The phone is a touch idol. First look at Alcatel One Touch Idol (6030a) and Idol Ultra (6033). Battery life

What did not like

The 1st SIM is visible only for MTS, Billine does not work.

What we liked

liked

What did not like

The processor does not pull the FullHD screen both in games and in normal use... Very, very, many defective people come across. In yellow, cracks appear on the lid under the chamber. A speaker wheezes in the gray. I came across a marriage with a gray phone twice. And there are many other disadvantages. You can read it in the forum.

What we liked

Design and screen. There are no more virtues.

What did not like

Yet again. Battery. heavy games and 3g quickly plant her. Not moisture resistant

What we liked

Design. Screen. Battery. Protective glass. Performance

What did not like

Disappointed. After a month of operation, the screen burst. Became a "happy" owner of a red model, but was not happy for long. After the previous phone, which fell a bunch of times both on the tiles and on the asphalt and eventually died, I decided that the new Alcatel would be grooming and cherishing. Exactly one month after the purchase, during the game, I noticed a strange strip on the screen - for no reason, a crack went along the screen. The screen just burst. Moreover, with a crack on the screen, this wonderful device stops working - the touchscreen is cut off. As a result, a dead phone, the inability to throw off some data and refusal of warranty repairs. I am very sorry about the money thrown to the wind.
By the way, the wonderful red coating in the corners began to peel off, as did the power button.

What we liked

did not have time to properly evaluate

What did not like

I don't know, maybe only I was so lucky, but this phone has good screen in my opinion some problems.
1. On the very first day, as soon as I bought it, the phone started spontaneously pressing buttons in GooglePlay, it itself traveled through the menu, entering, exiting, launching the download.
2. The simplest toy Hill Climb Racing, brakes godlessly, jerks, brakes are terrible. Even on my old Motorola Defy, it doesn't slow down.
3. By default, the phone was preinstalled with a link to the game, Asphalt7. I will not even say that it slows down on this gadget. It doesn't slow down, it just responds to keystrokes after two seconds. Try to play, damn it.
3. The sound on the phone is CREEPY. I haven't heard such a sucking sound on any phone. (even in their quality headphones)
4. When you put the phone on charge, the alarm goes off every other time.
5. When playing a video, no brakes were noticed, but all the buttons that are in the player periodically start to be pressed themselves, the volume changes, jumps from movie to movie.

What we liked

Pleases in this phone only a screen and two sim cards.

What did not like

The sound is very quiet, the screen lags. The operative is packed with something incomprehensible. I do not advise anyone to buy this device

What we liked

What did not like

Glass replacement 4500 -5500

What did not like

There is no slot for a memory card, so you won't be able to arrange a media library in your phone. 3D games in good quality will not pull. You need to understand that at such a cost, the developers saved on the processor and video accelerator. And the shell is certainly not for everybody, but I personally did not like it. Yes, it does not lag too much, but its functionality is cut, for example, you cannot select the image resolution in the camera. In general, in place of the developers, I would put a naked androyd and not invent too much.
Attention, after a month of use, the proximity sensor began to fail, the phone freezes after a conversation. Alcatel was very disappointed with a disposable phone, after reading the reviews I realized that this problem is serial, I will hand it over under warranty

What we liked

The phone was bought for my wife, my wife wanted 2 SIM cards and that the camera was good. For these parameters, this device was selected. Plus, the price is adequate, the display is very good, the device is compact for its diagonal, the materials are good and well assembled.

What did not like

a very weak antenna, a friend's male caught 3 antennas for 4k, and this search ((did not reveal others yet.

What we liked

i like it so far, but I bought it 2 weeks ago

What did not like

The battery is known to everyone, of course, there is nothing to complain about. Firmware 4.2.2. The first sim was torn apart under mts

What we liked

The phone is simply stunning slim small bezels. The camera just takes off the classroom even after sunset. The Internet works brutally 40 mb second zhps is also ex. no words

