Alcatel OT985 All Specs Prices Pros & Cons Revealed

Introduction to the Alcatel OT-985

The Alcatel OT-985 is a classic Android smartphone released in 2012. Known for its affordability and basic functionalities, this phone catered to individuals seeking a budget-friendly device with essential features. Its release during the early 2010s was part of the movement to make smartphones accessible to a broader audience, featuring modest specifications yet delivering a satisfactory user experience for its time.

Design and Build

The Alcatel OT-985 sports a compact design suitable for users who prefer manageable and pocket-sized devices. With dimensions of 116 x 61.8 x 12.5 mm and a weight of 136 grams, it offers a comfortable grip and ease of use with one hand. Its design includes a Mini-SIM slot and comes in multiple colors, including Black, White, and Cherry Red, appealing to various tastes and style preferences.

Display

The smartphone features a 3.5-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 165 ppi. Although modest by modern standards, this display provided adequate clarity for viewing texts, images, and videos. The 50.9% screen-to-body ratio made it a practical device for users who prioritize functionality over aesthetics.

Performance and Platform

Running on Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread), the Alcatel OT-985 was equipped with a Mediatek MT6573 chipset featuring a 650 MHz Cortex-A9 CPU and a PowerVR SGX531 GPU. This configuration provided enough performance for basic smartphone tasks such as browsing, texting, and running lightweight applications. While the specifications may seem outdated today, they were quite practical for daily use in 2012.

Memory and Storage

The device offers 512MB of internal storage coupled with 256MB of RAM. For users requiring more space for apps and media, it includes a microSDHC card slot, allowing expansion up to an additional 32GB. This feature was essential for accommodating additional data, given the limited internal storage.

Camera

Photography enthusiasts had limited options with the Alcatel OT-985, which came with a single 3.15 MP rear camera accompanied by an LED flash for low-light conditions. This camera could record videos at 480p@30fps, which was suitable for basic video capturing. There is also a VGA front-facing camera, primarily useful for video calls, reflecting the secondary role of selfies in the era of its release.

Battery Life

The removable Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery provided reasonable battery life for the device. It offered up to 640 hours of standby time on 2G networks and up to 420 hours on 3G. Additionally, users could expect up to 11 hours of talk time on 2G and up to 6 hours and 30 minutes on 3G. The ability to remove and replace the battery was a practical feature at the time, allowing users to swap batteries for extended usage.

Network and Connectivity

The Alcatel OT-985 provided GSM and HSPA network technologies, supporting 2G bands (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) and 3G bands (HSDPA 900/2100). With HSPA speeds of up to 14.4/5.76 Mbps, it enabled reasonable internet browsing speeds for period-appropriate applications. Connectivity features included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS support, stereo FM radio with RDS, and a microUSB 2.0 port.

Additional Features

The device came equipped with essential sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass to enhance its usability for navigation and auto-rotation functionalities. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack and a loudspeaker allowed for satisfactory audio experiences, whether through headphones or the device's speaker. Although not packed with the most advanced features, the phone covered the basics that users expected at the time.

Pricing and Market Positioning

Initially launched at a price point of around 110 EUR, the Alcatel OT-985 was positioned as an entry-level smartphone aimed at cost-conscious consumers. Its core value proposition was delivering essential smartphone experiences at an affordable price, appealing to first-time smartphone buyers and those needing a backup device.

Conclusion

In summary, the Alcatel OT-985 served as a competent budget-friendly smartphone in the early 2010s. Its combination of practical features, compact design, and affordability made it an attractive option for many users during its time in the market. While it may not hold its ground against today's technological advancements, it remains a testament to the transitional era of smartphone accessibility and practicality.