Tired of just listening to music, playing games or even surfing the internet thru your phone? Have you ever wished your phone can offer more than just the usual multimedia functions found in most mobile phones? Torque DTV90 is an effective yet inexpensive means of entertainment for millions of Filipinos waiting for the next MRT/LRT train, their papers to be processed in government offices or even their turn in the PBB or Starstruck auditions.

Torque DTV90 comes in a compact yet stylish design. Its sleek classic metal casing is available in three colors: Aluminum gray, white and red. I find the phone’s overall design perfectly engineered. The TV’s retractable stainless antenna is strategically hidden at the lower right corner of the phone, while the speaker is located at the left where it can provide optimal sound quality. Landscape viewing can be done hands-free with the phone’s stand which can be found around the phone’s rear camera lens and flash lamp.

This phone houses a host of great multimedia features. It has a microSD expandable memory (up to 2GB) where you can store your favourite songs and videos. It enables Bluetooth connectivity and GPRS. It has front- and rear-mounted cameras (not 3G capable), and both can be used in video recording. The phone also has an FM Radio, MP3/ MP4/3GP Player and a free-to-air Mobile TV.

I have to say I underestimated the TV function of this phone. It has an extra large and super clear 2.2” 262K color QVGA LCD with 240x320 pixels which provides satisfactory viewing experience. Torque DTV90 is equipped with a motion sensor, so the screen automatically adjusts into landscape or portrait viewing modes depending on how the user is holding the phone.

The TV mode uses a lot of power from the battery. Normally, the battery life can last up to 24 hours, but with the TV on, the battery lasts only for 2 hours. So, it’s advisable to have the charger or the extra battery always on hand.

The quality of the image greatly depends on the channel and location of the user. Finding a great spot is necessary to get a decent reception. The antenna can be angled 45 to 90 degrees and rotated 180 degrees, making it easier to get a signal. It was pretty impressive that I was able to get a signal even in a moving vehicle at NLEX.

In Manila, the phone can get receptions from 13 local networks, and I have noticed that I always get best receptions from GMA 7, Studio 23 and Net 25 wherever I go. I’ve also noticed that even if the image is not that clear, it doesn’t affect the sound quality. Meaning, you don’t hear a distracting “sh” sound even if the signal is not that good –unless you get no reception at all.

I was pleased with the phone’s sound quality. The speaker may not deliver very fine sounds, but it can produce accurate sounds that are clear enough to understand dialogues and lyrics. The phone’s audio quality is more bearable with the provided earphones. It’s just unfortunate that replacing the earphone can be quite difficult because the phone utilizes a common 5-pin mini-USB jack for the earphones, as well as for charging and file transfer.

Compared to its predecessor, DTV90 is more convenient to use because of its alphanumeric keypad. However, the control keys are counterintuitive which may take a while to get used to. DTV90’s dedicated TV and call keys can be quite confusing at first. The dedicated TV keys of the phone are colored green and red which can be mistakingly regarded as call keys.

 Torque DTV90 is also a dual sim phone. The package says that it is a dual sim, dual standby phone, but I’m pleased that it is dual active (not dual standby). This means that both sims can be used simultaneously. So, while you’re using Line 1, you can receive another call from Line 2. This holds true also with text messages.

If you’re more into text messaging, you might have a little difficulty with this phone. Normally, I can write and send text messages while driving or even without necessarily looking at the phone, but with Torque DTV90, I can’t because of its slow response time. It starts fast in the first 20 characters, but then it gradually slows down.

Just like any other mobile phones, DTV90 has its own pros and cons. For me, I find it a perfect leisure companion. It is ideal for those who don’t want to miss their favourite local TV shows while on the go. I find it very helpful when stuck in traffic as you can keep yourself updated with the latest traffic news over the FM radio or TV. I find it competitively priced at P4,999.00, considering that it is a dual sim TV phone.

Plus, Torque offers 12 months warranty for handsets and six months for accessories, and there are more than 150 Torque service support centers nationwide.