Unveiling the Alcatel OT993 Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview

The Alcatel OT-993 is a smartphone that was released in August 2012. Although it has been discontinued, it remains a noteworthy device from its time. With a modest specification and a budget-friendly price point at its release, it managed to satisfy the basic needs of users looking for a smartphone experience without the high cost. Below, we delve into the specifications and features that made the Alcatel OT-993 stand out in its era.

Network Capabilities

The Alcatel OT-993 supports GSM and HSPA technologies. This ensures that the device is capable of handling both 2G and 3G connections. The 2G network bands include GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, while the 3G network bands cover HSDPA 900 and 2100. The phone provides HSPA speeds of up to 7.2/0.384 Mbps, which was fairly adequate for web browsing and simple online activities at the time.

Design and Build

The device boasts a practical and sturdy design. It measures 124.4 x 63.9 x 11.4 mm and weighs around 150 grams. It's fitted with a mini-SIM slot, which was a common standard during its release period. The Alcatel OT-993’s design might not be groundbreaking, but it was sufficient for fulfilling basic user needs in terms of portability and usability.

Display

The phone features a 4.0-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, boasting a 5:3 aspect ratio and approximately 233 ppi density. Considering its time of release, this screen size and resolution provided a decent viewing experience for everyday tasks such as browsing, texting, and social media. The display encompassed about 57.3% of the front of the phone, which was somewhat standard at the time.

Performance

Under the hood, the Alcatel OT-993 is powered by a Mediatek MT6575 chipset coupled with a 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and PowerVR SGX531 GPU. While this configuration might seem modest today, it was capable of handling basic smartphone operations such as running apps, browsing, and media playback in 2012. It operated on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which provided a smooth user interface and access to a broad range of applications via Google Play.

Memory and Storage

When it comes to memory, the device is equipped with 3GB of internal storage, which was minimal even by 2012 standards. However, it supports memory expansion via a dedicated microSDHC card slot, compensating for the limited built-in storage. This flexibility allowed users to store more apps, music, photos, and other media files.

Camera Specifications

The Alcatel OT-993 features a 5 MP rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash, which was fairly typical for smartphones in its class at the time. It provided basic photography capabilities suitable for casual photo taking. For video calls and selfies, it has a VGA front-facing camera, which was adequate for video conference applications available during that period.

Sound and Multimedia

It includes a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, ensuring media versatility. Users can appreciate music via standard headphones or the built-in speakers. These options cater to personal preferences regarding media consumption, whether streaming, listening to radio via its stereo FM feature, or enjoying stored media.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The device supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and can act as a hotspot, making internet sharing possible. Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP ensures connectivity with wireless peripherals. It also supports GPS and A-GPS for location services and navigation. The presence of sensors like the accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass enhances the overall functionality of the phone, enabling apps to provide location and movement-based services.

Battery Life

The phone houses a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, offering up to 4 hours of talk time on 2G and up to 3 hours on 3G networks. While the standby time can reach up to 420 hours, active users often needed to charge the phone more than once a day, especially with extensive use.

Miscellaneous Features

The Alcatel OT-993 was available in three colors: Black, White, and Aubergine, offering users some variety in styling their device. Its SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) values were 0.50 W/kg for the head and 0.51 W/kg for the body, falling within acceptable safety limits for electromagnetic radiation exposure.

Conclusion

In summary, the Alcatel OT-993, although considered basic and insufficient by contemporary standards, provided a functional and flexible smartphone experience during its time of release. Its capabilities in terms of performance, connectivity, and multimedia features made it suitable for entry-level users and those seeking affordable smartphone options. The modest price point of approximately 150 EUR reflected its position in the market as a cost-effective solution for on-the-go connectivity and entertainment.