Introduction
At the international exhibition Mobile World Congress (MWC) in 2013, Alcatel, which produces products in China under the TCL Communication brand, presented two original smartphones: Alcatel One Touch Idol and Alcatel One Touch Idol Ultra. The originality lies in the fact that they have a very thin body and light weight. For example, the thickness of the younger Idol model is 7.9 mm, and the older one is only 6.45 mm, which makes Idol Ultra the most thin smartphone in the world. Both gadgets weigh less than 110 grams, provided that the diagonal size is more than 4.5 inches.
As for the technical characteristics, they, from my point of view, are this moment quite ordinary: equipped with a dual-core processor and MediaTek MT6577 chipset, Idol and Idol Ultra each have one gigabyte of RAM; Both devices have 8 MP cameras and two microphones. The significant difference is that in the Ultra the screen is made using SuperAMOLED technology and the resolution is 720x1280 pixels (HD), while in the simplified version it is IPS and the screen resolution is 540x960 pixels (qHD).
The cost of the devices is already known. The Alcatel Idol smartphone will be sold for 10,000 rubles, Alcatel Idol Ultra for 13,000 rubles. They will go on sale at the end of the first quarter of this year.
Since I had non-commercial models on my hands, I decided to write this text in the style of a first acquaintance. As soon as I have the opportunity to take commercial samples and have more time for research, then I will try to write a full review.
Design, dimensions, control elements
Both devices are made of different types of plastic. For example, the edging and back side of the Idol are made of semi-gloss plastic (in my case, gray), and the Idol Ultra has a thin chrome edge around the perimeter of the front panel, the side edges and back are made of plastic (in my case, black), coated with “software.” -tach".
Dimensions "idol" - 133x67.5x7.9 mm, weight - 109 grams. The dimensions of the “Idol Ultra” are 134.4 x 68.5 x 6.45 mm, the weight, unfortunately, is not indicated, but it feels about the same as in the Idol. The devices fit equally well in the hand; the difference in thickness, frankly speaking, is leveled out. The screens are probably protected by glass, since not a single scratch appeared after a couple of days of active use.
Since the housings of the gadgets are monolithic and the assembly is good, there are no backlashes or creaks. The rear panels do not bend down to the battery.
On the top of the front panel: front cameras, light and proximity sensors, speakers. Below the screens are touch buttons. While they are barely noticeable on the Idol, they are not visible on the Idol Ultra. Next, I will describe the arrangement of the elements separately, because it is different in each device.
Alcatel Idol. At the bottom there is a microUSB and a microphone, at the top there is a standard 3.5 mm audio output and an on/off button almost recessed into the body. On the left, under the retractable flap, there is a slot for a microSD memory card; on the right, there is a connector of the same type for a micro-SIM card and a thin volume rocker key. On the back side there is a slightly raised camera module, framed by a chrome ring, a second microphone and a flash.
Idol and iPhone 4s
Idol and Samsung S III
Alcatel Idol Ultra. The microphone is on the bottom, on the top there is a button to turn the phone on/off and a microUSM under a plastic cap. A thin and long rocker key is on the left, and on the right is the same type of micro-SIM card slot as on Idol. Camera module, microphone and LED lights are located on the back of the smartphone.
Idol and Idol Ultra (left)
Displays
The Alcatel Idol smartphone has a 4.7-inch screen diagonal, resolution is 540x960 pixels, density is 234 pixels per inch. The matrix is made using IPS technology and is capable of displaying 16 million shades of color. The quality of the screen, in my opinion, is very good: large viewing angles, no purple and yellow tints at certain display angles. At angles, the brightness of the picture decreases slightly. The touch layer is capacitive and supports multi-touch up to 5 simultaneous touches.
The Alcatel Idol Ultra device uses a higher quality screen: diagonal – 4.65 inches, resolution 720x1280 (HD), density – 315 pixels per inch. If the first Idol has an IPS matrix, then the Ultra has SuperAMOLED with the notorious PenTile.
Matrix Idol Ultra
Naturally, such a matrix gives the maximum black color, but slightly distorts other colors due to higher saturation, which cannot be set here, unlike smartphones from Samsung. As a fan of SuperAMOLED, I would choose Idol Ultra. The touch layer is also capacitive, but supports 6 simultaneous touches.
Idol Screen Viewing Angles
Idol Ultra Screen Viewing Angles
Battery
Both devices have the same lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery with a capacity of 1820 mAh. It is worth paying tribute to the developers who were able to fit such batteries into a case thickness of 7.9 and 6.45 mm.
The official figures are as follows:
- Idol – 7 hours talk time, 415 hours standby time, 45 hours music and 2.5 hours charging
- Idol Ultra – 16 hours talk time, 700 hours standby time, 20 hours music and 4 hours charging
I wonder where Ultra got such good results? Is it really such a power-hungry SuperAMOLED screen? Unfortunately, I couldn’t test it, but I received data from Idol: video (HD at maximum brightness and maximum volume in headphones) - about 3 hours, music - a little over 30 hours. The average time is typical for most Android smartphones – about 9 – 10 hours.
