RIM’s getting ready to refresh the BlackBerry Torch 9800, by the looks of it. The next Torch looks an awful lot like the original, but much like the Dakota that was leaked earlier today, the real changes are under the hood:
- 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
BlackBerry OS 6 already runs smooth as butter (for me anyway), but that 624 MHz processor is definitely showing its age. With more horsepower, 3D rendering support, and an updated OS with augmented reality capabilities, the next Torch promises to bring a lot to the table while still providing the best of both touchscreen slate and QWERTY candybar worlds. NFC is still new to most people, but if RIM can price this reasonably, it’ll definitely help popularize contactless payments. It’s unfortunate that the mobile hotspot function in the leaked Dakota didn’t find its way to the Torch 2, but with a bigger screen and smaller battery, it’s hard to even offer any more power drains. Still, 8 GB of on-board storage is significant, especially if folks can toss on another 32 GB with a microSD card on top of that.
We’re expecting this one to launch on AT&T in late Q3. There’s one more RIM smartphone that leaked today, coming up next…
[via BGR]