Allview A4ALL Comprehensive Review of Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Allview A4ALL

The Allview A4ALL was a budget-friendly smartphone released in April 2013. With its modest specifications, it catered to users who required basic functionality at an affordable price point. It featured a dual SIM capability, which was a significant selling point for many in regions where managing multiple carriers and numbers is common.

Design and Build Quality

The Allview A4ALL was crafted with dimensions of 115 x 62 x 12.2 mm, making it compact and easy to hold or carry in a pocket. Weighing just 122.7 grams, it was quite light. The phone had a plastic build typical of budget smartphones of its time, but it was robust enough for everyday handling. Available in Black, White, and Blue, it provided simple color choices to suit different tastes.

Display

The device featured a 3.5-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. Although the screen-to-body ratio was only 51.2%, the display was adequate for texting, calls, and basic app usage. With a pixel density of approximately 165 PPI, the display's clarity was sufficient for users who weren't looking for high-definition experiences.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Allview A4ALL was powered by a 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 processor and a PowerVR SGX531 GPU. It came with 256MB of RAM, which sufficed for running the Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread) OS and basic applications. The storage available was 512MB, which was expandable via a microSDHC card, allowing users to store more media and apps as needed.

Camera Capabilities

The main camera on the device was a modest 2 MP shooter capable of recording 480p video at 25fps. While it didn't offer advanced photography features, it was suitable for capturing simple photos. For selfies, the A4ALL provided a VGA front camera, a feature that was just starting to gain traction in the smartphone industry at the time.

Battery Life

This smartphone came with a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery. It provided up to 200 hours of standby time and about 5 hours of talk time, which was acceptable given the power requirements of the device’s specifications. The removable battery design was a plus for users who preferred the option to replace their batteries easily.

Connectivity Options

The Allview A4ALL supported GSM and HSPA networks, featuring 2G bands (GSM 900/1800/1900) and 3G bands (HSDPA 900/2100) with speeds of HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps. Connectivity features included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capability, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and EDR, GPS for navigation, FM radio with RDS functionality, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Sound and Multimedia

For audio, the Allview A4ALL came equipped with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to connect their earphones or headphones. The phone also featured a loudspeaker for hands-free calls or media playback. It supported basic audio and video formats, which was in line with its purpose as an entry-level smartphone.

Sensors and Additional Features

The phone included essential sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and a compass. These facilitated basic functionalities like automatic screen rotation and location tracking services, despite the absence of more advanced technologies like NFC common in higher-tier smartphones of its time.

Price and Availability

At launch, the Allview A4ALL was priced at approximately 70 EUR, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. As it has been discontinued, it might be challenging to find this device in new condition today; however, it may still be available through secondhand markets or specialized retailers dealing with older models.

Conclusion

The Allview A4ALL was a practical choice for first-time smartphone users or those needing a secondary device. Despite its limited hardware capabilities, it delivered essential smartphone features efficiently and at a low cost. It served as a testament to how manufacturers could balance affordability and functionality during a time when smartphones were rapidly diversifying in terms of their capabilities and market segments.