The BlackBerry Torch 9810 is the successor to last year's 9800 and boasts an improved screen, faster processor and the very latest iteration of the BlackBerry OS, version 7.
You can pick up the Torch 9810 on a two-year deal for around £25 a month. Alternatively, if you've just won the lottery then you can grab a SIM-free unit for £450.
Should I buy the BlackBerry Torch 9810?
Launched alongside the keyboardless Torch 9860, the 9810 should appeal to traditional BlackBerry fans as it boasts a keyboard as well as a touchscreen interface.
It's not, however, a unique proposition. In fact, it's more of an update of last year's Torch 9800, rather than a big leap forward. Sure, it's faster, has a new operating system
and can even shoot 720p video, but it feels like too little, too soon.
Nevertheless, if you eyed the Torch 9800 with interest in 2010 but didn't take the plunge, this sequel could be for you.
Interface
Like the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9860, this handset is rocking BlackBerry OS 7, the latest and potentially greatest edition of RIM's mobile operating system. It's an upgrade from the OS 6 which we saw on the Torch 9800, and offers colourful menu icons that appear to have been inspired by the likes of iOS and Android.
Everything is laid out in touch-friendly grids, and the main screen is split into different touch-friendly sections. The top of the display opens your settings menu, while the space below that handles notifications. The largest space is concerned with your apps.
This area can be swiped left and right to reveal categories such as 'most used applications', or ones you've downloaded from the BlackBerry App World. You can tinker around with these categories if you so wish.
Swiping up and down enlarges or shrinks the app drawer, allowing you to fully expose your phone's attractive wallpaper.
For all of its finger-friendly prowess, the Torch 9810 still relies on the traditional BlackBerry optical trackpad when it comes to making precise menu selections. While OS 7 has made massive strides into the world of touch-screen mobile UIs, it's clear that there are some elements of the past that RIM's software engineers are reluctant to leave behind.
Touchscreen
Unlike its close relation the Torch 9860 -- which sports a 3.7-inch, 480x800 pixel resolution display -- the Torch 9810 has a 3.2 inch screen, with a resolution of 480x640. Despite the smaller size, this TFT (thin film transistor) display is no slouch and offers a clean, crisp picture -- although colours look noticeably washed out when compared to the 9860.
The other good news is that it's capacitive, meaning you can perform all those lovely ‘pinch to zoom' gestures that iPhone and Android lovers are always banging on about.
Keyboard
Arguably the centrepiece of any true BlackBerry handset (we'll ignore the keyboardless 9860 for a moment), the Torch 9810's physical interface consists of a slide-out Qwerty arrangement -- the same that graced its direct predecessor, in fact.
Although apps such as Swype and SwiftKey X have taken touchscreen typing to new levels of speed, accuracy and prediction, you simply cannot beat the feel of real buttons under your fingertips. Bashing out an email, status update or Facebook message on the Torch 9810 is a joy, although we do feel the buttons are little too close together for comfort.
We'd also have preferred it if the numbers were on a separate line of keys, rather than being ‘alt' commands on existing letter buttons, though that would have meant expanding the size of the keyboard vertically, creating a larger handset.
Design
Although the Torch 9810 looks much like last year's 9800 in terms of design, it is granted its own personality by the fetching chrome finish. The entire device is clad in shining silver, but it's worth noting that only the edges of the front panel are metal -- everything else is just coated plastic.
Despite the eye-catching chrome,everything aside from the front surround is plastic.
The back of the phone has a grid-like texture which aids grip, but we're not totally taken with this patterned effect. It's also disappointing that the battery cover isn't made of metal, like the one on the Torch 9860.
The Torch 9810 is practically bristling with physical inputs. As well as the aforementioned optical touchpad there's the usual bank of commands at the bottom of the screen. Although these rest flush with the display and initially appear to be capacitive touch-sensitive buttons, they're actually physical keys under a thin layer of plastic.
On the right-hand side of the phone you'll find the volume rocker and convenience key. The latter can be used to snap photos when running the phone's camera application, among other things.
At the top of the handset you'll find the lock button on the left side and the mute key on the right. The mute button cannot be used to force the phone into your silent profile, however -- it only seems to work when you receive a call (and wish to silence the ringer) or you're listening to music or watching a movie and want to cut the sound.
Processing power and internal storage
One of the biggest issues people had with the original Torch 9800 is that it was running an underpowered 624MHz processor at a time when 1GHz dual-core CPUs were starting to hit the market.
The good news is that RIM has listened to the grumblings of discontent and has duly boosted the Torch 9810's chip to 1.2GHz. The bad news is that it's still a single-core affair. RIM is adamant that dual-core chips only benefit large-screen devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Given that the Torch 9810 occasionally makes you wait while it loads up an app, we're not entirely convinced this is true. Still, the phone feels pretty nippy, especially if you're a BlackBerry veteran who recalls the occasionally sluggish performance of past RIM handsets. Menu navigation is smooth, the screen is responsive and 720p video playback runs without a hitch.