Communication capabilities
Phones work in cellular networks 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (850/900/2100 MHz). Available Bluetooth version 4.0 for file and voice transfer. Present wireless connection Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n. The devices, of course, can be used as an access point (Wi-Fi Hotspot) or modem. USB 2.0 (High-Speed) is used for file transfer and data synchronization.
Settings
Memory and memory card
Both the older and younger models have 1 GB of RAM (previously it was said that Idol has 512 MB of RAM). About 600 MB free. Since Idol Ultra does not have a memory card slot, it uses a 16 GB flash, with about 13 GB available. From my point of view, for this class of devices, 16 GB should be enough for most purposes. Idol has a 4 GB flash drive, 2.5 GB free, plus a slot for microSDHC.
Cameras
Both smartphones are equipped with two camera modules: 8 MP main and front – 2 MP for Idol and 1.3 MP for Idol Ultra. The quality of the cameras is the same: good detail, natural colors, wide enough dynamic range, relatively fast focus. In the light the photos look great, but in the room the camera’s small matrix makes itself felt – colored noise comes out. In the dark outside, the camera copes even better than indoors with lighting. By the way, the lens aperture in both gadgets is f2.2!
Smartphones record video mediocrely - almost like all devices based on MTK6577: low detail, poor sound.
Examples of photos on Idol:
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Sample photos on Idol Ultra:
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Performance
When I found out that these new products contain the already outdated MediaTek MT6577 chipset, I was overcome with sadness... There is no point in talking about it in detail, since every second review on our website for the last six months has been devoted to smartphones based on this particular chip. I refer you to the following texts:
22.04.2014
Lyrical introduction
A smartphone in which as many as eight processor cores do nothing very quickly? It’s no longer news, it’s nothing unusual, it’s already commonplace - thanks to the well-known company MediaTek.
Competitors
Well, first of all, for 15 thousand you can buy a “gray” Galaxy S4... Will we continue to look for competitors?
Okay, let's continue. What else do we have that is similar? Same screen and same chipset.
My tests, all sorts of trivial actions such as opening pages or launching programs.
Sensors - all the main ones are there. Unfortunately, there are no frills - thermometers and barometers. But the gyroscope, accelerometer and compass are in place. Not to mention the light and proximity sensors.
Communication with the outside world
3G Internet is present and works fine. 4G (LTE), alas, no. We are looking forward to when MediaTek finally starts churning out inexpensive LTE chips.
Wi-Fi - yes, of course. The sensitivity is good, the speed is also good, it can handle 35 Mbit/s without problems. There are mentions that it is dual-band. But something is doubtful to me. Unfortunately, I can’t check it myself; I haven’t started the dual-band router yet.
Of course, there is Bluetooth, where would we be without it? But there is no NFC.
Connecting to a computer via USB is only in MTP mode. There is no ideologically correct Mass Storage.
Connectivity external devices(USB-OTG) no.
There is also no option to output the signal via wire to a TV or monitor (MHL or HDMI). But there is a “Wireless Screen”, that is, Miracast - i.e. you can output the signal to the TV wirelessly (if, of course, the TV supports this technology).
Screen
Five-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels (i.e. FullHD).
The screen deserves exceptionally warm words. Very high quality, very slippery, excellent viewing angles, oleophobic coating, decent behavior in the sun. They weren’t greedy, what can I say.
The sensor is also completely problem-free and clear. For ten simultaneous touches.
Maximum brightness is under 400 cd/m2 with a contrast ratio of 770:1. Excellent result. Sometimes I came across screens that were brighter (Huawei Honor 3) and more contrasting (Sony Xperia Z Ultra), but not often, not at all often.
It is possible to adjust the white point in the range from 6100K to 7000K (British scientists consider 6700K ideal). It is possible to adjust color saturation. What's funny is that the photograph, which is used to judge how colors change with such adjustments, shows something suspiciously reminiscent of an orange long-eared Cossack.
Color gamut - 98% sRGB.
Operating system and other software
The smartphone runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system, on top of which Alcatel has piled its proprietary shell. It turned out beautifully, but a little strange in places. For example, the leftmost screen - what is it? Picture viewer? Why does he need a separate screen? It doesn't seem to be good for anything other than pictures.
Second screen. Also unusual. "Widget Wall" There may be only widgets. Those. widgets can be on any screen at all, but on the second screen they can be and only them; application shortcuts cannot be there. For what??? Mysterious Chinese soul. Fortunately, the first two screens can be easily hidden so as not to get in the way. You can admire the first and second screens in the video “Demonstration of work”.
