Unveiling Alcatel OT986 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Alcatel OT-986

The Alcatel OT-986 was an ambitious smartphone introduced in 2012, during a time when the Android ecosystem was rapidly evolving. With its launch, Alcatel aimed to capture a segment of the market by offering impressive specifications at an affordable price. The device combined decent hardware specifications with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, making it a competitive option in its time.

Design and Build

The Alcatel OT-986 features dimensions of 130 x 70 x 9.8 mm, which made it relatively slim and easy to handle. The 9.8 mm thickness was considered sleek in 2012 standards, providing a balance between durability and design. It was constructed with a plastic body, which contributed to its lightweight nature, making it convenient for daily use. The phone came in a classic black color which added to its elegant simplicity.

Display

One of the significant attractions of the Alcatel OT-986 was its 4.5-inch IPS LCD display. The display supported a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, boasting a pixel density of approximately 326 ppi. This was considered high-quality at that time, providing crisp and clear visuals suitable for watching videos, playing games, and browsing the web. The screen utilized IPS technology, offering wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction.

Performance

Under the hood, the Alcatel OT-986 was powered by the TI OMAP 4460 chipset. This chipset included a dual-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU, which offered smooth general performance and could handle most tasks effectively. The PowerVR SGX540 GPU was responsible for graphics processing, which, at the time, was capable of rendering decent visual graphics for apps and games. The device was equipped with 1GB of RAM, providing adequate multitasking capabilities.

Storage

The smartphone offered 8GB of internal storage, a typical offering in its category during that era. For users needing more storage space, the presence of a microSDHC card slot allowed for expandability, ensuring users could store more photos, videos, and applications without running into storage limitations quickly.

Camera

The Alcatel OT-986 came with a 5 MP rear camera featuring autofocus and an LED flash. This setup allowed it to capture decent quality photos suitable for everyday usage. Although it wasn't the most advanced camera in the market, it fulfilled the needs of users looking to capture moments without demanding high-speed or low-light performance. Additionally, there was a 2 MP front-facing camera for taking selfies and conducting video calls, catering to the social needs of users.

Battery Life

The device was equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery. This battery capacity was relatively standard at the time, offering a balance between battery life and phone form factor. For moderate usage, the battery could typically last through a day, but heavy users might find themselves needing to charge the device before the day ended.

Operating System

The Alcatel OT-986 ran on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a version of the operating system that introduced many features enhancing user experience, such as improved voice recognition, a more refined user interface, and enhanced multitasking capabilities. The operating system was well-received for its balance of features and performance.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, the Alcatel OT-986 was equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n support and the ability to act as a hotspot, providing internet access to other devices. Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP allowed for easy pairing with various devices, while GPS and A-GPS capabilities ensured accurate location tracking. Other connectivity features included an FM radio and microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Network Technology

The device supported GSM / HSPA technology, allowing it to operate on various networks globally. It could connect to 2G bands, including GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, and 3G bands like HSDPA 900 / 2100. With HSPA speeds of 21.1/5.76 Mbps, it offered reasonably fast internet connectivity for its time.

Sensors and Additional Features

Regarding sensors, the Alcatel OT-986 included an accelerometer and proximity sensor, which provided basic smartphone functionalities like automatic screen rotation and proximity-based screen dimming. However, it lacked more advanced sensors that have become common in later smartphone models.

Market Position and Conclusion

Upon release, the Alcatel OT-986 was priced at about 250 EUR, seeking to attract budget-conscious consumers looking for a balance of features and performance in a smartphone. It was discontinued, but during its availability, it stood out for providing a solid combination of design, hardware, and software that met the expectations of many users.