With 8GB of internal storage, the Torch 9810 is offering double what its direct forerunner did. You can also augment this total with a microSD card, which is hot-swappable, meaning you're not required to power down the phone to change it. Sadly, there's no card included with the phone.
Internet
Browsing the Web on the Torch 9810 is a surprisingly fast experience. The lack of Adobe Flash support is a puzzle though, especially when you consider that RIM saw fit to squeeze it into its PlayBook tablet.
Pages are quick to render and look superb on that 3.2-inch screen, although we noticed that text tends to look a little rough when you're zoomed right in. Text reflow also behaves oddly on some complicated sites, but this issue tends to afflict most mobile Web browsers.
Camera and video recording
Image capture -- both of the static and moving variety -- is handled by the phone's 5-megapixel camera. Still imaging remains largely unchanged from the Torch 9800, which is a bit of a disappointment. Having said that, the image stabilisation and LED flash are decent enough, and even rank amateurs will be able to take a half-decent snap with this device.
After suffering VGA video recording on the Torch 9800, we're pleased to report that 720p capture has made the cut on this new handset. It's hardly groundbreaking when you consider that top rank Android handsets are rocking 1080p video these days, but it will suffice.
Connectivity and battery life
The Torch 9810 has an almost full deck when it comes to connectivity options -- no mean feat when you consider that not so long ago, RIM was still banging out phones that lacked 3G data transfer.
Whether its via Wi-Fi or 3G, we noticed encouraging download speeds on this device. It's just a shame that NFC support (which allows short-range wireless connection between two devices) wasn't factored in, as both the Bold 9900 and Torch 9860 feature it. Still, the dream of contactless payments is a long way off yet, so few are likely to lament its omission.
Despite possessing a relatively humble 1,270mAh battery, the Torch 9810 offers the usual story when it comes to smart phone stamina. If you're careful with your power consumption then you'll get it to last longer than a day, but watching videos, playing music and indulging in a spot of gaming will all drain the power cell with alarming speed.
Conclusion
Unlike the Torch 9860 -- which feels like a fresh new direction for RIM and the BlackBerry lineage -- the Torch 9810 is more of a slight improvement on what has gone before.
It takes the core template of the Torch 9800 and gives it a lick of paint, as well as some more powerful guts and a slightly modified OS. For all of these improvements, it doesn't feel like the big leap many were expecting.
When placed next to the competition, the Torch 9810 looks even less striking. A 1.2GHz processor might represent big news in BlackBerry circles, but before the year is out it's highly likely that we'll be seeing Android phones with 1.5GHz dual-core monsters beating at their hearts.
Still, in the past BlackBerry has enjoyed a surprising degree of success by updating its portfolio in small increments. If you're a staunch traditionalist who isn't sold on the idea of the keyboardless Torch 9860, then this blower could be the one for you -- assuming you don't already own a Torch 9800 and are still a year away from getting an upgrade on your contract, that is.
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User reviews5
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AdamJ 17 July 2012
Good: Everthing! Touch Screen, BBM, Web Browser, Fast, Ease of Use, Design, Slide-Out Qwerty Keyboard, 5MP Auto Focus Camera
Bad: Lacks Adobe Flash
Comment: I really want the BlackBerry Torch 9810 because of its features as currently i am still stuck with a bb curve! The 9810 is much more useful in many ways especially with a big screen its good enough to watch movies but not as good for videos as the blackberry torch 9860.
The keyboard is definitely the worlds best
sonymad 28 April 2012
Good: Admirable battery life Great screen Improved onscreen keyboard Unrivalled contacts management Great still camera with effective image stabilisation
Bad: No Flash internet Video is fiddly to turn the light on Poor music loudspeaker compared to Bold 9900 Not much difference to Torch 9800 No NFC and only 5MP camera mean it's not massively future-proof
Comment: Blackberry Torch 9810
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Following hot on the heels of the Blackberry Bold 9900, RIM has introduced an updated version of the Torch. As well as the new Blackberry OS 7 software, it also has a beefed up processor, more memory and an improved camera that's capable of shooting HD video. But is there enough on offer here to temp new user to switch to a Blackberry device, or is it just preaching to the converted?
Externally, the Torch 9810 doesn’t look all that much different to the previous version of the handset. The colour scheme has been changed slightly, so the phone now has a black and sliver look, rather than the dark chrome finish used on the previous model. There's also a dimpled pattern on the battery cover that makes the phone a bit more grippy to the touch. However, the dimensions of the handset are pretty much identical to the old version and its weight is unchanged at 161g. As a result, it still feels like quite thick and a tad old fashioned when placed next to most other touchscreen smartphones around at the moment.