What did not like

sometimes slows down the text input and scrolling of long SMS chats

What we liked

best value for money

What did not like

The screen is something, the glass is subject to scratches and not small superficial ones, but deep ones, in the structure itself. I did not survive contact with the keys in my bag without losses. Dragon trail is positioned as a better analogue of Gorilla Glass, only the quality has suffered. On Htc one X and even the budget Philips W732 did not have such problems. To all of the above, it burst right in the hands (a crack in the area of \u200b\u200bthe top panel along the entire length), without any impact, and after that does not react at all to touch. I see for the first time touch screenthat stops working after crack. Warranty denied. Replacement 5500, but there is no guarantee that this will not happen again.
The case is pleasant to the touch, I can't say anything else. The plastic is painted, the coating begins to wear off on the protrusions near the speaker almost immediately, exposing the white base, with longer use, I think the entire case would peel off. The on / off button also peels off quickly. The phone lost a decent look in 2 weeks

The smartphone is an interesting solution in terms of design, it has not the most advanced characteristics and an excellent camera. However, it is difficult to tell briefly about this device, as the manufacturer has found something to surprise its buyer with. When I first saw Alcatel packaging One touch Idol Alpha 6032X, the exclamation “Well, wow!” Didn’t freely burst out at me, when I picked up the device itself, a pleasant surprise was repeated. However, later in my head it started spinning: "Hey, wait!" and "It can't be!", and these were already exclamations that were by no means positive. We read about all of this and something else in our today's review.

The name of the smartphone is so big that I did not even dare to add anything from myself to the title of this article. There is "one touch", and "idol", and "alpha" and even the letter "X", which, as is customary, means something special. In my opinion, there are so many pretentious words for one title. Nevertheless, the manufacturer did not stop at one name. Let's start with the package bundle, since there is something to tell and show too.

Device kit

Idol Alpha packaging is fundamentally different from everything that we have seen before. Usually, the manufacturer tries to save on the box, trying to reduce its costs and, thereby, make the price of the device the most attractive. Sasmung, for example, makes boxes from recycled materials for their devices. LG uses printing ink made from soy. On the example of the latter, we see that there is still a chance for the manufacturer to get into some fashionable rating of environmentally friendly companies. In the eyes of consumers, this is a definite plus. This is especially true of European countries, where the attitude towards ecology is of a somewhat different order.

So, Idol Alpha crosses out all the above principles and comes in a metal tube with the appropriate marking. Down with savings and sustainable production! But, you see, it looks cool! In this "pipe" there is a special stand made of black velvet, in which the smartphone itself rests peacefully. The unpacking system is quite tricky, because all the accessories are hidden in a special compartment of this holder.

The complete set of the device consists of the following: microUSB cable, charger, headset with call control button, 3.5 mm adapter! (more on that later) and a SIM eject tool.

A special clip for opening the SIM card tray is surprisingly reminiscent of the one from the iPhone. In general, in the device itself, many similar features are clearly traced. It's clear where the designers got their inspiration when developing the 6032X.

Design, materials and use

Even more impressive is the appearance. The first thing that catches your eye is the transparent plastic inserts at the top and bottom. Smooth, pleasant to the touch, rounded plastic does not carry any additional functionality. This is just an external decoration that looks really cool. In addition, the inserts are illuminated by moonlight on any notification. Such illumination looks especially impressive in the dark.

On the lower plastic, the emblems of the system control keys are carved. The first thing I did was try to click on them, but nothing happened. These are just symbols, and the touch keys themselves are located on a dark strip under the screen. The buttons are not labeled in any way, so you need to click somewhere here. There is no other way to express it. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not bother to allocate at least some sensory places for the keys. Subsequently, I still repeatedly caught myself trying to press these labels applied to the plastic. It turns out that the bottom of the smartphone looks very decent, but the ergonomics are not well thought out.

Along the entire contour of the device is a metal edging, painted in the color of the case. Obviously, the manufacturer killed two birds with one stone at once: he brought the antenna to the outer contour, thereby saving on the internal space, and made this one of the main features of the device's appearance. This antenna implementation looks very good, but the idea is far from new. The style and execution are painfully familiar to us. If you haven't guessed yet, then everything will fall into place after a direct comparison of the Idol Alpha and the iPhone 5.

The screen is covered with a protective glass with an oleophobic coating. Due to the special design, the impression of a two-tier case is created: as if a small black smartphone is enclosed in a metal ring. An interesting solution from all points of view. Above the display is the earpiece mesh, to the left of which is the front camera peephole. To the right of the speaker there is a proximity sensor and a light sensor. The latter, by the way, works correctly, but with some delay: the change in the screen backlight returns to normal with ambient lighting in about 5 seconds.

There are absolutely no elements on the top and bottom ends.

