Amid the steady trickle of hands-on videos of the BlackBerry Torch 9860/50, the latest one out of China is showing one of the first signs of carrier branding. Verizon is set to pick up the 9850 if the battery door cover in this video is any indication, though a 9860 is also expected for GSM networks. The source of the leak had both models, and pointed out that the main physical difference is that the GSM version has raised physical keys, while the CDMA version (pictured here) will have flush keys comparable to the Storm2. North of the border, we’re expecting at least Telus will pick up the BlackBerry Torch 9860.
The BlackBerry 9850 (code-named Monaco, likely launching as a Torch), will have all the gubbins we’re seeing inside RIM’s next-gen Bold 9900, like a 5 megapixel camera with 720p video recording and LED flash, Wi-Fi b/g/n with mobile hotspot, near-field communications capabilities, a magnetic compass to support augmented reality apps, and a 1.2 GHz processor. The defining quality of this phone will be the 3.7-inch 800 x 480 display. It’s the biggest, highest-res screen we’ve seen on a BlackBerry so far, though in the grand scheme of smartphone displays, it’s not mind-blowing.
Between the camera app working in the video demo below, the branding being in place, and the rumours of a new version of BlackBerry Messenger launching next week, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Torch 9860 launch alongside the Bold 9900 within the expected August timeframe.
In any case, here’s a solid hands-on video of the BlackBerry Torch 9860. For those curious about specifics, it’s running OS 7.0.0.236.
[via BerryCN]