Otherwise, the branded shell is quite ordinary. Labels, folders, etc. The review on Mobile-Review says that there is no general list of all applications. At the same time, they have a specific icon (lower right, four by four squares) in the screenshots. So here it is. I have it too. And behind it lives a complete list of all applications.
Well, so - Android and Android. Nothing unusual.
Mountain of preinstalled third party applications. Fortunately, almost everything can be removed without problems. With the exception of Deezer, Facebook and Flashlight. For some reason these three received the status of untouchables.
Battery
The battery capacity, although not a record, is not bad - 2500 mAh. On average, according to my numerous battery tests - 125% of the Galaxy S4 results. Very worthy.
Full charging time with an average charger (5V, 1A) is slightly less than three hours.
The device can shoot video in “full HD”, 30 frames per second. The quality is reasonable, examples are in front of you.
The smartphone is an interesting solution from a design point of view, has not the most advanced characteristics and an excellent camera. However, it is difficult to talk briefly about this device, since the manufacturer found something to surprise its buyer. When I first saw the packaging of the Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X, I couldn’t help but exclaim: “Well, wow!” When I picked up the device itself, the pleasant surprise was repeated. However, later my head started going, “Hey, wait a minute!” and “It can’t be!”, and these were by no means positive exclamations. We read about all this and something else in our review today.
The name of the smartphone is so big that I didn’t even dare to add anything of my own to the title of this article. Here there is “one touch”, and “idol”, and “alpha” and even the letter “X”, which, as is customary, means something special. In my opinion, there are too many pretentious words for one title. However, the manufacturer did not stop at one name. Let's start with the configuration, fortunately there is something to talk about and show too.
Device kit
Idol Alpha's packaging is radically different from anything we've seen before. Usually, the manufacturer tries to save money on the box, trying to reduce its costs and, thereby, make the price of the device more attractive. Sasmung, for example, produces boxes for its devices from recycled materials. LG uses printing inks made from soy. Using the example of the latter, we see that here the manufacturer still has a chance to get into some fashionable rating of environmentally friendly companies. In the eyes of consumers, this is a definite plus. This is especially true for European countries, where the attitude towards ecology is of a slightly different order.
So, Idol Alpha crosses out all the principles outlined above and comes in a metal tube with appropriate markings. Down with savings and environmentally friendly production! But, you must admit, it looks cool! This “pipe” contains a special stand made of black velvet, in which the smartphone itself rests peacefully. The unpacking system is quite tricky, because all the components are hidden in a special compartment of this holder.
The device package consists of the following: microUSB cable, charger, headset with call control button, 3.5 mm adapter! (more on this later) and a device for removing the SIM card.
The special clip for opening the SIM card tray is surprisingly reminiscent of the one from the iPhone. In general, the device itself clearly shows many similarities. It's clear where the designers drew inspiration from when developing the 6032X.
Design, materials and use
The appearance is even more impressive. The first thing that catches your eye is the transparent plastic inserts on the top and bottom. Smooth, pleasant to the touch, rounded plastic does not provide any additional functionality. This is just an external “decoration” that looks really cool. In addition, the inserts are illuminated by moonlight with any notification. This illumination looks especially impressive in the dark.
The logos of the system control keys are cut out on the bottom plastic. The first thing I did was try to click on them, but nothing happened. These are just symbols, and the touch keys themselves are located on a dark strip under the screen. The buttons are not marked in any way, so you have to press them somewhere here. There is no other way to express it. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not bother to somehow allocate touch areas for the keys. Subsequently, I repeatedly caught myself trying to press these labels printed on the plastic. It turns out that the lower part of the smartphone looks very decent, but the ergonomics are not fully thought out.
Along the entire contour of the device there is a metal edging, painted in the color of the body. Obviously, the manufacturer killed two birds with one stone: he brought the antenna to the external circuit, thereby saving on internal space, and made it one of the main features of the device’s appearance. This antenna implementation looks very good, but the idea is far from new. The style and performance are painfully familiar to us. If you haven't guessed it yet, everything will fall into place after a direct comparison of Idol Alpha and iPhone 5.
The screen is covered with protective glass with an oleophobic coating. Thanks to the special design, the body appears to be two-level: as if a small black smartphone is enclosed in a metal ring. An interesting solution from all points of view. Above the display is a speaker grille, to the left of which is the front camera eye. To the right of the speaker there is a proximity sensor and a light sensor. The latter, by the way, works correctly, but with some delay: the change in the screen backlight returns to normal with the ambient light after about 5 seconds.
There are absolutely no elements on the top and bottom ends.
On the right side of the smartphone there are metal volume buttons and below is the power key. The button travel is clear and moderately soft.
The left side contains a tray for the operator’s card, which, by the way, is made of a slightly different material and this is noticeable against the background of the monochromatic edge of the phone. At the very bottom there is a microUSB port. And then I couldn’t believe my eyes. I twirled my smartphone again and it turned out to be true.
Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X does not have a 3.5 mm hole for connecting headphones!
It was a shock for me. In my memory, it’s been about 5 years since almost everyone (even Sony a little later) abandoned their proprietary ports and began to build an audio output into their devices for connecting third-party headphones. And now, in 2014, when all devices have a certain gentlemanly set of options (own shell over the OS, microUSB input, USB-Host, 3.5 mm jack for connecting third-party headsets), Alcatel is releasing one of its best devices, which turns out to be missing one leg.
For the sake of at least some convenience, the company included an adapter from microUSB to a 3.5 mm jack in the kit. Thank you, of course, but this crutch is far from the same as the initially available ability to connect any headphones. The adapter can be forgotten, broken, lost, and so on. But buying a replacement is now relatively difficult, since even budget models have a standard audio output. No demand - no supply. Is it possible to order through Ebay.com and wait about a month for the parcel, involuntarily giving up listening to music on your phone for this period.
By the way, not a single flash drive could be connected to the smartphone, since he thought that an audio headset had been inserted into it.
From here the conclusion arises that OTG mode is not supported.
And this, by the way, is one of the main advantages of the entire Android system. In general, the developers have done something clever here.
Since we are talking about the shortcomings of the device, it is worth mentioning that the main speaker is located on back cover. If the Idol Alpha 6032X is lying on a flat surface with the screen facing up, the sound is noticeably muffled. If you hold the device in your hand, the sound is muffled. If the smartphone is in your bag or in the front pocket of your trousers, then forget about any audibility of the ringtone or other notification. Of course, the arrangement of the components of any device in the case that the designers have drawn is very complex. engineering problem. And any user should understand this. Probably, someday the day will come when manufacturing companies will try their best to meet their consumers halfway and put the convenience and experience of using their products at the forefront. We all already know an example of a company where such an ideology rules everything.
The transparent insert with control button emblems has a recess for the first microphone. The second is located on the back, not far from the rear camera eye and LED flash.
Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X is a very thin (7.5 mm), light (117 g) and ergonomic smartphone. Using the device is a pleasure. All controls are located in convenient places and you don’t have to grab the phone to reach any button. In a trouser or jeans pocket it is almost invisible.
Along with excellent appearance, interesting colors(two options available: dark blue and beige), well-proven ergonomics - Idol Alpha 6032X really makes a very positive impression.
Yes, there are shortcomings, but there is no ideal, especially for a price of 13,990 rubles.
At the end of this section, I propose to compare the dimensions of the Idol Alpha 6032X with its closest competitors.
| Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | |
| Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X | 138 | 66,6 | 7,5 | 117,4 |
| Samsung GALAXY S4 mini | 124,6 | 61,3 | 8,9 | 107 |
| Sony Xperia Compact Z1 | 127 | 64,9 | 9,5 | 137 |
| Fly IQ4410 Quad | 135,8 | 68,4 | 8 | 123 |
Display
The display reproduces colors perfectly thanks to the IPS matrix used on its basis. With a diagonal of 4.7 inches and a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, viewing angles remain maximum. I propose to compare the color rendition of the smartphone with the iPhone 5 (the one on top) in the photographs below.
If there are no issues with the image display display, then with regards to sensitivity, everything is not so simple. Up to 10 simultaneous touches are supported, that is, a full-fledged Multitouch. During use, it turned out that the screen sensor does not always respond to touches. This is especially noticeable when surfing the Internet, when you need to click on some small link. For example, the hero of our previous review, LG G Flex, has a display with very good sensitivity: at times it is not even clear whether you touched the surface or not, but the smartphone has already reacted. You shouldn't expect such sensitivity from the Idol Alpha 6032X, and this can be attributed to its disadvantages.
In addition, the corners of the picture display are not beveled, despite the fact that the phone itself has a rather rounded shape. Again, let's return to the iOS interface, where there are no right angles - everything adheres to the general concept. The example below shows what we are talking about. And although most users will not notice this, there are still bores like me who will pay attention to this.
Specifications and productivity
- MediaTek MT6589 processor (4 cores) with a frequency of 1.2 GHz
- PowerVR SGX 544MP video chip
- RAM 1 GB
- 16 GB data storage memory (12.64 GB actually available)
- display 4.7" IPS screen with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels
- 13.1 megapixel camera (main) with LED flash, 1.3 Mpixels (front)
- Sensors: proximity sensor, light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetic compass
- supported music formats WAV, MP3, MP2, AMR, MIDI, Vorbis, APE, AAC, AAC+, FLAC, WMA
- FM radio
- battery 2,000 mAh
- operating system Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
Networks and connections:
- quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900), UMTS 900/2100 (6032X)
- HSPA: DC-HSPA+
- Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Wi-Fi direct, Wi-Fi Display, DLNABluetooth 4.0
- GPS with A-GPS technology
- Micro USB 2.0
- microSIM standard
As you can see, the smartphone is equipped with a processor from MediaTek, which provides sufficient performance for most tasks.