On the right side of the smartphone there are metal volume control buttons and below - the device power key. The button travel is clear and moderately soft.

The left side contains a tray for the operator's card, which, by the way, is made of a somewhat different material and this is noticeable against the background of the monophonic edge of the phone. At the very bottom there is also a microUSB port. And then I could not believe my eyes. I twirled the smartphone again and it turned out to be true.

Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X does not have a 3.5mm headphone hole!

It was a shock for me. In my memory, for about 5 years almost everyone (even Sony a little later) abandoned their proprietary ports and began to embed an audio output into their devices for connecting third-party headphones. And now, in 2014, when all devices have a certain gentlemanly set of options (their own shell over the OS, microUSB input, USB-Host, 3.5 mm jack for connecting third-party headsets), Alcatel is launching one of its best devices on the market, which turns out to be without one leg.

For the sake of at least some convenience, the company included an adapter from microUSB to a 3.5 mm jack in the kit. Thank you, of course, but this crutch is far from the same as the initially available option for connecting any headphones. The adapter can be forgotten, broken, lost, and so on. And it is relatively difficult to buy a replacement now, since even budget models have a standard audio output in their arsenal. No demand - no supply. Unless, there is an opportunity to order through Ebay.com and wait about a month for the parcel, involuntarily refusing to listen to music on the phone for this period.

By the way, not a single flash drive could be connected to a smartphone, since he thought that an audio headset was inserted into it.

The only conclusion that arises is that OTG mode is not supported.

And this, by the way, is one of the main advantages of the entire Android system. In general, the developers have cleared something up here.

Since we are talking about the shortcomings of the device, it is worth mentioning that the main speaker is located on back cover... If Idol Alpha 6032X lies on a flat surface with the screen up, then the sound is noticeably muffled. If the device is held in hand, the sound is muffled. If the smartphone is in a bag or in the front pocket of trousers, then forget about at least some audibility of a ringtone or other notification. Of course, the arrangement of the components of any device in the case, which was drawn by the designers, is a very difficult engineering task. And any user should understand this. Probably, someday the day will come when manufacturing firms will do their best to meet their consumers halfway and put the convenience and experience of using their products at the forefront. An example of a company where such an ideology rules everything, we all already know.

The transparent insert with control buttons emblems has a recess for the first microphone. The second one is located on the back, not far from the rear camera peephole and LED flash.

Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X is very thin (7.5 mm), light (117 g) and ergonomic smartphone. Using the device is a pleasure. All controls are in convenient places and you do not need to intercept the phone to reach any button. In the pocket of trousers or jeans, it is almost invisible.

Coupled with excellent appearance, interesting colors (two options are available: dark blue and beige), verified ergonomics - Idol Alpha 6032X makes a really very positive impression.

Yes, there are drawbacks, but there is no ideal, especially for the price of 13,990 rubles.

At the end of this section, I propose to compare the dimensions of the Idol Alpha 6032X with the closest competitors.

	Length	Width	Thickness	The weight
Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X	138	66,6	7,5	117,4
Samsung GALAXY S4 mini	124,6	61,3	8,9	107
Sony Xperia Compact Z1	127	64,9	9,5	137
Fly IQ4410 Quad	135,8	68,4	8	123

Display

The display perfectly reproduces colors thanks to the IPS matrix used in its basis. With a diagonal of 4.7 inches and a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, the viewing angles remain at their maximum. I propose to compare the color rendition of the smartphone with the iPhone 5 (the one on top) in the photos below.

If there are no questions with the display of the picture, then with regards to the sensitivity, everything is not so simple. Up to 10 simultaneous touches are supported, that is, a full-fledged Multitouch. During use, it turned out that the screen sensor does not always respond to touch. This is especially noticeable when surfing the Internet, when you need to click on some small link. For example, the hero of our previous review, LG G Flex, has a display with very good sensitivity: at times it is not even clear whether you touched the surface or not, but the smartphone has already reacted. You shouldn't expect such sensitivity from Idol Alpha 6032X, and this can be attributed to disadvantages.

In addition, the corners of the picture display are not skewed, despite the fact that the phone itself is rather rounded. Again, back to the iOS interface, where there are no right angles - everything adheres to the general concept. The example below shows what this is about. And although most users will not notice this, there are still boring people who will pay attention to it.

