Today keeps on getting better and better. When RIM first shipped the Torch everybody was kind of pissed that the device was underpowered in comparison to the competition. According to details the BGR learned RIM has finally decided to fix that in a HUGE way. We now have the rumored specs for a device that looks almost exactly like the BLackBerry Torch but with a silver finish. It includes features like a 1.2Ghz processor (Finally!!!) along with a VGA screen, 8GB memory, NFC, and more. It only has 512 MB of RAM which is odd but I guess you cannot have everything.
Other things worthy of noting are the HSPA 14.4 data connection which will make the device scream on the latest “4G” HSPA networks. Oddly the device still has a 1300mAh battery so I have no idea how it will last all day with this beefed up processor. I was asking for RIM to double the processor speed AND the battery size to accommodate it but I guess they found a way to do one without the other!
Full specs that were leaked:
- 1.2GHz processor
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
- Tri-band HSPA 14.4Mbps
- 3.2-inch VGA 640 x 480 capacitive display
- 8GB built-in memory
- 512MB RAM
- Bluetooth 2.1
- GPS
- NFC
- 5-megapixel camera with flash
- Magnetometer
- Accelerometer
- Proximity sensor
- 1300 mAh battery
- BlackBerry OS 6.1
- OpenGL ES
- 14.6mm thin
Anybody else excited? Rumor has it the Torch 2 is looking for a release on AT&T in late Q3 of this year!!! I will be dropping my current Torch like a hot potato when it comes out. This is the device RIM should have released instead of the current Torch.
Kudos to the BGR team on all the leaks today. Way to show RIM wont be going down without a serious fight!
Blackberry_Junkie ( View Profile) - Posts: 73
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:31 PM EST
Omg, I WANT IT!!!
CraZy88 ( View Profile) - Posts: 61
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:32 PM EST
Did I mention that I laugh when I see 512MB? That’s soooo 5 yrs ago.
I do like tue torch tho. I’m not a fan of the keyboard so I would never open it. If they make a keyboardless version with more ram and a better resolution. I would be all over it
Great writeup, as usual
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 3:59 PM EST
n4bb says Monaco (Storm-like) is heading to production.. but it supposedly also has 512mb ram
Anonymous Not Registered
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 8:02 AM EST
I have to agree. The Torch is awesome, but the keyboard is a failure because it is just too small and uncomfortable to use. (The Palm Pre did the same mistake.) They should make it slide out horizontally instead of vertically, that would make it usable.
That said, without the ungodly SurePress, the on screen keyboard works quite well. RIM could even salvage their old Storm and Storm 2 devices with a firmware upgrade, they just have to disable that SurePress crap so people can type without pushing down the screen.
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 3:24 PM EST
i’ve never tried a storm with surepress.. the idea of pressing down the screen seems odd to me..
the torch keyboard would be okay if there was more noticeable feedback when you pressed a key.
instead when you think you’ve pressed it you haven’t or vice versa.
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 3:25 PM EST
i forgot, the iphone4 has 512mb ram..
citystars41 ( View Profile) - Posts: 92
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:33 PM EST
New torch, new bold… its going to be a tough one
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:55 PM EST
Bold for me.. !
jai-nice ( View Profile) - Posts: 11
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:38 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9700
That is good news, by the time its released I’ll be eligible for an upgrade; SWEET!
Eric ( View Profile) - Posts: 282
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:38 PM EST
That is a lot of leaks for one day…
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:47 PM EST
Oh man its BB day!
why couldn’t they have announced these at CES? hah
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:51 PM EST
man 1.2 ghz, should fly on 6.1
Corey Davis ( View Profile) - Posts: 1294
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 1:56 PM EST
Which means that Torch 9800 should be coming to VZW before that. In a CDMA version and hopefully with a WiFi hotspot. Good day to love BlackBerry devices!
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 2:47 PM EST
I think they should have re-designed the body a bit.. I find there’s too much bezel, could have streamlined it a bit more.
tfrankson ( View Profile) - Posts: 209
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 3:03 PM EST
No HD yet? Still nice. Lots of new devices coming out. Hard to make a choice right now.
marc.paradise ( View Profile) - Posts: 539
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 3:36 PM EST
Agree with that one – I do like my Torch, but the bottom and side bezel gets annoying . I’ve gotten used to it and it doesn’t really affect me anymore, but it just feels in the way.
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 7:24 PM EST
yeah its too bad the new torch isn’t redesigned in anyway
ShvartzBerry ( View Profile) - Posts: 404
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 3:08 PM EST
I was wondering how long it was going to take for my Torch to feel outdated.
Any word on which current devices might be getting 6.1?
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 3:16 PM EST
my guess is only the torch and 9780..
Daniel Perez Not Registered
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 3:19 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8530
This is great news! I think that the ram will be a little higher than 512mb, considering the new bold will have 768mb. Hopefully, a 4g Sprint version also comes out.