However, the proprietary shell sometimes has twitches and barely noticeable stutters.
There is no 100% smoothness of any interface animation here. It's difficult to say why this happens. Perhaps the proprietary shell is not well optimized, or perhaps the processor’s performance leaves much to be desired.
For clarity, here are the test results in the AnTuTu program:
However, the smartphone easily coped with FullHD video playback. Most modern games are also supported, but, of course, at medium graphics settings.
A 13.1 megapixel matrix is used as the main module for photographs. The output photos have a resolution of 4224×3168 pixels. Of course, there is autofocus, which quickly grasps the subject and almost never misses.
There are very few additional shooting scenarios: there is support for HDR, the ability to create a horizontal panorama, sports mode and night photography. For the front camera, the developers added special settings, which are suitable for selfie lovers - these are, first of all, automatic skin retouching and the creation of collages. In my opinion, this is the right approach when the manufacturer does not load the camera interface with many different add-ons. Almost no one uses all this anyway. Those who need additional functionality can always download third-party photo applications from Google Play.
Let's take a look at some sample photos.
It is obvious that the Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X camera is one of the most strengths apparatus. Detailing, color rendition - everything is at a very decent level. Sometimes your smartphone gets the exposure wrong, so it’s always worth taking a few shots. In such cases, the HDR mode can also come to the rescue, but in order not to blur the picture, you need to hold the device with iron hands for quite a long time - about 3 seconds.
For some reason, the manufacturer did not provide the ability to go directly to the footage from the camera interface. But we have all been accustomed to such functionality for a long time, since the days of 1.3 Mpixel modules.
As for video shooting, the smartphone is capable of shooting video in a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels at 30 frames per second.
During video recording, the tracking focus is clearly visible, which instantly refocuses on any desired object. The output file format is the good old 3GP (codecs H.263, MPEG4, H.264 depending on the quality preset in the settings). What to say when you can see everything with your own eyes.
Sound and video
As mentioned earlier, the speaker in the Idol Alpha 6032X is located on the back cover of the device. The sound through the speaker is quite quiet and, if we compare the volume with the iPhone 5, the latter sounds about twice as loud as a smartphone from Alcatel. On a noisy street or in the subway, it is impossible to hear a call from the device. Even the pre-installed relatively shrill notification tones do not save the situation.
The quality of music playback through headphones leaves an extremely positive impression.
We are talking about using third-party headphones. The entire sound spectrum, including bass, is clearly audible. For those who are missing standard sound, there is an equalizer with a lot of pre-installed add-ons, as well as many other effects, among other things. As music player Idol Alpha 6032X is also perfect because it supports many popular audio formats: WAV, MP3, MP2, AMR, MIDI, Vorbis, APE, AAC, AAC+, FLAC, WMA. If it were possible to connect your own headphones without any adapters, that would be very good.
The included headset does not pull out low frequencies at all, although it allows you to control playback and calls. For an undemanding user, it is quite suitable as the main headphones.
There is one more unpleasant feature. For some reason, the player stretches out all the song covers and, accordingly, it looks sloppy.
There is also an FM radio that operates via a headset that acts as an antenna. You can listen to the radio without headphones, but in this case no one guarantees the stability of the signal.
Video playback does not raise any questions, except perhaps that the player itself is very ascetic: there is not even the ability to view information about the file.
Input method
In the phone settings, you can configure input methods in detail using several preset keyboards to choose from. A learning mode and two ways of typing words are available: for fast typers and for those who prefer accuracy.
According to the manufacturer, Idol Alpha 6032X can last 24 hours on a single charge in music player mode. Non-removable battery with a capacity of 2,000 mAh allows the device to stay afloat for one day of light during active use. The smartphone can last a day and a half without connecting to a power source only under a fairly moderate load (20 minutes of calls per day, 10 pictures per camera, an hour of Internet surfing via Wi-Fi). It looks like a standard for an Android smartphone.
Bottom line
Yes, Alcatel decided to save money on the processor and not install a top-end chip from Qualcomm. Still, the price of 13,990 rubles per device in federal networks dictates its own rules. However, the smartphone is not positioned as a top-end device. The buyer has the right to count on the image component, a pleasant screen and good camera- and all this, believe me, is already a lot. Yes, there are certain inconveniences: you can’t just connect any headphones and there is no support for OTG mode. Before purchasing, you should definitely consider these points.
Can Alcatel Idol Alpha 6032X be considered as a purchase?
Yes, if not needed high performance, a second SIM card and a passion for a fashion device, but the iPhone for one reason or another is not suitable.
In addition to the cable for connecting to a PC and charger, the device comes with a good wired headset, which is perfect for an undemanding user when it comes to sound.