Specifications and performance

• processor MediaTek MT6589 (4 cores) with a frequency of 1.2 GHz
• powerVR SGX 544MP video chip
• rAM 1 GB
• memory for storing data 16 GB (actually available 12.64 GB)
• display 4.7 "IPS-screen with a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels
• 13.1 megapixel camera (main) with LED flash, 1.3 megapixel (front)
• sensors: proximity sensor, light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetic compass
• supported music formats WAV, MP3, MP2, AMR, MIDI, Vorbis, APE, AAC, AAC +, FLAC, WMA
• FM radio
• battery 2000 mAh
• operating room android system Jelly Bean 4.2.2

Networks and connections:

• quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900), UMTS 900/2100 (6032X)
• HSPA: DC-HSPA +
• Wi-Fi (802.11 b / g / n), Wi-Fi direct, Wi-Fi Display, DLNABluetooth 4.0
• GPS with A-GPS technology
• Micro USB 2.0
• microSIM standard

As you can see, the smartphone has a processor from MediaTek, which provides sufficient performance for most tasks.

Nevertheless, the proprietary shell at times has twitching and barely noticeable slowdowns.

Any interface animation is not 100% smooth. It's hard to say why this is happening. Perhaps the proprietary shell is not optimized well enough, and maybe the processor's work leaves much to be desired.

For clarity, I present the test results in the AnTuTu program:

Nevertheless, the smartphone coped with the playback of FullHD video easily. Most modern games are also supported, but, of course, at medium graphics settings.

A 13.1 megapixel matrix is \u200b\u200bused as the main module for photographs. At the output the photos have a resolution of 4224 × 3168 pixels. Of course, there is autofocus, which quickly captures the subject and almost never misses.

There are very few additional shooting scenarios: there is support for HDR, the ability to create a horizontal panorama, sports mode and night shooting... For the front camera, the developers have added special settings that are suitable for selfie lovers - this is, first of all, automatic skin retouching and creating collages. In my opinion, this is the correct approach when the manufacturer does not load the camera interface with many different add-ons. Anyway, almost no one uses all of this. Anyone who needs additional functionality can always download third-party photo apps from Google Play.

Let's look at some examples of snapshots.

Obviously, the Alcatel One Touch Idol Alpha 6032X camera is one of the most strengths apparatus. Detailing, color rendering - everything is at a very decent level. Sometimes the smartphone misses the mark with the choice of exposure, so it's always worth taking a few frames. In such cases, HDR mode can also come to the rescue, but in order not to blur the picture, you need to hold the device with iron hands for a rather long time - about 3 seconds.

For some reason, the manufacturer did not provide for the ability to go directly to the footage from the camera interface. But we all have long been accustomed to such functionality, since the days of 1.3 Mpixel modules.

As for video shooting, the smartphone is capable of shooting video in a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels at 30 frames per second.

During video recording, the tracking focus is clearly visible, which instantly refocuses to any desired object. The output file format is the good old 3GP (H.263, MPEG4, H.264 codecs depending on the quality preset in the settings). What to say when you can see everything with your own eyes.

Sound and video

As mentioned earlier, the speaker in the Idol Alpha 6032X is located on the back of the device. The sound through the speaker is quite quiet and, if we draw a parallel in terms of volume with the iPhone 5, the latter sounds about twice as loud as the smartphone from Alcatel. On a noisy street or in the subway, hearing a call from a device is unrealistic. Even the pre-installed relatively high-pitched notification ringtones do not help the situation.

The quality of music playback through headphones leaves an extremely positive impression.

It's about using third-party headphones. The entire spectrum of sound, including bass, is clearly audible. For those who lack the standard sound, there is an equalizer with a ton of pre-installed add-ons, as well as many other effects, among other things. As a music player, Idol Alpha 6032X is also perfect because many popular audio formats are supported: WAV, MP3, MP2, AMR, MIDI, Vorbis, APE, AAC, AAC +, FLAC, WMA. If it would be possible to connect your headphones without any adapters there, it would be very good.

The bundled headset does not draw out low frequencies at all, although it allows you to control playback and calls. For the undemanding user, it is perfectly suitable as a basic headphone.

There is one more unpleasant feature. The player for some reason stretches all the covers of the songs and, accordingly, it looks sloppy.

There is also an FM radio that works through a headset used as an antenna. You can listen to the radio without headphones, but in this case, no one guarantees the stability of the signal.

