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BlackBerry Torch 9800 hands on… again

Published Aug 6th, 2010 12:35PM EDT
BGR

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Alright guys, we finally have a BlackBerry Torch 9800 in hand, before launch date, and we figured we’d do the second honors on your behalf. We have chimed in with our first-hand impressions of the new BlackBerry, but now that we have a unit in front of us again, here are a couple more quick thoughts:

  • Again, the device is really solid. Construction seems high quality, though there is obviously a “plastic” feel as opposed to something more luxurious. Like metal (aluminum, stainless steel). The rubberized back battery cover, while kind of scares me at first, feels really good when you hold the phone. It’s not overly rubbery, it is something that will probably save many Torch owners from flinging the device out of their palm while carrying it around.
  • The screen is depressing. I personally think at this point in time, there is no excuse. It instantly makes the phone not feel competitive, and doesn’t encourage you to use the phone. In fact, it makes me not even want to use the device. Not sitting next an iPhone 4 and a DROID X — no way.
  • Love the keyboard. I’m already able to bang out my 80 WPM emails (most likely ones yelling at Andrew).
  • Will reserve full thoughts on the OS and UI for our review, but the phone really does feel a bit busy as I mentioned earlier. One of BlackBerry’s strengths has been providing users with that “always connected” feel, but I really think they might have taken it too far with the BlackBerry 6 OS.

While we put together the full review, we have to ask — who’s getting one, and who’s passing?

Click on over to our BlackBerry Torch 9800 gallery!

Jonathan S. Geller
Jonathan Geller Founder, President & Editor-in-chief

Jonathan S. Geller founded Boy Genius Report, now known as BGR, in 2006. It became the biggest mobile news destination in the world by the end of 2009, and BGR was acquired by leading digital media company PMC in April 2010.

Jonathan is President of BGR Media, LLC., and Editor-in-chief of the BGR website.

What started as a side project at the age of 16, quickly transpired into 24-hour days and nights of sharing exclusive and breaking news about the mobile communications industry. BGR now reaches up to 100 million readers a month through the website, syndication partners, and additional channels.