Price and specifications of alcatel Fire E advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview of Alcatel Fire E

The Alcatel Fire E is a smartphone that was released in the third quarter of 2014. Though it has since been discontinued, it remains a notable entry in the lineup of budget-friendly smartphones that were designed to provide essential smartphone functionalities without breaking the bank. It runs on the Firefox OS, which was a distinctive choice at the time, aimed at providing users with an alternative to the mainstream Android and iOS operating systems.

Design and Build

The Alcatel Fire E features a sleek design with dimensions of 129 x 63.5 x 8.2 mm and a lightweight build, weighing just 103 grams. This compact size makes it comfortable to hold and operate with one hand. The device uses a Micro-SIM and is available in three color options: Slate, Dark Chocolate, and Mozilla Orange. Sporting a 4.5-inch screen, it represents a balance between display size and portability.

Display

Equipped with an IPS LCD, the Alcatel Fire E has a screen resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, giving it a pixel density of approximately 245 ppi. This resolution and screen type provide decent clarity and color reproduction for casual media consumption and everyday smartphone tasks. Screen-to-body ratio stands at about 68.1%, offering a satisfactory viewing experience for most users in its target segment.

Performance and OS

Under the hood, the Alcatel Fire E is powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor. Although modest by today's standards, it was sufficient to handle the basic tasks expected of a budget smartphone during its release period. The device packs 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, with the possibility of expanding storage through a microSDHC slot. The phone runs Firefox OS 1.3, which was aimed at offering a simple and intuitive user experience, emphasizing web-based apps and services.

Camera Capabilities

The Alcatel Fire E comes with a single rear camera of 5 MP equipped with autofocus, an LED flash, and HDR capabilities. It is capable of recording 720p video at 30 frames per second, which was comfortable for day-to-day photo and video capture. On the front, it features a basic VGA camera suitable mostly for video calls in decent lighting conditions.

Audio and Connectivity

The device supports standard audio features including a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, enabling users to listen to music and take calls with ease. In terms of connectivity, the Alcatel Fire E offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, and GPS capabilities. It also supports a microUSB 2.0 connection for charging and data transfer. However, it lacks NFC functionality, which limits some of the potential for contactless payment and data-sharing applications.

Battery Life

Powering the Alcatel Fire E is a removable Li-Ion 1700 mAh battery, which offers decent longevity for a device of its caliber. The battery promises up to 450 hours on standby (2G) and up to 400 hours on standby (3G), with talk time extending up to 7 hours on 2G and up to 4 hours on 3G networks. Additionally, it provides up to 25 hours of music playback, contributing to its appeal for media consumption on the go.

Network and Communication

This smartphone supports GSM/HSPA technologies, allowing it to operate efficiently on 2G and 3G networks. Compatible 2G bands include GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, and it supports HSDPA 900 / 2100 for 3G. HSPA speeds reach up to 42.2/5.76 Mbps, making it capable of handling standard browsing and streaming tasks, albeit not at the speeds offered by 4G or modern LTE networks.

Sensors and Additional Features

In terms of sensors, the Alcatel Fire E is equipped with an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and a compass. These sensors aid in delivering a more responsive user experience, including orientation adjustment and basic navigational capabilities. The phone also includes FM radio support with RDS, providing an alternative form of entertainment for users.

Market Positioning and Price

Priced at about 70 EUR during its release, the Alcatel Fire E was positioned as an economical option for consumers seeking essential smartphone features without extensive cost. Its competitive price and unique operating system proposition helped it carve out a niche among a specific segment of users who were inclined towards accessible pricing and open-source software experiences.

Conclusion

The Alcatel Fire E exemplified a trade-off between cost and functionality, offering foundational smartphone features within a budget-friendly package. While it is no longer in production, its role in diversifying the choices available to budget-conscious consumers shouldn't be understated. As an embodiment of the goals of the Firefox OS initiative, it served as a stepping stone in the evolution of entry-level smartphones, bringing open-source operating systems to a broader audience. Despite its limitations in performance and versatility compared to modern offerings, the Alcatel Fire E remains a testament to the early endeavors in democratizing smartphone technology.