Video playback does not raise any questions, except perhaps that the player itself is very ascetic: there is not even an opportunity to view information about the file.

Input method

In the phone settings, you can fine-tune the input methods using several pre-installed keyboards to choose from. There is a learning mode and two ways to type words: for fast typing users and for those who prefer accuracy.

According to the manufacturer, the Idol Alpha 6032X is able to last 24 hours on a single charge in music player mode. A non-removable battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh allows the device to stay “afloat” for one day during active use. For a day and a half, the smartphone is able to hold out without being connected to a power source only under a fairly moderate load (20 minutes of calls a day, 10 pictures per camera, an hour of Internet surfing via Wi-Fi). On the face of the standard for an Android smartphone.

Outcome

Yes, Alcatel decided to save money on the processor and not install the top chip from Qualcomm. Nevertheless, the price of 13,990 rubles per device in federal networks dictates its own rules. However, the smartphone is not positioned as a top-end device. The buyer has the right to count on the image component, a pleasant screen and good camera - and all this, believe me, is already a lot. Yes, there are certain inconveniences: you can't just connect any headphones and there is no OTG mode support. Before purchasing, these points should be taken into account.

Can we consider Alcatel Idol Alpha 6032X as a purchase?

Yes, if not needed high performance,second SIM-card and passion as you want a fashion device, but the iPhone for one reason or another does not fit.

Both the name and the content of the flagships of Alcatel of two generations - One Touch Idol X and One Touch Idol X + - differ only slightly. Processor (now Mediatek MT6592 8-core flagship processor), battery capacity (500 mAh more), the case cover (now glossy plastic) - that's all the innovations for the year. On the other hand, the price for new flagship Alcatel is more democratic than flagship updates samsung rulers, LG, Sony, HTC, etc. Like Lenovo Vibe Z, One Touch Idol X + competes not so much with its peers as with the flagships of the second half of last year - LG G2, Nexus 5 and Sony Xperia Z1 with Snapdragon 800. In this review, we will again think about whether to buy something else, if there are such delicious, beautiful and affordable flagships, in particular from LG. But One Touch Idol X + is in many ways similar to its predecessor, in the review we will look only at those characteristics that have undergone changes: practicality of the case, autonomy and performance. And at the same time we will check how much better the screen has become.

Both the name and the content of the flagships of Alcatel of two generations - One Touch Idol X and One Touch Idol X + - differ only slightly. The processor (now the 8-core flagship Mediatek MT6592 processor), the battery capacity (500 mAh more), the case cover (now glossy plastic) - that's all the innovations for the year. On the other hand, the price for the new Alcatel flagship is more democratic than for updates to the flagship lines of Samsung, LG, Sony, HTC, etc. Like the Lenovo Vibe Z, the One Touch Idol X + competes not so much with its peers as with the flagships of the second half of last year - the LG G2, Nexus 5 and Sony Xperia Z1 on Snapdragon 800. In this review, we will again think about whether to buy something else, if there are such tasty, beautiful and affordable flagships, in particular, made by LG. But One Touch Idol X + is in many ways similar to its predecessor, in the review we will only look at those characteristics that have undergone changes: the practicality of the case, autonomy and performance. And at the same time we will check how much better the screen has become.

Specifications

Since Alcatel One Touch Idol X + is the flagship of the company, the “filling” has got the corresponding: 5-inch FullHD-display with IPS-matrix and without an air gap. To service a device with a display of such high resolution minimum 2 GB required random access memory - and they are here. Unlike Lenovo Vibe Z, which is in the same price category, the model is equipped with a processor not manufactured by Qualcomm, but Mediatek. Fresh, eight-core MTK6592. If last year's quad-core MTK6589T coped with FullHD devices somehow and in terms of graphics it was much inferior to other top-end solutions of its time, then MTK6592 already easily pulls "serious" games. The main camera in the device is 13-megapixel. The front one did not become, in accordance with the latest trends, 5-megapixel. But it's still not bad for video calls and selfies. If memory serves me right, then compared to the previous flagship model, it began to work much faster. The battery capacity has grown by 500 mAh. But the OS version, alas, has not changed - the same Android 4.2.1, when it's already in the middle of 2014, looks like an omission. But unlike the Lenovo Vibe Z and other devices in this price range, the Alcatel One Touch Idol X + exists in versions for one and two SIM cards.

