Alcatel OT 535 InDepth Review & Full Specifications

Introduction to Alcatel OT 535

The Alcatel OT 535, launched in July 2003, is a classic mobile phone representative of the early 2000s mobile technology era. As a feature phone, it has basic functions and caters to users who primarily need calling and texting capabilities. This device marked a phase where feature phones were prevalent, catering to a wide audience with diverse requirements ranging from personal communication to gaming and basic connectivity.

Design and Build

The Alcatel OT 535 boasts a compact design with dimensions of 106 x 47 x 20 mm, making it a portable and handy device that easily fits into a pocket. Weighing just 88 grams, the phone is lightweight, contributing to its overall convenience as an on-the-go communication tool. The use of sturdy materials in its construction ensures durability, appealing to users who value longevity over aesthetics. The phone comes in three color variants: red, blue, and grey, offering a variety of choices for users to appeal to their personal style. The device uses a Mini-SIM, common for phones of that era.

Display

Featuring a CSTN display capable of showing 4096 colors, the Alcatel OT 535 provides a satisfactory visual experience for its time. The screen resolution is 128 x 128 pixels, and it can display up to 7 lines of text. Although quite basic by modern standards, it efficiently serves the purpose of displaying texts, phonebook entries, and simple graphics typical of games and wallpapers of the early 2000s.

Network and Connectivity

Alcatel OT 535 supports GSM 900 / 1800 bands and offers GPRS Class 10. While the device does not support EDGE, 3G, Bluetooth, or WLAN, it does include an infrared port. This feature was notably used for proximity-based data exchanges and served well for transferring contacts or small files and playing multi-player games. The absence of advanced connectivity options such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth reaffirms the device's focus on basic functionality.

Memory and Storage

Internally, the Alcatel OT 535 provides 1 MB of storage, a common capacity for devices from that period. While it does not support expandable storage, its internal memory was sufficient for storing SMS messages, a few downloadable games, and the basic needs of contact book entries with 800 slots, each allowing up to 10 fields. Call records can store the last 10 dialed, received, and missed calls.

Audio and Alert Features

The Alcatel OT 535 is equipped with polyphonic ringtones, allowing users to enjoy a variety of alert tones. There is no loudspeaker or 3.5mm audio jack, indicating that the device is not optimized for audio media consumption but focuses on fundamental alert functionalities. The device also supports a composer, giving users some creative freedom to craft personalized ringtones.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable Li-Ion battery, the Alcatel OT 535 offers up to 6 hours of talk time and up to 260 hours on standby. The removable nature of the battery results in easy replacements, which might appeal to users focusing on longer-term device use. For its time, the battery life was competitive, providing users with sufficient power to last through the day with moderate use.

Messaging and Browser

The phone supports SMS, EMS 4.0, and MMS, covering a range of messaging needs from simple text messages to multimedia messages. The inclusion of MMS was an advanced feature at that time, facilitating the sending and receiving of picture messages. Its browser supports WAP 2.0/xHTML, suitable for basic browsing needs, although the absence of advanced connectivity features limits its ability for extensive web browsing.

Games and Applications

Alcatel OT 535 comes pre-loaded with two games: Wall Breaker and Mutant Alert, with the option to download more. While the phone does not support Java applications, these built-in games leverage the device capabilities well, providing simple entertainment options for users.

Conclusion

In summary, the Alcatel OT 535 is a testament to early 2000s mobile technology, fulfilling basic communication needs with simplicity and endurance. It serves as an interesting contrast to modern smartphones with its fundamental functionalities, offering a glimpse into a time when phones were primarily used for calling and messaging. Despite the discontinuation, the Alcatel OT 535 remains a memorable device for those who experienced the early stages of mobile telephony.