In part its chunkiness is due to the QWERTY keyboard, which slides down from behind the screen. The sliding mechanism feel pretty solid, if a little on the stiff side. And the keyboard is quite comfortable to use. It's got similar keys to those found on the Bold 9900, so each key has a rising edge on the side nearest the centre that helps make them easier to hit with your fingers and thumbs. However, the fact that all punctuation marks are accessed via the Alt key is a tad annoying. Also, the predictive text engine lags behind what you get on the iPhone, Windows Phone 7 or Android OSes, as it only really picks up the most obvious mistake. At least the keyboard is backlit, though, which is handy if you're trying to tap out an email or text message while walking home late at night.
One area that has been improved substantially, compared to the previous phone, is the screen. It's still the same size at 3.2icnhes, but the resolution has been upped significantly from 480x360 to 640x480 pixels and the difference is remarkable. Packing that many pixels so tightly together really does make everything look razor sharp -- from text and icons to photos and videos. It's bright too, with excellent contrast and bold, vivid colours.
Beneath the screen you get the usual line-up of buttons including the optical joystick in the middle, along with two call controls buttons, the back key and the Blackberry button. There's really little need for the optical joystick, seeing as you can just reach out and touch the screen to zip through menus or scroll around web pages, but we guess Blackberry just includes it for those who are used to it from their previous, non-touchscreen handsets.
Naturally, the lock and mute buttons remain at the top, while the volume control rocker switch and programmable key (which is set by default to control the camera) are found down the right hand side. Unfortunately, Blackberry has also put the headphone jack here, so it tends to snag when you're taking it out of your pocket.The Blackberry Torch 9810 has 8GB of memory onboard, which is an increase of 4GB on the older model. There's also an microSD card that can accept cards of up to 32GB in size, and cards are now thankfully hot swappable. The processor has also been beefed up considerably. Like the Bold 9900, this model now uses a 1.2Ghz chip compared to the 624Mhz one that was found in the Torch 9800. There's also support for OpenGL graphics, which was missing on the older device. The faster chip really does help the phone to provide a much more fluid experience. Menus glide around effortlessly, apps open quickly and there's a general level of snappiness that was missing from the Torch 9800.
The phone runs the new BB7 OS that we first saw on the Bold 9900 handset. It includes a number of updates, but the OS still suffers from a bit of Jekyll and Hyde character. On the one hand the new Liquid interface offers plenty of pretty icons and smooth transitions, but on the other hand you're never very far away from text heavy menus that just don't sit right on a modern touchscreen phone. This version of the OS is friendlier than previous iterations, and existing Blackberry users will probably love it, but those new to the OS are likely to feel that it's a bit of a mish mash. The firm really needs to get its new QNX-based Blackberry 8 OS out the door as soon as possible if it's gong to compete with the slick design of Apple's IOs and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.
That said, the web browser has been massively improved. It's much faster at rendering pages, and zooming and scrolling is also very smooth. However, unlike the browser on the latest Android devices, it doesn’t support Flash, so a lot of embedded video on websites doesn't work. Blackberry's strength still remains on the email front, though. Push email may not be a novelty any more, but what's always surprising about Blackberry's implementation is the way that its system works so well even in areas with dodgy data coverage.
Sadly, the call quality on our test handset was a bit of a mixed bag. It could have just been our particular sample, but the earpiece tended to distort at higher volume levels, so it was quite harsh on the ear. It seemed to do a good job at holding on to weaker signals, however, and the mic did deliver clean and clear audio.
Battery life used to be one of the real strengths of Blackberry phones, but like the Bold 9900, the Torch 9810 is a bit average in this department. We found that we could get around a day and a half out of it before it needed a recharge. That's better than a lot of smartphones, but not as good as older Blackberry models.
The 9810 uses a 5.0 megapixel camera and thankfully, unlike the Bold 9900, this one has autofocus, which is handy when taking close-up shots of business cards and the like. The camera is quick to respond when you press the shutter button, something that's not always the case on a lot of smartphones. Shots tend to have rich colours, and detail is generally quite good. However, on outdoor shoots in bright sunlight it sometimes seemed to darken the picture and add in a lot of noise – something you'd usually associate more with indoor shots taken under low light. The camera can also shoot 720p HD video. Here the results were generally good when videoing slow moving material, but when there was lots of action or movement in the frame the apparent resolution and sharpness dropped substantially.
Verdict
Overall, the Torch 9810 is a decent handset. It feels responsive to use, the screen is excellent and the physical keyboard is also good. However, the user interface feels a bit clunky and cobbled together, and isn’t likely to be all that friendly for those new to Blackberry devices. So at the end of the day, this is a good Blackberry, but it's also a long way off troubling the best of the smartphones on the market right now.
tomr2992 24 October 2011
Good: fast, easy to use
Bad: Keyboard is taking some mastering
Comment: Battery is good compared to other phones and call quality is brilliant
See all 5 user reviews