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 4:05 PM EST
Yeah it would make sense for the torch 2 to have more ram than the Dakota.. RIM needs to come out with some official info hah
RealTalkNY Not Registered
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 3:43 PM EST
Is that the official picture of the Torch 2? I think they should change the form factor like Bold to Bold 2.
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 3:53 PM EST
all of these pics look like artists renderings.. but from the details, it sounds like it will look the same except different colour bezel.
captainbdsc ( View Profile) - Posts: 181
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 4:26 PM EST
Well, it is great for now, but it is not cutting edge by any means. By the late 3rd quarter release it will be ancient… that is the sad story of the smart phone world…
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 9:08 PM EST
are there alot of 1.2 ghz phones out now??
captainbdsc ( View Profile) - Posts: 181
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 3:41 AM EST
That is true, but there are multiple duel core phones coming out soon. Motorola Atrix 4G and LG Optimus 2X…
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 7:12 AM EST
True enough..
I hope RIM has some dual-core tricks up its sleeve
shumkar ( View Profile) - Posts: 129
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 7:12 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9700 | OS 6.0.0.424
Finally! I’ve restrained myself from jumping on the Torch ever since I became eligible for upgrade couple of months ago. Got one for my wife and she loves it for the most part. But then again, she’s a woman. I just can’t get over the screen resolution on 9800, especially when comparing with my 9700.
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 9:05 PM EST
one of my gripes too.. it basically looks fuzzy in some areas, especially browsing. my gf’s 9700 is so much sharper..
that’s why VGA on both this (a 3.2″) and the Dakota (2.8″) is going to look VERY sharp.
shumkar ( View Profile) - Posts: 129
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 10:26 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9700 | OS 6.0.0.424
You’re right barrist . Looks particularly fuzzy in the browser.
I’m very exited about the Dakota. I really loved my first Bold 9000.
Any idea when it is supposed to be released?
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 7:10 AM EST
I really hope its sooner than the Torch 2. This phone has been in so many rumours for so long, i hope its farther along so we can see it in Q1 or Q2 at the latest.
Terrence T ( View Profile) - Posts: 1828
Posted: January 13, 2011 at 11:34 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9800 | OS 6.0.0.337
This should have been torch 1
ofutur ( View Profile) - Posts: 1184
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 5:16 AM EST
This phone is so last year… Hell, the whole line up is.
Even HP will probably do better in a few weeks…
If the other OSes catch up in terms of features for businesses, RIM will be in trouble.
I’m not sure people will come back if they switch this year.
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 7:08 AM EST
HP may come out with “better” hardware, but no way they’ll overtake Blackberry even with HP’s acquisition of WebOS..
Businesses aren’t going to drop RIM for HP, don’t see it happening.
ofutur ( View Profile) - Posts: 1184
Posted: January 14, 2011 at 7:56 PM EST
Because they’ll focus on connecting devices instead of trying to conquer the corporate world. A real shame because WebOS is a very potent OS, it’s just missing enterprise features…
barrist ( View Profile) - Posts: 1186
Posted: January 15, 2011 at 5:01 PM EST
ironically qnx seems to take alot from webos!
dpr ( View Profile) - Posts: 789
Posted: January 16, 2011 at 2:05 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8530
Great news! I felt that when they first released the Torch, they didn’t give it enough firepower to compete effectively with the other smart phones on the market, although it still did do fairly well. Love the form factor, except for the missing left convenience key. Hopefully, they add this back and raise the keyboard a little. I feel these are some of the factors that make up BlackBerry’s superior functionality.
Eric Not Registered
Posted: January 18, 2011 at 3:45 PM EST
Zzzzzzzzzzzz…. Total snoozer. I own a torch, I think its the best BlackBerry every! I really do, in fact I love it but heres the deal. Until QNX comes out their Java based OS will keep real App Developers away. This means twice as much CPU and NOTHING to do with it that you cant do today. I wont even touch the fact it still only has 512MB of RAM. RIM needs to wake up and realize the world isnt going to wait forever for a better smart phone.
ofutur ( View Profile) - Posts: 1184
Posted: January 18, 2011 at 3:50 PM EST
Errr…. Java is the favourite programming language for mobile apps.
It’s the APIs and the hardware that have problems.
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3408
Posted: January 18, 2011 at 6:01 PM EST
Yeah Android is also running Java. It is just that RIM’s implementation of the Java VM runtime sucks balls with inconsistent API’s
MikeWalt24 ( View Profile) - Posts: 15
Posted: February 26, 2011 at 9:10 PM EST
Had the freakin iPhone for two weeks in August. Took it back when the Torch came out it has proven to be the best phone decision I have made. Can’t wait for the II. My Torch is used heavily for work and it performs Beautifully.