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Comprehensive Review Alcatel OT990 Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Release Date
2011, August
Camera
5MP
Battery
1300mAh
Screen
3.5"
Storage
150MB , microSDHC slot
Operating System
Android 2.2

Design and Build

The Alcatel OT-990 features a compact and robust design well-suited for the users of its era. With dimensions of 116 x 62.2 x 12.2 mm and a weight of 144 grams, it was relatively lightweight and easy to handle. The phone sports a classic design with a predominantly plastic body that offers durability and a comfortable grip.

The front is dominated by the 3.5-inch display with a noticeable bezel, housing physical buttons below the screen that serve navigation purposes. It comes in various colors, including Bluish Black, Aubergine, and Spicy Red. The Mini-SIM slot supports simplicity and utility, characteristic of phones from that period. Overall, its design is straightforward yet functional, catering to the practical needs of everyday users.

Display

The Alcatel OT-990 features a 3.5-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. With a pixel density of approximately 165 ppi, the display provides reasonable clarity and color representation for its time. While it does not match the standards of modern high-resolution screens, it satisfies basic requirements for viewing and media consumption.

The color depth of 256K ensures that images and videos are displayed with decent vibrancy, while the touchscreen functionality offers a responsive user interface for efficient navigation and operation.

Camera

The Alcatel OT-990 is equipped with a 5 MP autofocus rear camera, accompanied by an LED flash to aid low-light photography. This configuration was typical for early Android devices, allowing users to capture basic photos and videos. It provides standard photo-taking capabilities, albeit without advanced features like panorama or HDR.

The video recording functionality adds to its utility, though it lacks the sophistication of modern videography features. A notable inclusion is the selfie camera, which, despite having humble specifications, added value to the device’s multimedia potential during its release.

Performance and Software

Powering the Alcatel OT-990 is a 600 MHz CPU, combined with Android 2.2 (Froyo) as its operating system. This combination offers an adequate performance for the smartphone's modest applications and tasks at the time. The processor is adequate for general navigation, app usage, and basic multitasking.

Certainly, users need to manage expectations regarding multitasking capabilities and processing speed, as more resource-intensive applications may experience performance limitations. Nonetheless, the device achieves a steady performance for activities such as basic browsing, social media apps, and communications.

Storage and Memory

Internal storage on the Alcatel OT-990 is limited to 150 MB, a reflection of the era during which it was released. Users seeking additional space for media and applications can utilize the microSDHC card slot, which supports expanded storage through external memory cards.

This feature allows flexibility for storage management, particularly for users who wish to store music, photos, and other media content. The inclusion of expandable storage compensates for the limited internal capacity, which would otherwise restrict the media capabilities on the device.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery, which offers standby time up to 550 hours and talk time up to 6 hours. This battery life is consistent with smartphones from its time, providing a reasonable duration through a typical day of moderate use.

Users benefit from the convenience of removable batteries, as they can easily replace the battery when needed or carry spare ones to extend usage time, a feature not commonly available in modern smartphones with sealed batteries.

Connectivity and Network

The Alcatel OT-990 supports GSM and HSPA technologies, covering 2G and 3G bands. This connectivity enables decent network communication, allowing users to access mobile internet, make voice calls, and send text messages efficiently.

Wireless communication options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capabilities, making it possible to connect to various wireless networks. Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP support ensures easy connection with other Bluetooth-enabled devices for file transfers and audio streaming.

In terms of navigation, the device includes GPS and A-GPS functionalities ensuring accurate location tracking and navigation aid. It also offers Stereo FM radio with RDS and microUSB 2.0 support for data transfer and charging needs.

User Experience

Running on Android 2.2 (Froyo), the Alcatel OT-990 benefits from a user-friendly interface typical of early Android versions. The operating system supports various applications through the Android Market, offering users a broad selection of apps to enhance functionality and usability.

The combination of tactile physical buttons and a responsive touchscreen provides an intuitive navigation experience. While the early Android OS versions have limitations in terms of features and security updates compared to contemporary standards, they accomplished the essentials for users who sought basic smartphone capabilities without complexities.

Market Positioning and Legacy

Released in 2011, the Alcatel OT-990 catered to entry-level smartphone users and those migrating from feature phones. Priced at around 110 EUR, it offered an accessible entry point to the smartphone market without breaking the bank.

The OT-990 represents a transitional period in mobile technology, bridging the gap between basic mobile phones and more complex smartphones that are prevalent today. Despite being discontinued, it remains a representation of the mid-2010s mobile landscape, capturing a time when the Android ecosystem was still in its evolutionary phase.

Key Features of Alcatel OT-990

  • Supports GSM and HSPA network technologies
  • 3.5-inch TFT display with 256K colors
  • Powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system
  • 5 MP main camera with autofocus and LED flash
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, and GPS connectivity options
  • Dedicated microSDHC card slot for expandable storage
  • 3.5mm audio jack and stereo FM radio with RDS
  • Equipped with accelerometer, proximity, and compass sensors
  • Removable Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery

Alcatel OT-990 Key Disadvantages

  • Outdated OS: Runs on Android 2.2 (Froyo), which is significantly outdated and lacks modern app compatibility and security updates.
  • Low Processing Power: Equipped with a 600 MHz CPU, which may result in lag and slow performance with modern apps.
  • Limited Internal Storage: Offers only 150MB of internal memory, limiting app downloads and data storage.
  • Poor Display Quality: TFT display with 256K colors and 320 x 480 resolution (~165 ppi density) may appear pixelated and lacks vibrancy.
  • Discontinued Model: The phone is discontinued and may not receive support or repairs easily.
  • Basic Front Camera: The front camera is unspecified, suggesting minimal quality for selfies or video calls.
  • Short Talk Time: Battery life offers up to 6 hours of talk time, which may be insufficient for heavy users.
Network
Technology GSM / HSPA
2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands HSDPA 900 / 2100
Speed HSPA 7.2/0.384 Mbps
Launch
Announced 2011, February. Released 2011, August
Status Discontinued
Body
Dimensions 116 x 62.2 x 12.2 mm (4.57 x 2.45 x 0.48 in)
Weight 144 g (5.08 oz)
SIM Mini-SIM
Display
Type TFT, 256K colors
Size 3.5 inches, 36.5 cm2 (~50.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~165 ppi density)
Platform
OS Android 2.2 (Froyo)
CPU 600 MHz
Memory
Card slot microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal 150MB
Main Camera
Single 5 MP, AF
Features LED flash
Video Yes
Selfie camera
Single Yes
Video
Sound
Loudspeaker Yes
3.5mm jack Yes
Comms
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
Bluetooth 2.1, A2DP
Positioning GPS, A-GPS
Radio Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB microUSB 2.0
Features
Sensors Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
Battery
Type Removable Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery
Stand-by Up to 550 h
Talk time Up to 6 h
Misc
Colors Bluish black, Auberguine, Spicy red
SAR EU 0.96 W/kg (head)     1.12 W/kg (body)
Price About 110 EUR

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