Alcatel One Touch Idol Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview of Alcatel One Touch Idol

The Alcatel One Touch Idol was a notable entry in the mid-range smartphone market upon its release. Announced in January 2013 and released in May of the same year, it offered a decent combination of features and performance at an affordable price point. Despite being discontinued, it remains a classic example of early Android smartphones.

Design and Build

The Alcatel One Touch Idol boasts a sleek design, with dimensions measuring 133 x 67.5 x 7.9 mm and weighing in at just 109 grams. This made it one of the lightest smartphones available during its release and it was particularly appealing for users seeking a portable device. The device was available in several colors including Silver, Slate, Pink, Red, and Yellow, catering to a wide range of aesthetic preferences.

Display

The smartphone features a 4.66-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen-to-body ratio stands at approximately 66.7%, providing a sizeable viewing area for its time. The display is protected by Asahi Dragontrail Glass, which offers a degree of resistance against scratches and daily wear and tear.

Platform and Performance

Running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the Alcatel One Touch Idol is powered by a Mediatek MT6577 chipset. It features a dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and a PowerVR SGX531u GPU, providing a reasonable performance for general smartphone tasks and applications. However, it may struggle with more demanding apps and newer software updates due to its hardware limitations.

Memory and Storage

The device comes with 1GB of RAM, which was typical for smartphones in its class at the time of release. It offers internal storage options of either 4GB or 13.3GB, allowing for the storage of essential apps and files. Additionally, the inclusion of a microSDHC card slot provides users the option to expand storage capacity as needed.

Camera Capabilities

The Alcatel One Touch Idol is equipped with an 8 MP rear camera featuring autofocus and an LED flash, allowing for decent photography in various lighting conditions. It supports video recording as well, though details on the video specifications are not prominently highlighted. For selfies and video calls, the device includes a 2 MP front-facing camera.

Battery Life

The phone is powered by a non-removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery. While modest by today’s standards, it offers up to 415 hours of standby time on 2G or approximately 410 hours on 3G networks. Talk time is estimated at up to 7 hours and 10 minutes on 2G, or up to 3 hours and 30 minutes on 3G, which was quite reasonable around its launch period.

Connectivity Options

The Alcatel One Touch Idol offers a variety of connectivity features including Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, and a hotspot capability. It supports Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, GPS for location services, and even stereo FM radio with RDS. Its microUSB 2.0 port facilitates charging and data transfer. However, it lacks NFC capabilities, which limits some modern connectivity options.

Network Compatibility

The device supports GSM and HSPA network technologies, operating on 2G bands GSM 850/900/1800/1900 for both SIM slots (in the dual-SIM model). It is also compatible with 3G bands HSDPA 900/2100, offering HSPA speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps for downloading and 0.384 Mbps for uploading.

User Experience

Despite its limitations compared to modern-day smartphones, the Alcatel One Touch Idol delivered a satisfactory user experience during its time. The integration of sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass added to the overall functionality and user navigation experience.

Pricing and Availability

The device originally launched with a price tag of about 230 EUR, which positioned it well for budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable smartphone experience. Since being discontinued, new models may be scarce, but second-hand units might be available through various marketplaces for collectors or nostalgic users.

Conclusion

The Alcatel One Touch Idol stands as a representative example of mid-range smartphones from the early 2010s. It delivered on essential features with an impressive design and acceptable performance for its era. While it may be outclassed by current models, its impact and representation of technological progression in smartphones remain noteworthy.