Alcatel Idol 4 Full Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Device Overview

The Alcatel Idol 4 is a well-rounded smartphone released in June 2016. Featuring a 5.2-inch display and powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, this device was positioned in the mid-range segment when it was launched. Although it has been discontinued, the Idol 4 still holds interest due to its unique offerings that cater to multimedia enthusiasts.

Design and Build Quality

The Alcatel Idol 4 was designed with a focus on aesthetics and ergonomics. The phone measures 147 x 72.5 x 7.1 mm and weighs only 135 grams, making it both slim and lightweight. Its glass front and back panels, coupled with a metal frame, provided a premium feel despite its mid-range positioning. The phone was available in four colors: Gold, Dark Gray, Rose Gold, and Metal Silver, adding to its visual appeal. The hybrid dual SIM slot allowed flexibility for users requiring either dual SIM functionality or additional storage through a microSDXC card.

Display

The device sports a 5.2-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, translating to a pixel density of approximately 424 ppi. This high-resolution display ensured crisp and vivid visuals, perfect for media consumption. With around 69.9% screen-to-body ratio, the display offered a good balance between screen space and device compactness, making it comfortable to use with one hand.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Alcatel Idol 4 featured a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 chipset, consisting of an octa-core CPU with four cores clocked at 1.7 GHz and another four at 1.2 GHz. The Adreno 405 GPU handled graphic-intensive tasks, delivering smooth gaming experiences for most mid-range games of its time. The device came with two RAM variants: 2GB and 3GB, paired with 16GB of internal storage. Storage expansion was possible through a microSDXC card, utilizing the shared SIM slot.

Camera

The Idol 4 was equipped with a 13 MP rear camera featuring an f/2.0 aperture and PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus), along with a dual-LED dual-tone flash. It supported features like panorama and HDR, and could capture video at 1080p@30fps. On the front, it had an 8 MP selfie camera with an LED flash, enabling clear selfies even in low-light conditions, and also supported video recording at 1080p@30fps.

Battery and Charging

Powering the Alcatel Idol 4 is a non-removable Li-Ion 2610 mAh battery. This battery capacity was reasonable for the specifications it supported, offering up to 15 hours of talk time on 2G and 3G networks, and up to 520 hours on standby. The device supported 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 2.0 technology, allowing for swift recharging.

Audio Features

The Idol 4 placed a significant emphasis on audio capabilities, featuring stereo speakers for an enhanced media experience. These speakers provided rich, clear, and powerful sound output, ideal for gaming, watching movies, or listening to music. Additionally, the phone was equipped with a 3.5mm audio jack, offering versatility in audio connectivity.

Connectivity and Sensors

Connectivity options on the Idol 4 included Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with dual-band support, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, NFC, and FM radio with RDS. The microUSB 2.0 with OTG support allowed easy connection to various peripherals. The device was outfitted with several sensors such as accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass, contributing to a seamless user experience.

User Interface and Software

The Alcatel Idol 4 ran on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, offering a user-friendly interface with access to a wide range of apps via Google Play. The software was lightly skinned to provide unique features without straying too far from stock Android, ensuring a smooth and lag-free user experience. Although newer Android versions became available, Android 6.0.1 remained adequate for most tasks when this device was active in the market.

Conclusion

The Alcatel Idol 4, though discontinued, presents itself as a well-balanced device in the mid-range category of its time. It combined aesthetic design, capable performance, and rich media features, making it a compelling choice for consumers seeking entertainment-focused smartphones. Its standout features, like the high-resolution display, powerful stereo speakers, and balanced camera setup, contributed to its appeal, ensuring it left a lasting impression in the market despite the rapid pace of technological advancement.