Alcatel OT918D Full Specs Pricing & Performance Analysis

Overview

The Alcatel OT-918D, announced in the third quarter of 2011 and released in December of the same year, represents an early generation of Android smartphones. It was developed by Alcatel to cater to budget-conscious consumers looking for dual-SIM functionality at an affordable price point. Despite its discontinuation, the device holds historical significance for highlighting how smartphone technology was made accessible to a wider audience during the early 2010s. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of its design, performance, and features.

Design & Build

The Alcatel OT-918D measures 112 x 58.6 x 12.1 mm and weighs 123 grams, which was quite compact for a smartphone released in 2011. The device was designed with a focus on simplicity and practicality. It includes dual mini-SIM slots, a feature beneficial for users needing separate lines for work and personal use. The exterior is predominantly plastic with a removable back cover, allowing access to the battery, SIM slots, and microSD card slot. The black color finish gives the phone a subdued, professional look.

Display

The handset features a 3.2-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, providing around 180 pixels per inch density. Although not comparable to modern high-definition displays, this was adequate for basic usage such as texting, calling, and browsing simple applications. The screen supports 256K colors, which at the time was standard for entry-level smartphones. However, the 46.5% screen-to-body ratio means considerable bezels were present, which may appear disproportionate compared to the screen-centric designs of today.

Hardware & Performance

Under the hood, the Alcatel OT-918D is powered by a MediaTek MT6573 chipset, featuring a 650 MHz Cortex-A9 CPU and PowerVR SGX531 GPU. The device included 256MB of RAM and 512MB of internal storage, with the option to expand storage via a dedicated microSDHC card slot, suitable for basic app use and media storage. Its processing capacity is minimal by today’s standards but offered adequate functionality for the entry-level consumers at the time, suitable for basic tasks and limited app use.

Software

The device runs on Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, which was quite popular at the time for its user-friendly interface and responsiveness. However, the age of this operating system means it lacks many of the features and security updates found in more current Android versions. Users were often able to enhance their experience with simple apps from the Android Market, Google Play's predecessor.

Camera

The Alcatel OT-918D is equipped with a single 3.15 MP rear camera capable of recording video. While this may not offer the high-quality imaging seen in current devices, it was suitable for casual photography and capturing spontaneous moments. There is no front-facing camera, which reflects its dated nature when compared to modern smartphones. The simplicity of the camera system was sufficient for basic photographic needs at the time.

Battery

The phone houses a removable Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery, providing up to 200 hours of standby time and up to 4 hours of talk time. The small battery capacity complements the low-power demands of its hardware, making it more than sufficient for users who primarily used their phones for calls and text messaging. The removable nature of the battery also allowed users to carry spares for extended use, a practice less common in devices today.

Connectivity

The device supports GSM and HSPA technology with 2G bands covering GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and 3G bands supporting HSDPA 900/2100. Internet speed over HSPA can reach up to 14.4/5.76 Mbps, which was adequate for basic internet browsing tasks at the time. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capability, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS, stereo FM radio with RDS, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Additional Features

Despite its basic specifications, the Alcatel OT-918D includes some useful features like an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enhance usability for different applications, especially games and certain utility apps. The 3.5mm headphone jack allowed users to connect a variety of audio peripherals, another feature commonly found in devices of that era.

Price & Availability

At launch, the Alcatel OT-918D was priced at around 130 EUR, a competitive price for a dual-SIM smartphone back then. Its cost-effectiveness made it a popular choice among consumers in emerging markets or for those seeking a second phone without substantial investment. Being discontinued now, it is primarily of interest to collectors or those interested in retro technology.

Conclusion

The Alcatel OT-918D stands as a testament to the evolution of smartphone technology, capturing a moment in time when affordability and dual-SIM capabilities became key considerations for users. While its specifications and capabilities are modest by today's standards, they were sufficient for the target market at the time. The phone's emphasis on utility and basic functionality made it a noteworthy option for its period, providing insights into how mobile phone manufacturers balanced features and cost during the early 2010s.