Technical alcatel specifications One Touch Idol X +
operating system	Android 4.2.1
SIM card type	microSIM, there is a version for one and two SIM-cards
Dimensions and weight	140x69x7.9 mm, 130 g
Display	IPS, 5 inches, 1920 × 1080 pixels (pixel density 441 ppi), Gorilla Glass 3
CPU	eight-core Mediatek MT6592 (clock speed 2 GHz, Cortex-A7)
Graphics	Mali-450MP4
Memory	2 GB RAM, 16/32 GB flash memory
Wireless interfaces	Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 / 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.0
GPS	yes
Camera	13 MP, HDR, panorama shooting, video recording 1920х1080
Front-camera	2 megapixels
Battery	2500 mAh

Housing

Replacing the practical matte plastic of the case with a glossy and impractical one in theory can scare off many rational buyers. But glossy on me body One Touch Idol X + with small stripes made a good impression. In my opinion, this is a prettier solution than the identical and slightly dull SoftTouch. True, over the weeks of the model's life in the hands and pockets of various representatives of the gg editorial office, the gloss had time to be very scratched. This is how it ended.

Key layout android control, volume and screen lock have not changed compared to the previous model. And what has changed is the thickness. Just 1 mm. This was enough to use a larger battery. But the comfortable position of the model in the hand was not affected in any way. The smartphone fits nicely in the hand and looks stylish, especially when viewed from the rear. Beautiful shimmering of the case, branded inscription, neat manicure - a feast for the eyes.

The battery is not removable, and the slots for a memory card and a SIM or two SIMs in the dual-SIM version are hidden at the ends.

Perhaps nothing more can be said about the body of the device. But it is worth mentioning the bundle, which, in addition to charging and a USB cable, includes a very decent headset.

Screen

Compared to its predecessor, the smartphone has received a brighter display, which keeps it under the sun. But he is also pursued by the well-known scourge of "smart" technologies. The auto-backlight does not work well in the sun - you have to manually “twist” it at full power.

Device name	Brightness of the white field, cd / m2	The brightness of the black field, cd / m2	Contrast
Alcatel One Touch Idol X Plus	401.13	0.52	771:1
Lenovo Vibe Z	347.68	0.18	1932:1
Sony Xperia Z2	312.92	0.5	626:1
Huawei Ascend P7	400.69	0.82	489:1
Samsung Galaxy S5	370.3	0	∞
HTC One M8	459.44	0.22	2088:1
LG G2	336.41	0.4	840:1
Sony Xperia Z1	400.81	0.75	534:1
Huawei Ascend D2	310.52	0.30	1037:1
Samsung Galaxy S4	320	0	∞
Sony Xperia T	421	0.28	1503:1
iPhone 4S	434	0.53	818:1

Color reproduction is at the standard average-mediocre level: the color gamut is cold, the gamut is slightly shifted towards the blue area, ΔE exceeds 20, but the screen is bright and overall pleasant to look at. And from scratches it is saved by the 3rd generation Gorilla glass.

There is an item in the smartphone settings that allows you to adjust the color temperature and color saturation. It will not become ideal, but in general, very few smartphone screens can boast of this.

Autonomy

If the previous Idol X worked at most a day with its 2000 mAh battery, then in the new model with a 2500 mAh battery this figure has not changed for the better. If you actively use your smartphone's camera, love games (even not very energy-consuming), listen to music a couple of hours a day and use instant messengers, be prepared for the device to ask for a power outlet more often than once a day. If you play demanding games and watch videos for several hours, then a couple of times a day. Compared to the LG G2, Nexus 5, Sony Xperia Z1, the comparison is clearly not in favor of Alcatel. If with Lenovo Vibe Z or Huawei Ascend P7, you get approximately the same result.

Performance

If in FullHD smartphones on the MTK6589T processor there were still certain performance problems, especially in games (they were most evident in the Fly IQ453 Quad Luminor FHD, and the Alcatel One Touch Idol X + suffered less from them), then the MTK6592 basically “pulls” the same Asphalt 8, Real Racing 3 and Temple Run 2 at maximum image quality settings without any problems. However, the benchmark results are inferior to those of the Snapdragon 800 models, which cost the same money. If we compare the smoothness of the interface, then the advantage will also not be on the side of Idol X +, although this model cannot be blamed for the slowness. Its interface tosses and turns just a little less quickly than in the LG G2 and even more so the Nexus 5.

