BlackBerry Bold 9900 and the Torch Handsets: A Comparative Review

With so many brands of mobile phones on the market today, there is only one that stands out without any doubt – the BlackBerry phones. These phones cater to business people as well as individuals who want to be in style. The year 2011 saw RIM launching two magnificent phones destined to grab the different markets in the globe – the BlackBerry Torch and Bold 9900. Let us see how they compare:

The Appearance

The Bold 9900 is lighter than the Torch. The back panel, although pleasing for its carbon fibre effect, is not as stylish as the Torch. It also has a QWERTY keyboard on the screen on the upper part of its body.

The BlackBerry Torch comes in different colors with some trimmings in chrome. The back panel has a smooth surface and although it is quite heavy, it is quite comfortable to hold and the QWERTY keypad slides smoothly.

The Screen

The display on the BlackBerry 9860 is a 2.3-inch capacitive touch screen, smaller than the Torch. It has 640 x 480 pixels and 287 dpi resolution and features TFT ‘Liquid Graphics’, an optical track pad and accelerometer sensor.

In contrast, the Torch has a bigger but lower resolution display. It has a TFT capacitive touchscreen, too but is 3.2-inches and 360 x 480 pixels at 188 dpi resolution. Other display features are the multi-touch input and the optical track pad.

The Storage Capacity

· Having an 8 GB storage capacity and 768 MB RAM, 9900 can be expanded up to 32 GB via a microSD card.

· Torch has 4 GB and 512 MB RAM and, like the 9900, it can also be expanded up to 32 GB via a micro SD card

The Processor

· Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.2 GHz is the Bold 9900’s processor while Torch has a 624 MHz Marvell PXA940

The Operating System

· 9900 operates on OS 7 while Torch is on 7.

The Camera

· 5MP camera and video capture of 720p is for Bold; Torch also has 5MP camera with continuous AF

The Verdict

· Bold offers more power with the new OS7, a more improved processor, bigger RAM and a quicker and more receptive touchscreen.

· BlackBerry Torch specifications may be described as competitive to 9900. With a trendy design, a sliding keypad, a good camera system and a dependable processor, Torch is not far behind the 9900.

Torch caters well to the more fashionably stylish individuals while Bold would still be the best choice when it comes to BlackBerry smart phones because of its overall technical specifications which are necessary when buying phones.

BlackBerry 9900: Get the Touch of New Expertise

BlackBerry has always provided consumers with the best smart phones in the market. They are best known for spawning mobile phones with QWERTY keyboards. They are great as business phones, because the applications are pretty user friendly. Further, the features are really installed for those who have a busy schedule. Generally, BB phones combine a personal digital assistant with a cellular phone.

They first started on the touch phone bandwagon with the BlackBerry Torch Series. The BlackBerry Torch specifications are pretty impressive for a smart phone. Most are slide phones, with a built in QWERTY keyboard. Although it seemed great in concept, the bulkiness of the phone was not something to look forward to. Feature wise, it combines a great number of features with the upgraded BlackBerry 8 operating system. That was as of August 2010.

A year later, in August 2011, they released their newest addition to the market, the BlackBerry Torch price. Similar to the Torch series, it combined a QWERTY keyboard with a touch screen. However, the difference is that they have retained the original design concept of the original BB phones. This makes them a lot sleeker and easier to carry around than the Torch. It runs on the same BlackBerry 8 operating system. Although it is the latest upgrade, it still won’t be that easy to get the popular applications you want, as most of them are not compatible with this OS. This might put some people off, but if you are someone who is business-minded and career-oriented, this just might be the phone for you. You can be sure that all of your files are secure and that your data is protected. This is one of the benefits of owning a RIM phone, along with superb emailing capabilities.

Overall, the BlackBerry 9900 is a great phone, especially when you consider the 1.2 gigahertz processor. The screen is not bad, either. In fact, the resolution is even better than the Samsung Galaxy S II which has an AMOLED touch screen. This is one of the slimmest BB phones ever to hit the market. While it does pack in some weight at 130 grams, it is well worth it. The sleek design of the handset appeals to most buyers. When you see this phone, you will know it is a BlackBerry phone, just because of its looks. The design is in fact similar to a previous model, the BlackBerry Bold 9900.

Can BlackBerry 9900 Bold Touch Compete With Bold 9780?

Subscribers of BlackBerry have something to get their hands busy on with the new BlackBerry 9900 by RIM. Touted to outsmart existing smartphones, Bold Touch 9900 is equipped with more enhanced specifications and a new OS.

The soft touch plastic and metals used for Bold 9900 has made it zestier in appearance. Its border is in metal brace and the phone is exceptionally thin at 10 mm.

The large QWERTY keyboard of Bold 9900 is similarly incredible. It is easy to touch with no extra effort of pushing the keys down. Those with eyesight problems will be delighted, as its backlight is spread evenly making it easy to use at night. Blackberry Torch specifications is comparable to 9900.

Responding well to its 1.2 GHZ processor is the 2.8-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 640 x 480 adding to the phone’s efficiency. Frustration is out of the question when it comes to sound quality, as incoming and outgoing audio are clear, proving excellence in quality. The speakerphone is passable, although you may be surprised by its loudness compared to other Blackberry units. Nevertheless, it is still practical to use the speaker phone mode when necessary.

The Bold 9900 has a 5-megapixel camera producing quality photos. Nonetheless, one may wonder why it only has the standard 5 megapixels when other units offer much higher than that.

With the new OS7, Bold Touch 9900 is not at all different from OS6. It has more enhanced features that include the liquid graphics innovation where added enjoyment and thrill is experienced on toggling menus and apps. Credit must also be given to its 1.2 Ghz processor, which works well with its touchscreen. The combination of the new OS and the 1.2 Ghz processor make the 9900 work with zest.

The Bold 9900 uses a 1230 mAh battery, which is a bit annoying, as you need to charge it two times in a day. A heavy user would definitely need to keep another extra battery at hand for continued use.

Based on the above specifications, the BlackBerry 9860 has several new improvements compared to the 9780. The good wide keyboard, wide screen and its stunning appeal is enough to make any owner of this phone remain up-to-date, especially those who email a lot and are hooked to social messaging.

Nevertheless, it has its own flaws the same way its predecessors have, allowing the manufacturer to improve on it further. Perhaps combining the good points of 9900 and 9780 is something that should be considered by RIM.