The Alcatel Idol 4S Smartphone Offers Quality VR On a Budget
The Idol 4S smartphone by Alcatel is yet another market entry that aims to fuse upmarket hardware and features with an attractive price tag. One of the pleasant surprises of this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the handset, as its name suggests, is a successor to the highly regarded Alcatel Idol 3.
In a bid to take its smartphone range upmarket, Alcatel has dropped the plastic construction of the Idol 3 for metal and glass in the Idol 4S. The newcomer also aims to deliver a quality virtual reality experience to the masses by featuring a retail box that doubles as a comfy virtual reality headset.
A Few Nerdy Bits
Just like all smartphones with premium aspirations, the Alcatel Idol 4S packs a lengthy spec sheet. Below are some of the most important bits from it.
The Alcatel Idol 4S features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 chipset with octa-core CPU.
The handset packs 32GB of expandable memory (via a microSD card) and 3GB of RAM.
The display is a 5.5-inch QHD (2,560 by 1,440 pixels) AMOLED panel.
The main camera is a 16MP unit with f/2.0 aperture and dual-LED flash. The front snapper has an 8MP sensor.
Alcatel has equipped the phone with a fingerprint sensor, as well as a pair of stereo speakers.
The handset features all the wireless connectivity options that are to be expected from the modern smartphone. Wired connectivity takes place via a microUSB connector.
The Idol 4S has a 3,000 mAh non-removable battery and support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0.
The device boots Android Marshmallow.
The Idol 4S is 7 millimeters thick and weighs 149 grams.
In the Metal
Alcatel has retained the same design language in the Idol 4S as the model it replaces. This time around, Alcatel has focused on the quality of the materials in order to make the device stand out as a premium offering.
The build quality of the phone is good, courtesy of a metal frame, coupled with 2.5D glass front-and-back display panels. Alcatel has included a quality protective case by Incipio and a tempered-glass screen protector in the retail package, thus ensuring that the aforementioned panels remain intact in case of a drop.
Alcatel has added a handy button on the side of the phone, dubbed the Boom Key. In addition to boosting the audio experience, it can be customized by users to open an app of their choosing.
With a resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels and 534 ppi, the 5.5-inch AMOLED display of the Idol 4S is one of the best in its price range. It is sharp, incredibly vibrant, legible even in bright light, and perfectly suited for the high virtual reality aspirations that Alcatel has for the device.
VR
The virtual reality headset that doubles as a retail box of the Alcatel Idol 4S is well-made and comfy, though its buttons are oddly placed at its bottom. Two virtual reality apps come preinstalled on the phone, as well as a dedicated platform for more content.
Google Cardboard is also supported by the headset. However, support for the tech giant's soon-to-be-released Dream VR platform is not present, thus seriously questioning the future prospects of the accessory.
Performance and Battery Life
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 652 chipset isn't as zippy as the Snapdragon 820 found in some of the device's rivals, though it is still a respectable performer. The Idol 4S felt responsive and fluid on all occasions.
The fingerprint sensor on the back of the device is excellent. It is conveniently placed and unlocks the handset instantly.
The audio experience delivered by the smartphone is top-notch. Both the stereo speakers and the bundled JBL earbuds sound a whole lot better than the price tag of the Idol 4S suggests.
Battery-wise, the Idol 4S performed in line with our expectations set by the size of its battery. We easily got a full day of normal use from the smartphone, and we reckon this will be sufficient for the device's target audience.
Of course, heavier use of the extensive multimedia and virtual reality talents of the Idol 4S will result in more frequent trips to a power outlet. It takes roughly 90 minutes to fully recharge the battery of the device, though only about half an hour or so to get it up to about 50% of its capacity.
Android Marshmallow
The Idol 4S runs Android Marshmallow out of the box. The home launcher closely resembles Google's own, though the icons are considerably more colorful.
Alcatel also promises that the Idol 4S will receive an update to Android Nougat. The next major Android iteration is yet to officially launch, so there is no timeline for the update.
Camera
The camera interface of the Idol 4S is intuitively laid out and easy to use. Quick launch shortcuts are also available.
Alcatel Idol 4S can capture nice photos in good lighting conditions. Images come out with plenty of detail and well sorted dynamic range.
However, the camera's low-light and high dynamic range performance leaves a whole lot to be desired. Even in this price range, there are better performers our there.
Wrap Up
In isolation, the Alcatel Idol 4S is a great Android smartphone. It is well-designed, well-crafted, and plenty capable, as well as bundled will the essential accessories a smartphone user might need today.
However, the device's ambitious $400 price tag and solid competition prevent it from getting our nod in this price range. Other phones, headed by ZTE's excellent Axon 7, are simply better than the Idol 4S, yet they carry the same price tag.
A future price adjustment will make the Idol 4S a much more attractive proposition. Until then, buyers with $400 to spend on an unlocked smartphone are going to be better off looking elsewhere.
Photos by Stefan Vazharov
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