Interface

If you have read the review of Alcatel One Touch Idol X, then, in principle, you have a good idea of \u200b\u200bwhat the branded interface of Alcatel smartphones looks like. Neither the design, nor the features, nor the interesting main desktop widget has changed much. The key difference between the latest version is that the smartphone has a separate application menu. It was such a surprise for me that I didn't even immediately find the corresponding icon in the menu. Of the interesting features, you can also highlight the fact that the screen in the lock mode displays, from whom the message was received, for example.

Camera

The main camera of Idol X + has become faster to focus and shoot, demonstrates better results in the dark and in poor lighting. She still cannot compare with the leaders of this and last year, but still she is much better than the “hospital average”. In addition, she began to shoot faster (although she cannot keep up with the flagships of the market). The main camera interface looks like this.

Popular filters are now available after shooting.

Well, an example of photos (in the original resolution, as usual, you can look at the Torba in a separate gallery).

Competitors

The price of 5-5.5 thousand hryvnia, taking into account the characteristics of the model and how pleasant it is to use it, at first glance seems quite fair. But LG G2 and Nexus 5 cost a little less money. Of course, LG with the cost of its previous flagship frankly freaked out and hardly makes good money on it. And most of the geeks know about the Nexus 5 and nothing else. But in general, from such a price battle, buyers are only better. If for the same money you can buy a more serious LG G2 or Nexus 5 in terms of reliability, performance, autonomy and photographic functions, if you prefer “bare” Android, then settle for less (which, in fact, are all new models in this price category : Alcatel One Touch Idol X +, Huawei Ascend P7, Lenovo Vibe Z) it makes no sense. In such a situation, the rest of the manufacturers have to either hope for the love of customers at first sight, or for ignorance (“oh, but here it is not 4 cores, but 8, so it's so cooler!”), Or for a miracle, or for the need for two SIM cards (though in this case last year's star HTC One Dual SIM looms on the horizon). Or reduce prices to a level where a person will start to think about saving money. The Alcatel One Touch Idol X + smartphone is good on its own, but it's hard to compete with such strong competitors. It can be viewed as an alternative in case you have any silly prejudices against the LG brand. But then it's worth buying a Sony Xperia Z1, the only drawback of which is a whitish screen, but the advantages are everything else: the camera, and autonomy, and the smoothness of the interface, and the case, protected from dust and moisture.

In the dry residue

The flagship smartphones of the second half of last year, due to the falling price, are still a more interesting purchase than any of the newly arrived smartphones in the same price category - about UAH 5.5 thousand. Against their background, the beautiful, convenient and nimble Alcatel One Touch Idol X + may be of interest only to those who want to buy a rare smartphone “not like everyone else” or a high-quality device with support for two SIM-cards. Otherwise, unfortunately, it is completely inferior to LG G2, Nexus 5 and Sony Xperia Z1, as well as its peers.

3 reasons to buy the Alcatel One Touch Idol X +:

• compact and neat body that fits perfectly in the hand;
• device "not like everyone else";
• support for two SIM-cards;

3 reasons not to buy the Alcatel One Touch Idol X +:

• weak autonomy;
• strong competitors (for the same money you can buy LG G2 or Nexus 5 with Snapdragon 800 and with a better camera);
• impractical body.

Introduction

At the 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC) international exhibition, Alcatel, which manufactures products in China under the TCL Communication brand, presented two original smartphones: Alcatel One Touch Idol and Alcatel One Touch Idol Ultra. The originality lies in the fact that they have a very thin body and low weight. For example, the thickness of the younger Idol model is 7.9 mm, and the older one is only 6.45 mm, which makes the Idol Ultra the most thin smartphone in the world. Both gadgets weigh less than 110 grams, provided the diagonals are more than 4.5 inches.

As for the technical characteristics, they, from my point of view, are quite ordinary at the moment: they are equipped with a dual-core processor and a MediaTek MT6577 chipset; Idol and Idol Ultra have one gigabyte of RAM on board; both devices have 8 MP cameras and two microphones. The essential difference is that in Ultra the screen is made using SuperAMOLED technology and the resolution is 720x1280 pixels (HD), while in the simplified version it is IPS and the screen resolution is 540x960 pixels (qHD).

