Who should get this phone? Business users who want a richer multimedia and web surfing experience on a BlackBerry

What cell phone compares to this model? The BlackBerry Torch runs the same OS 6 as the BlackBerry Style, but compares better usability-wise to the BlackBerry Storm 2.

Why should I get this phone? You want all the rich messaging features of a BlackBerry with all the user-friendly features of the new BlackBerry OS 6.

In a nutshell: The Torch is the first model to support BlackBerry’s latest OS 6. It’s also the first BlackBerry to sport both a tactile QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen. The company couldn’t have picked a better way to show off all the enhancements of the new OS.

At first glance, the BlackBerry Torch looks like a touchscreen only cell phone, but slide up the screen to reveal a tactile QWERTY keyboard, that’s similar in size to a BlackBerry Curve’s keyboard. The only real quibble we have with the tactile keyboard is that it’s slightly recessed in the cell phone’s casing making it a bit difficult to hit the keys (Q, A, and alt on the left and P, del, and return) that line the sides of the QWERTY keyboard. That said it’s not a deal breaker. Especially when you consider the BlackBerry Torch also sports a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard that can be used in both vertical and horizontal modes. While it’s nice to have the additional keyboard option, it did take us a while to get accustomed to it. About that screen, overall the large display is bright and easy to read. It’s also fairly receptive.

Overall, the cell phone feels solid in the hand and fits easily in a pant pocket or small purse. The gray metallic that lines the cell phone’s spine give it a more sophisticated look. We also appreciate the keys on the side of the phone are similar to those found on existing BlackBerrys. There are volume keys, one touch key that launches the camera (Tip: You can change the application the side key launches by selecting Options from the main menu and choose Device. Once in that menu, select Convenience Key and tap the highlighted feature to reveal more options. Choose the feature you want and select Save.), and 3.5mm headset jack on one side of the phone. On the top of the Torch you’ll find a mute key and lock option. The other side of the phone has an uncovered microUSB port. Finally, at the base of the phone are the four keys found on many BlackBerrys: send, menu, back and end/power. Additionally, there’s a trackpad that is well integrated with the functions of the phone so you can seamlessly switch from navigating the Torch’s OS using the touchscreen to using the trackpad.

Testing the BlackBerry Torch 

• Making calls: During calls we could hear callers loud and without distortion, while callers said they had no problem hearing us clearly. Regardless of how close you hold the smartphone to your face, the “End Call” button never seems to get “accidentally” hit. 

• Volume Adjustment: You can use the side buttons to adjust the volume, but we rarely needed to use them.  
• Speakerphone: Call quality is just as clear when using this feature. We didn’t cut each other off when speaking simultaneously.

• Operating System: The smartphone comes loaded with BlackBerry OS 6.0 and supports multitasking and multiple screens with the ability to organize apps just about any way you want. Overall, the user interface is fairly straightforward and icon friendly. Additionally, the new OS isn’t a huge departure from those found on previous models, it’s just much easier to use.

• E-Mail: We were able to easily set-up and access both corporate e-mail and web-based e-mail accounts such as Yahoo!, AOL, and Gmail. You can have up to 10 e-mail accounts on the phone.

• Web Navigation: BlackBerry OS 6 really shines in this department. You can now pinch, zoom and scroll around websites. Additionally, the BlackBerry Torch does a good job handling bookmarks. When surfing the web there’s a bookmark icon in the top right hand corner, press that and the existing website gets pushed down the screen to reveal screenshots of all the bookmarked sites.

• Social Media: In addition to including mobile versions of Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, the new BlackBerry OS includes an application called Social Feeds. It’s an easy to use application that aggregates updates from all your social media accounts and RSS feeds.

• Camera features: The BlackBerry Torch sports a 5-megapixel camera with a flash on the back of the cell phone. It lacks a tiny mirror for framing self-portraits.

• Shutter Speed: The BlackBerry Torch shutter isn’t as fast as those found on other cell phones, so it’s not ideal for capturing action shots.
• Picture Quality: We found colors to be true and details sharp.  
• Photo Settings: You can control the flash, select a scene mode (party, close-up, snow, beach, night, and text), choose single shot or continuous, and add geo tags.

• Video features: You can record video with this phone. Quality was acceptable, however, we much prefer watching videos on the display that we found on the web.

• Music Features: Playback of music through the BlakcBerry Torch’s speaker is solid; songs sounded loud, but not distorted or too tinny. Music also sounded great through the included headphones. 

• Formats supported: We were able to play MP3, and unprotected AAC (Apple’s audio format) formats.
• Features: Repeat, Shuffle, and Playlists (you can even create playlists on the cell phone). There are a couple of other features to enhance the audio quality such as Headset Music EQ and Audio Boost, but we didn’t need to use them. Plus, you can save tunes stored in your cell phone as a ringtone.

• Connectivity: The cell phone works with AT&T’s 3G networks, but you can do a lot on this cell phone over a WiFi connection.

• Bluetooth: The BlackBerry Torch worked seamlessly with the Motorola T505 and callers didn’t know we were using a Bluetooth connection. We were also able to transfer contacts, pictures, and music to other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
• WiFi: It has 802.11n WiFi (that’s pretty secure) and we were able to log onto available WiFi networks to surf the Web or send/receive e-mail. It just takes moments to set up. The only thing you need is the WiFi network you want to use and password if needed.

• Battery Life: We were impressed with the battery life on the BlackBerry Torch. We were able to go a couple of days before needing to recharge the BlackBerry Torch, when we used the cell phone to occasionally check e-mail, surf the web, and take a few pictures. Another plus is that you can recharge the phone when it’s connected to a computer via the USB-to-microUSB cable.The BlackBerry Torch is an impressive new cell phone that does a great job at showing off BlackBerry OS 6, without sacrificing many of the features users have come to expect in a BlackBerry.