Dimensions - 4.5
We consider the main competitors of this smartphone to be the Explay Dream and Lenovo Vibe X, so we will compare its dimensions with them. The thickness of the 6040D is 6.9 mm, weight 130 grams. For comparison, the Explay Dream weighs 133 grams and is 9.4 mm thick, while the Lenovo Vibe X weighs 120 grams and is the same 9.4 mm thick as the 6040D. Separately, we note that the smartphone we are considering today is one of the thinnest. The main material used is matte smooth plastic; the back cover and ends of the device are made of it. From a practicality point of view, the use of such plastic is justified: the model does not slip in your hands and is simply pleasant to hold. In terms of assembly, we had almost no complaints about the device - all parts fit tightly together, there is no play. The only drawback we can name is that the power button is too deeply recessed into the body; pressing it is not very convenient.
Screen - 4.3
Display diagonal is 5 inches, screen resolution is 1920×1080 pixels, matrix type is IPS. This screen uses OGS (one-glass-solution) technology - that is, there is no air gap between the screen and the protective glass. This solution allows you to improve image quality and make the picture visually closer to the user. The screen has maximum viewing angles, good brightness levels, excellent picture clarity and natural colors. We tested the Alcatel One Touch Idol X display in sunny and dim conditions. In the first case, the display goes almost completely blind, and in the second, the minimum brightness level was not enough for comfortable reading, I wanted to reduce it a little more. In general, the model’s screen left a positive impression; it has good viewing angles, a clear picture, natural color rendition and a high level of maximum brightness. Thanks to Full HD resolution, any text, even the smallest one, looks as clear as possible, and the same applies to viewing photos. We consider the main disadvantage of the display to be the lack of an oleophobic coating; when using gestures, the finger often gets stuck, and the screen itself is more difficult to wipe off fingerprints and dirt.
Camera
The smartphone has a 13 MP camera with LED flash. The maximum resolution for video recording is 1920x1088 pixels, recording speed is 30 frames per second, sound is recorded in stereo mode. The camera quality is average, it is suitable only for undemanding users. The Alcatel One Touch Idol X is clearly not worth considering as a replacement.
Working with text - 5.0
The manufacturer did not preinstall its own keyboard, but decided to leave the built-in keyboard from Google. This solution has both pros and cons. Among the advantages, we note the convenient location of the keys, the ability to quickly dial numbers by holding a key, as well as support for gesture input (Swype). The key drawback, in our opinion, is the very meager dictionary in the keyboard; it does not know most Russian words, so if you make a mistake while typing, you should not count on the keyboard to automatically correct the typo. Thanks to big screen, you can type with both hands, with minimal typing errors.
Internet - 1.0
As with the keyboard, the manufacturer did not replace the built-in browser with its own. Specifically in this case, we do not see any problems in such a solution, since standard browser from Android 4.0 is one of the best in terms of ease of use and speed. The browser supports automatic text adjustment to the screen size, for this, after enlarging the text, you need to double-tap on the screen and the text will automatically adjust, this is a very convenient option. There is no separate reading mode, and this is a minus.
Interfaces
The smartphone contains the following interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n) (there is no support for dual-band Wi-Fi), Bluetooth and GPS. But NFC and LTE are missing. In our tests, the GPS “cold start” took quite a long time; unfortunately, this feature is present in all devices using MTK chipsets.
Multimedia - 4.6
We tried to play various video files on Idol X: the smartphone supports most popular formats and codecs, the player plays videos in high quality, up to 1080p. Supported video codecs include H264, DivX and xVid, and MP4, AVI and MKV formats. The audio player in the smartphone plays only popular formats MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV. In our opinion, you can use the 6040D as a portable media player without any problems.
Working hours
The smartphone has a non-removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh. The results of our tests are as follows: when watching HD video at maximum brightness, the device is discharged in 4.5 hours (7 hours for the Galaxy S4), when listening to music - in 30 hours (50 hours for the Galaxy S4).
Performance - 1.9
The device uses the MediaTek MT6589T platform with a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, a PowerVR SGX 544MP graphics subsystem, and 2 GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the power of MediaTek chipsets is not always enough to ensure maximum smartphone performance at FullHD resolution. So, when working with the browser and all modern games, there are no problems (the same Asphalt 8 runs at maximum settings), however, when flipping through desktops and navigating through the smartphone settings, we noted that the device does not work smoothly enough.
Memory - 1.0
The volume of internal memory in the smartphone is 16 GB, 12 GB is available to the user. There is no memory card slot. In our opinion, this is a significant drawback of the device.
Peculiarities
In its devices, Alcatel uses its own shell with a number of interesting features. For example, the dialer has a Smart Dial function (when you dial the first numbers or letters of a contact, it is automatically displayed in the list), the lock screen has quick access to the camera and other applications, and the desktop interface has changed slightly (the icons of built-in applications have been completely changed). We also note that the device supports working with two SIM cards at once. However, due to the use of only one radio module, when making calls from one SIM card, the second one becomes inaccessible.
