Archos Diamond Alpha Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview

The Archos Diamond Alpha is a smartphone released by French electronics company Archos in collaboration with Nubia, a sub-brand of ZTE. Announced in June 2017 and released in July of the same year, the Diamond Alpha was designed to cater to users seeking a balance between affordability and advanced features. Although it was discontinued, the device remains a noteworthy model within its segment, featuring a blend of stylish design and practical functionality.

Design and Build

The design of the Archos Diamond Alpha is sleek and modern, boasting dimensions of 146.7 x 72.5 x 7.5 mm and a weight of 155 grams. This makes it relatively slim and easy to handle, fitting comfortably in the user's hand. The device is constructed with a hybrid dual SIM slot (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), offering flexibility for users who require multiple SIM cards. The body of the device comes in a professional black color that exudes sophistication.

Display

The Archos Diamond Alpha features a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 424 ppi. This screen quality ensures sharp visuals and vibrant colors, making it suitable for media consumption, gaming, and browsing. The 16:9 ratio screen takes up around 70.1% of the front surface, providing ample space for interaction without feeling cramped.

Performance and Software

The performance of the Diamond Alpha is driven by the Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 chipset, which includes an octa-core CPU comprised of four Cortex-A72 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.4 GHz. The GPU is an Adreno 510, which provides capable graphics processing for gaming and multimedia applications. The device comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, expandable via microSDXC using the shared SIM slot. It runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, offering an array of standard Android features and customizations.

Camera Capabilities

The Archos Diamond Alpha is equipped with a dual main camera system featuring two 13 MP sensors. One sensor is a 1/2.9" sized color sensor with 1.25µm pixel size for capturing rich details, while the other is a monochrome sensor that enhances depth and contrast. This setup supports advanced photography features like LED flash, HDR, and panorama mode, and can shoot videos at 4K resolution at 30fps, or 1080p at 30fps. The front-facing camera is a robust 16 MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.2 and capable of recording 1080p videos at 30fps.

Network and Connectivity

Regarding connectivity, the Diamond Alpha supports a range of network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, with specific bands to ensure compatibility with various carriers. It also offers Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP and LE support, GPS positioning, and a USB Type-C port with OTG capabilities. Notably, the device does not support NFC or FM radio.

Battery Life

Powering the device is a non-removable Li-Ion 2950 mAh battery. The battery performance delivers respectable longevity with up to 320 hours on standby in 3G and up to 11 hours of talk time. While it may not feature fast charging technology inherently, the battery capacity combined with the device's optimizations provides users a dependable duration of use throughout the day.

Audio and Sensors

The Archos Diamond Alpha contains a decent audio system, featuring a loudspeaker and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, making it convenient for users who prefer wired audio devices. The device also contains a suite of sensors, including a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and a compass, enhancing the overall interactive experience.

Market Position and Pricing

Released at a price point of approximately 350 EUR, the Archos Diamond Alpha was positioned as a mid-range smartphone that promised to deliver advanced features at an accessible price. It was aimed at consumers looking for a smartphone that balanced cost with functionality, providing efficiency without the high-end price tag typically associated with flagship devices.

Conclusion

In summary, the Archos Diamond Alpha, with its robust feature set and competent performance, offers a compelling choice for users interested in a reliable and stylish smartphone. While it may not be available new on the market today, its specifications and capabilities made it a deserving option within its class during its time of release. Whether for media, communication, or productivity, the Diamond Alpha could meet various user needs effectively.