Review: Blackberry Storm

Reviewed by Daniel Dumas • November 20, 2008

Photo by Jon Snyder For Wired.com

$200 • blackberrystorm.com

6 out of 10

RIM's First Touchscreen Device Almost Eclipses the iPhone

How the hell do you brew up an iPhone killer?

Short of cracking open Steve Jobs's head and slurping out his big think-y brain, there's always creating a half-assed imitation that masters one aspect of the Jesus phone and fumbles the snap on virtually every other feature. That seems to be the model handset manufacturers have been using for almost two years as they churn out a seemingly endless line of touchscreen enabled iPhone imitators — iClones. There have been Instincts, Dares, Beholds, Diamonds, G1s — even something with the obtuse moniker of Viewty, but none of these come remotely close to knocking the iPhone off its perch as King Of All Touchscreens. And heaven forbid any one of them improve on the flaws (and there are many) that the iPhone possesses.

That's where the Storm is different. The first device from RIM to carry a full touch sensitive screen seeks to not only match the iPhone in terms of performance but also kick its ass in areas where Cupertino's wunderkind falls short. Yep, that includes video function (with a superior 3.2MP camera), cut and paste capabilities, and an innovative screen that solves the issue of touchscreen input ambiguity.

The main problem with touch phones is that there is no real way of indicating when you have pressed a key or selected an application. The haptic buzzing found on various iClones is a joke. And the iPhone's complete lack of force feedback is almost as bad. Remember the first time you picked up an iPhone and started text messaging with it? Sucked right? You had no clear physical indication when you selected a key. That's the crucial difference with the Storm: the 4-inch 480 x 360 screen is essentially one huge button. When you want to select anything, be it a multimedia app or the number five, you have to press the screen down a millimeter, it's roughly the same sensation you get when clicking a mouse. But that small press makes a huge difference. Text messaging is amazing — pounding out a long-winded SMS (with a lot of compound words and no abbreviations) is just as easy as typing one out on a MacBook's keyboard. This is the single killer feature of the Storm and if not for a few glaring flaws a good reason to go out and buy one right now.

Also making an appearance is a very capable 3.2MP camera. While it lacks the fancy-pants lenses found in better camera phones (cough Carl Zeiss, cough) it does have a flash and snaps off some pretty decent, noiseless pics. Also included is a video recorder — take that iPhone!

Web surfing on the device is good, not great. The fully realized browser pulls up pages quickly but also suffers from a lack of flash support. Cut and paste functionality works fairly flawlessly, as does text editing. All of RIM's email goodness and top shelf messaging are also effortlessly integrated into the device. For better or for worse, you never forget that you are using a BlackBerry.

But all is not well with the Storm.

When we first had a look at the device back in October the majority of comments about our preview post had to do with the seemingly inexplicable lack of Wi-Fi. Come on guys, you should know why this was done. Verizion (the only carrier offering the Storm) wants to line their pockets with cash squeezed from data plans. Silly goose, they don't want you patching into a Wi-Fi network for free! But this unnecessary and frankly a little myopic — although Verizon's data network is speedy, it can't beat even a decent Wi-Fi network in a broadband drag race. Plus other handsets (including the iPhone) offer Wi-Fi compatibility.

Battery life skews towards the pathetic end of the spectrum. While not as atrocious as the iPhone 3G's, it still ran out of juice after a solid day of use. Granted we were riding the Storm hard — constant web browsing, phone calls, and messaging — but you had best not stray far from a charger while on the road.

After spending a great deal of quality time with the Storm, it's apparent that it really is the carrier that cripples this phone. The hardware that RIM has produced is completely original, wholly impressive, and poised to affect the way every phone manufacturer approaches touch technology — including Apple. But Verizon's insistence on controlling the operating system is obvious and, well, aggravating. The phone's OS has a rushed, shoddy feel. That coupled with a tendency to freeze and lag when pulling up applications is flummoxing. I get the feeling Verizon pushed RIM to get the Storm launched before its software was completely ready.

Would we recommend the Storm? If you're locked into a contract with Verizon, want a touchscreen phone, and are willing to put up with an OS that moves like a tranquilized yak, then yes the Storm is for you. Otherwise, your best bet is an iPhone or the very capable BlackBerry Bold. In any case, Apple need not fret; even in the face of a legitimate iPhone killer, they still offer more touchscreen goodness for the money and will undoubtedly, ahem, weather this storm.

WIRED Click screen is a revelation for touch compatible devices. Converts iTunes to BlackBerry media without breaking a sweat. Included GSM card means the Storm is a true globetrotter — it can work in virtually any foreign port. Photos, video, and text pop like Ice Cube's AK (on a bad day). Posh fit and finish look rich enough to buy YOU dinner.

TIRED OS lag on a piece of hardware this gorgeous is unacceptable. Scrolling through menus is jagged, slow, and pokey. Accelerometer sometimes takes a good 5-10 seconds to orient itself. Lack of Wi-Fi is lame. Verizon's totalitarian control over the Storm's OS is even lamer.

• Style: Touchscreen
• Service Provider: Verizon Wireless
• Manufacturer: RIM
• Price: $200 (with a two-year contract)
Release Date: November 21, 2008