure to give the Torch a test drive when it hits Canadian shelves this fall. But undoubtedly the Torch's highlight is the new Web browser. Anyone who has ever tried surfing the Web on a BlackBerry knows what an infuriating experience that can be. RIM has largely gone and fixed this with a browser that works much the same way the iPhone does - you scroll down the page and zoom in and out using finger gestures on the touchscreen. It's intuitive, and far better than any previous BlackBerry, but still not as good as the iPhone or most new Android phones. That's in large part because RIM opted for a 480 x 360 display - lower in resolution than most high-end phones - and a fairly weak processor. As such, we found a little bit of a lag some times when it came to finger-swipe gestures, and the text looked a little less crisp than it should.
The Torch does come with an entirely new operating system - well, not exactly. BlackBerry OS 6 still feels a lot like previous generations of the operating system - a deliberate decision by RIM not to confuse its current customers. But OS 6 is also a lot cleaner, sporting a design scheme similar to most new smart phones, where users flick through multiple pages of icons and other content. There are many neat features, such as the ability to get more information by clicking on those little "new mail" icons on the top of the screen without having to go to the mail screen itself, or the ability to reduce or increase the number of icons on the home screen - but nothing revolutionary.
Perhaps the best feature of OS 6 is the universal search option, which lets users search everything from contacts to the BlackBerry app store. In our quick test, it worked fast and it worked well.
Ultimately, what might prompt people to opt for the Torch instead of its many competitors might be the traditional BlackBerry keyboard. Even though it seems a bit more flat than the one on the most recent BlackBerry Bold, the Torch keyboard works better than just about any non-BlackBerry phone out there. If you're looking for a pure touchscreen smart phone, there are many better options, including the iPhone. If you want some fun with your business and can't stand typing on touchscreens, the Torch might be your next favourite phone.