A refresh of the touchscreen plus keyboard slider, the Torch 9810 brings upgraded hardware, a slightly new look, and BlackBerry 7 OS in the latest evolution of the Torch family begun with the 9800. I have been using the original Torch 9800 for the better part of a year, so the 9810 was an interesting device to review. Read on for my thoughts.

Initial impressions

I have to admit that I like the new look. The “brushed metal” look actually works for me, over the chrome finish on the original torch, although I do have concerns that it could quickly look cheap and low-grade after some use if the finish got marred with cosmetic damage. The device feels lighter and better fit in my hand than the 9800, and the slider mechanism seems to be smoother and easier to operate with only one hand. The device as a whole feels well made and tight, but noticeably different in build quality from the 9900 that I had an opportunity to play with last week. I am torn on the new battery door, finding it visually appealing, but too slick. I’m constantly in fear of dropping the device, it seems to slide a little too well in my hand versus the rubberized feel of the original Torch.

Hardware

The resolution upgrade on the 9810 is noticeable, wallpapers “pop” a little more, and text is crisp and clean. The upgraded processor hidden away under the hood makes for a noticeable performance difference, with no lag experienced in comparison to the 9800 which seems to display the hourglass as a matter of daily routine. The external buttons are placed exactly the same as the first model, and my only complaint is that the lock button on the top didn’t give me as much of a satisfying tactile click when depressed as the 9800 does. I realize I’m nitpicking, but the lock button is probably my most used “convenience” button.

The keyboard is the same as the one I have come to know and love on the 9800, and although it is manufactured to be slightly wider, I found no appreciable difference between the two. It still feels slightly cramped to me, and typing out long emails on it becomes a chore after a while. I actually found myself opting for the virtual keyboard for long messages, finding that it caused less discomfort.The keys felt a little “softer” when depressed, which was frustrating when typing at length, missed letters and incorrect alternate keys were common at first until I got used to the slightly different feel of it.

Unfortunately, RIM still hasn’t fixed one of my major gripes with the 98xx series, the placement of the USB port. Sitting just lower than the middle on the left of the device, it is perfectly placed for maximum irritation if I am trying to use the device while charging. I can only thank my parents for manufacturing me as a right-handed individual, or this device and I would be completely incompatible when it is plugged in.

Software

As I have noted previously, I’m not blown away by BlackBerry 7. With the exception of being able to manage the trays (Thank you, thank you, thank you) I really haven’t found much to make me opt for it over OS 6. I can’t honestly say whether or not the performance of the device has more to do with the upgraded hardware or improvements in the OS, but given that the two work hand in hand, I will give credit that it runs smoothly and functions extremely well, even under a heavy multi-tasking load. Still, at the end of the day, it’s an OS 6 refresh to me. The 9810 Os does feature an updated virtual keyboard however, which I found to be easier to use than previous iterations, optimized more for accurate typing. I found less of an adjustment to the new virtual keyboard than I did to the minor differences in the physical one, so a definite improvement was made in that regard. Perhaps a throwback to my days with the Storm, or a commentary on the size of my fingers, but I still found the SureType keyboard to be my preference, eschewing the use of the full keyboard in portrait.

The camera was much improved over the 9800, although I purposely include this under software because I believe that it is the Os handling of the camera functions that makes for this change, not the actual hardware of the camera itself.

Final thoughts

Overall, the 9810 is a solid device. While I did enjoy some of the cosmetic changes made to the device over its predecessor, and loved not seeing the hourglass every 5 minutes, at the end of the day, it’s still just a Torch. I enjoy the form factor with the slide out keyboard and touchscreen, and the updated hardware and screen resolution do make for a noticeable difference from the 9800.

My final words: a worthy upgrade for those looking for a new device, but not worth the upgrade if you’re happy with the device you have.