Mobile phones sold under the Alcatel brand have long been familiar to domestic buyers. Recently, quite decent smartphones have appeared in their line that can compete with devices famous manufacturers. For example, Alcatel One Touch Idol X.
It's no secret that these gadgets are produced by the Chinese company TCL. Whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage is a moot point. Currently, many smartphones produced in the Middle Kingdom are excellent, balanced devices running Android. Surprisingly, it is the gadgets of this manufacturer that can easily compete with brands such as HTC, Sony, Samsung.
Alcatel One Touch Idol X has a prototype that is being produced only for the domestic market. The Chinese sell it under their own name - TCL. However, within the framework of this article, we will consider the European version of the device, which is officially sold in Russia.
Equipment
The first impression of a gadget is formed by its packaging. Here the manufacturer did not skimp on advertising. The front panel of the box shows the smartphone from a favorable angle. Above it is the model name. Naturally, the manufacturer mentioned the brand affiliation.
When disassembling a set of accessories, the buyer will not encounter any unusual elements. Currently, all manufacturers use approximately the same configuration. Alcatel One Touch Idol X is no exception. Along with the device, a wired stereo headset, an AC adapter, a USB cable, and a 2000 mAh battery are sold. Looking at these elements, you can notice that they correspond to the entry-level segment. Of course, there is documentation in which the user will find an instruction manual and a warranty card.
Those who have already purchased a smartphone noticed that the manufacturer did not include a case. Alcatel One Touch Idol X has fully plastic case, so purchasing protective accessories is quite important. The use of impact-resistant glass - Dragontrail - was a bonus. Although it will protect the screen, it is still recommended to use a special film. It is not included in the kit, so you must purchase it additionally. Devices with integrated memory of 8 GB have a slot for a flash drive. However, the external storage does not come with the phone.
Design Features
Externally Alcatel smartphone One Touch Idol X looks solid and presentable. Its body consists of straight, clear lines with barely rounded corners. 80% of the front panel is occupied by the screen. The frame around it is quite narrow - 2.4 mm. The only thing is that there are black stripes at the top and bottom, which serve as a place to place important elements. For example, above the screen there is a front camera “eye”, a standard earpiece hole, and sensors. There are three control buttons at the bottom. They are sensory. And most importantly, the developers used backlighting, thanks to which the keys can be easily recognized even in the dark.
On the back cover at the top there is a main camera lens. Below it there is a single-position LED flash. The output speaker grille is located in the lower right corner.
As mentioned above, the body of the Alcatel One Touch Idol X is entirely made of plastic. Thanks to this, the weight of the gadget is only 130 g with dimensions of 141 × 68 × 6.9 mm.
As for the connectors and mechanical buttons, they are located on the side faces and ends. The USB cable port and microphone are on the bottom, and the headphone or speaker jack is on the top. The audio jack is standard; most equipment does not require an adapter. The lock and volume keys are located on the right side.
Hardware "stuffing"
What do most buyers pay attention to when buying Alcatel One Touch Idol X? Processor characteristics. This criterion is quite important, since the phone is a kind of mini-computer. The device is equipped with a MediaTek brand chipset that is quite good by modern standards. It is based on four cores.
The computing modules use the basic Cortex-A7 architecture. The MT-6589T processor provides high performance, during which the core can be overclocked to 1500 MHz. At the moment, in this segment, such indicators are considered quite high.
Considering that the gadget was released in 2013, it easily coped with the most complex tasks, running any resource-intensive applications and games. However, at the moment, the only thing it cannot do is software that is developed for 64-bit platforms. In this smartphone, the chipset is configured only for 32-bit computing. If the buyer sets tasks such as high-quality video display, music playback, surfing the Internet, then all of them are performed flawlessly by the device.
Graphics accelerator
No less important indicator The high functionality of the gadget is the video card. IN this device the developers used Power model VR SGX544MP. Just three years ago she could cope with any task. But when it comes to modern games that require high performance, the graphics accelerator is simply not enough to run them. According to many users, nowadays a video card allows you to easily solve most tasks. The restrictions only apply to games, so you will have to be content with mid-level applications.
Memory
Conducting Alcatel review One Touch Idol X, you definitely need to pay attention to the memory characteristics. Despite the fact that there are several modifications of this model, the developers used the same amount of RAM in all of them. It is 2 GB. Initially system processes occupy about 700 MB. The rest of the storage can be used to work with additional software.
As for the integrated memory, in the version with one SIM card its volume is only 8 GB. The developers have included a slot for a memory card. The device supports 32 GB flash drives. Models that work with two SIM cards have 16 gigabytes of built-in memory. This modification does not provide a slot for an external drive.
