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BlackBerry Torch 9850 review: RIM's best touch-screen smartphone

With the signature keyboard out of the way, BlackBerry-maker RIM strives to hang tough with the Android crowd, and mostly succeeds.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
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Watch this: BlackBerry Torch 9850 (Sprint)

RIM has been courting general consumers for a long time, but not quite succeeding. In the meantime, more and more rivals have encroached on RIM's keyboard territory with stepped-up QWERTYs. What's a struggling device maker to do? Introduce the BlackBerry Torch 9850 for Sprint, of course, and try to beat all-touch smartphone makers at their own game.

Possessing a 3.7-inch WVGA display, the Torch 9850 is RIM's best and largest touch-screen BlackBerry to date. In addition to the sharp screen is a certain element of style that we appreciate, and the phone feels good in the hand.

With the signature keyboard out of the way, BlackBerry-maker RIM strives to hang tough with the Android crowd--and mostly succeeds. The specs are upper midrange, the price is fair, and the camera admirable. Its virtual keyboard also felt fairly accurate, and spell check and autosuggestions kept us honest (and understandable).

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 costs $149.99 with a new two-year contract, and will be available on August 21. Read all the pros and cons in our full review of the BlackBerry Torch 9850.

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BlackBerry Torch 9850 (photos)

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