No more waiting on details for the Verizon BlackBerry Torch 9850 we spotted earlier this summer. As expected, RIM’s latest all-touch smartphone will be available online starting on September 8, and will be in stores on September 15. Pricing will sit at $199.99 on a two-year contract, which is a bit pricier than what Sprint’s asking, but I’m sure that cost will go down quickly enough.
The BlackBerry Torch 9850 lines up with the other new OS 7 devices from RIM, packing a 1.2 GHz processor, 768 MB of RAM, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p video recording, a solid 3.7-inch 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen. Augmented reality is finally a go on the newer devices, but this one doesn’t have NFC, and the rumoured inclusion of mobile hotspot sadly didn’t pan out. As far as connectivity goes, the 9850 plays on both GSM and CDMA 2G and 3G networks, ensuring solid world roaming (if not any high-end LTE action). The software’s nicely polished and responsive, but more or less the same experience you’ve come to expect on a BlackBerry. I reviewed the Sprint model, if you’re thinking about picking up the Verizon one.
The Torch 9850 joins the Bold 9930 in Verizon’s BlackBerry lineup, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Curve 9350 show up later this month, and possibly a lower-end version of the all-touch BlackBerry to keep the other two company. You’ll be able to find the Torch 9850 in the online store over here starting Thursday.
[via]