Screen Features
What kind of image will Alcatel One Touch Idol X please? The display is made using modern OGS technology. Thanks to it, the picture is displayed on the screen in maximum quality. There are no complaints about the viewing angles, since the image is practically not distorted when tilted 180 degrees. Currently, such displays can rarely be found in mid-range devices, not to mention the budget segment.
The main element of the smartphone is its 5-inch screen. The display resolution is still relevant today. Even now there are few smartphones that can boast of 1920x1080 px.
To protect the screen, the manufacturer used an analog Gorilla Glass- Dragontrail. This is a protective glass that is not afraid of impacts and can withstand mechanical loads of various levels. You will also be pleased with the presence of an oleophobic coating. Thanks to it, owners will not have to constantly struggle with fingerprints.
Alcatel One Touch Idol X: camera specifications
The Idol X gadget from Alcatel does not deserve any comments in matters with optics. The main chamber was made according to modern technologies. It is based on a 13-megapixel sensor. Its manufacturer is a leader in this field. We are talking about Sony. Most buyers have already dealt with its products, leaving only positive reviews. Additional features such as flash and autofocus have been used to increase quality. This camera can be used to record movies. The speed per second does not exceed 30 frames. The maximum resolution is 1080p.
Buyers did not have much interest in the front camera, since it is equipped with a 2-megapixel matrix. It can be used mainly only for video calls. For a high-quality selfie, this resolution is no longer enough.
Battery Specifications
All the characteristics described above can only be considered advantages. However, it is worth talking about weaknesses Alcatel One Touch Idol X. The battery installed by the developers will not please the owners. Its capacity is scanty according to modern requirements - only 2000 mAh. It is based on lithium-ion technology. If you study the battery indicators declared by the manufacturer, then according to them, when working with second-generation networks, the device will be discharged after 320 hours, and when connected to 3G, the time will decrease by 80 hours.
Users in their reviews claim that with maximum savings, the gadget can work for up to 2 days. If you use all its functionality to the maximum, then the battery life will only last for daylight hours. All owners are recommended to purchase an external battery. Thanks to it, you can avoid situations where the battery suddenly runs out completely at the most inopportune moment. It is important to understand that different functionality processes consume different amounts of energy.
Communications
The One Touch Idol X smartphone is equipped with all the necessary communications. Users are provided with Wi-Fi support as a priority method for sharing data. Used for wired information transmission USB cable. The device has a connector, thanks to which you can not only charge the device, but also connect to computers, laptops and other equipment. Bluetooth is provided for using wireless data exchange methods. You can also use it with a special headset.
3G support provides not only making calls and sending messages, but also connecting to the Internet. In this case mobile operators provide high-quality speed, thanks to which you can make video calls on the Alcatel One Touch Idol X (the front camera is designed for these purposes). The device also supports GSM standard. It is designed to quickly determine the location of the device. And of course, the developers have provided the ability to connect a wired speaker system. For this purpose, the gadget has a 3.5 mm port.
Software
The developers used the most common operating system as a platform. We're talking about Android. As for the version, the device runs on a rather outdated version - 4.2. Many users say that this causes some inconvenience, since there are restrictions on installing applications. But if we take into account that the processor runs on a 32-bit system, then this version is quite sufficient to ensure the operation of many non-resource-intensive programs. All owners, without exception, can use international social networks, everyone without exception Google services. And for installing additional content there is a special Play Market store.
The manufacturer used its proprietary shell on top of the operating system. It provides an initial set of applications - an organizer, calendar, alarm clock, calculator, etc. To expand the functionality of the gadget, the user can always download additional software from the Internet.
Problem solving
According to most users, this smartphone model boasts high level reliability. If there were any breakdowns, they constitute a very small percentage. Most often, users encounter freezes. In most cases, this is not typical for the Alcatel One Touch Idol X. The firmware of the original version, as a rule, works without failures. However, isolated cases still occur. To do this, users are advised to contact service center in order to update your device. The most “advanced” do it themselves. However, you need to understand that changing the firmware yourself can lead to complete failure of the gadget. Therefore, such actions are done at your own peril and risk.
Briefly about the price
Due to the fact that this phone model has already been discontinued, it can only be purchased from stock. As a rule, users choose online stores for this. Undoubtedly, you can do quite a lot in them. bargain purchases. However, buyers are advised to be very careful as the Idol X is very similar to the Alcatel One Touch Idol X Mini. They have the same design, however latest version somewhat inferior in characteristics and size. Naturally, this is reflected in the price.
The full-fledged Idol X model started at a cost of about $250 (RUB 14,000). In three years, new devices have “pushed” the smartphone to the entry-level segment. However, it’s hard to say that the Alcatel One Touch Idol X has dropped significantly in price. The price is currently around $125-150 (RUB 7,000-9,000). If compared with competitors, then in this price category There are devices that have the best technical equipment, for example in the Sony and Xiaomi lines.
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