Unveiling the Alcatel One Touch Scribe HDLTE Specs Prices & Insights

Introduction to Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD-LTE

The Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD-LTE, launched in January 2013 and released in October of the same year, represented an effort by Alcatel to compete in the burgeoning smartphone market. Although now discontinued, its feature set during the launch was competitive for its time. It aimed at delivering a robust user experience by utilizing LTE connectivity and a number of multimedia features suitable for everyday tasks.

Network Capabilities

The device supported a variety of network technologies including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, providing a versatile connectivity experience. It supported GSM bands 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, HSDPA bands 900 and 2100, along with unspecified LTE bands. With a speed capability of up to HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps and LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, the phone was designed to offer fast data connections for internet browsing and streaming, meeting the demands of early LTE adopters.

Design and Build Quality

With dimensions of 144 x 75 x 8.7 mm and a weight of 135 grams, the Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD-LTE was crafted to be lightweight and slim, making it portable and easy to handle. The phone's design was sleek with a modern aesthetic, featuring a reddish-black color that offered a distinctive look. The inclusion of a Micro-SIM slot was indicative of the smartphone trends of the time.

Display Features

The device sported a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. The screen size offered decent surface area for interacting with apps, browsing the web, and consuming media, complemented by a pixel density of approximately 294 ppi. The display was protected by scratch-resistant glass, enhancing its durability against daily wear and accidental drops.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD-LTE was powered by a Mediatek MT6589 chipset built on a 28 nm process. It housed a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU coupled with a PowerVR SGX544 GPU. This configuration, paired with 1 GB of RAM, supported moderate multitasking and gaming capabilities suited to the smartphone mid-range market of its time.

Storage Options

The smartphone came with 4 GB of internal storage and had a dedicated slot for microSDHC cards, offering expandability for users requiring more space for apps, media, and other data. The additional storage capacity was essential for users who relied heavily on media storage, allowing for personalized software and extensive photo and video libraries.

Camera Capabilities

The rear camera of the Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD-LTE featured an 8 MP shooter with autofocus and an LED flash, providing decent photography capabilities for everyday use. The camera supported video recording too, allowing users to capture memorable moments. For selfies and video calls, a 1.3 MP front-facing camera was included, providing basic functionality for those features.

Audio and Multimedia

The device included a loudspeaker for media playback and a 3.5mm audio jack, accommodating traditional headphone users and offering compatibility with numerous audio accessories. The presence of stereo FM radio with RDS support was a nod to radio enthusiasts, providing access to broadcast content on the go. The multimedia suite was sufficient for standard music lovers and casual media consumers.

Communication Features

The Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD-LTE was equipped with several communication technologies such as Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with capabilities for Wi-Fi Direct and hotspot creation. Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP ensured connectivity with wireless accessories. Although NFC was absent, GPS was present for navigation, alongside a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Sensors and Extras

The phone came with essential sensors including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, contributing to the functionality of applications dependent on orientation and motion data. These sensors were standard at the time and facilitated a range of applications from navigation to gaming.

Battery Performance

The Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD-LTE housed a removable Li-Ion 2500 mAh battery. It offered a standby time of up to 500 hours and talk time of up to 11 hours, which was quite competitive for smartphones in that era. The removable nature of the battery was beneficial for users who preferred carrying a spare battery for extended periods away from charging sources.

Pricing and Market Impact

The device was priced around 350 EUR at launch, positioning it in the mid-range smartphone market. Despite being discontinued, its launch contributed to the competition among smartphone manufacturers striving to offer LTE-enabled devices, pushing innovations in connectivity and design. Although not groundbreaking, the phone provided a balanced suite of features for its target demographic.

Conclusion

The Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD-LTE was a product of its time, offering a balanced set of features that catered to the needs of average users seeking an entry into the LTE smartphone experience. With its moderate specifications, compatible design, and adequate multimedia features, it played its part in shaping the landscape of accessible smartphone technology in the early 2010s.