The cost of the devices is already known. Smartphone Alcatel Idol will be sold for 10,000 rubles, Alcatel Idol Ultra for 13,000 rubles. Will go on sale at the end of the first quarter of this year.

Since I had non-commercial models on my hands, I decided to write this text in the style of my first acquaintance. As soon as it becomes possible to take commercial samples and there is more time for research, then I will try to write a full review.

Design, dimensions, controls

Both devices are made of plastic different kind... For example, the edging and the back of the Idol are made of semi-glossy plastic (in my case, gray), while the Idol Ultra has a thin chrome edging around the perimeter of the front panel, the side edges and the back side are plastic (in my case, black), covered with "soft -tach ".

Dimensions "idol" - 133x67.5x7.9 mm, weight - 109 grams. The dimensions of the Ultra Idol are 134.4x68.5x6.45 mm, the weight, unfortunately, is not indicated, but it feels about the same as in Idol. The devices fit equally well in the hand, the difference in thickness, frankly speaking, is leveled. The screens are probably protected by glass, since not a single scratch appeared in a couple of days of active use.

Since the gadget cases are monolithic, and the assembly is good, no backlash or squeaks are observed. The rear panels do not flex to the battery.

Top on the front panel: front cameras, light and proximity sensors, speakers. Under the screens are touch buttons. While they are barely noticeable on Idol, they are not visible on Idol Ultra. Further, I will paint the arrangement of the elements separately, because in each of the devices it is different.

Alcatel Idol... At the bottom there are microUSB and a microphone, at the top there is a standard 3.5 mm audio output and an on / off button practically recessed into the body. On the left, under the retractable flap, is a slot for a microSD memory card, on the right is the same type of connector for a microsim card and a thin rocker volume rocker. On the back there is a slightly raised camera module, framed by a chrome ring, a second microphone and a flash.

Idol and iPhone 4s

Idol and Samsung S III

Alcatel Idol Ultra... The microphone is on the bottom end, on the top is the on / off button for the phone and microUSM under a plastic flap. A thin and long rocker key is on the left, and on the right is the same type of slot for a microsim card as on Idol. The camera module, microphone and LED light are on the back of the smartphone.

Idol and Idol Ultra (left)

Displays

The Alcatel Idol smartphone has a 4.7-inch screen diagonal, the resolution is 540x960 pixels, the density is 234 pixels per inch. The matrix is \u200b\u200bmade using IPS technology and is capable of displaying 16 million color shades. The quality of the screen, in my opinion, is very good: wide viewing angles, purple and yellow tints are absent at certain tilts of the display. The brightness of the picture decreases slightly at the corners. The touch layer is of a capacitive type, supports "multitouch" up to 5 simultaneous touches.

Alcatel Idol Ultra uses more than high quality screen: diagonal - 4.65 inches, resolution 720x1280 (HD), density - 315 pixels per inch. If in the first Idol there is an IPS matrix, then in Ultra - SuperAMOLED with the notorious PenTile.

Idol Ultra Matrix

Naturally, such a matrix gives the maximum black color, but slightly distorts other colors due to a higher saturation, which cannot be set here, unlike smartphones from Samsung. As a SuperAMOLED fan, I would choose the Idol Ultra. The touch layer is also capacitive, but supports 6 simultaneous touches.

Viewing angles of the Idol screen

Viewing angles of the Idol Ultra screen

Battery

Both phones have the same 1820 mAh lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery. It is worth paying tribute to the developers who were able to fit such batteries into the case thickness of 7.9 and 6.45 mm.

The official figures are as follows:

• Idol - 7 hours of talk time, 415 hours of standby, 45 hours of music and 2.5 hours of charging
• Idol Ultra - 16 hours talk time, 700 hours standby, 20 hours music and 4 hours charge

Interestingly, where did such not sickly results from "Ultra" come from? Is it really such a gluttonous SuperAMOLED screen? Unfortunately, I could not test it, but I received data from Idol: video (HD at maximum brightness and at maximum volume in headphones) - about 3 hours, music - just over 30 hours. The average time for most Android smartphones is around 9-10 hours.

Communication capabilities

Phones works in cellular networks 2G (GSM / GPRS / EDGE, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (850/900/2100 MHz). In stock Bluetooth version 4.0 for file and voice transfer. Present wireless connection Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b / g / n. The devices, of course, can be used as an access point (Wi-Fi Hotspot) or modem. USB 2.0 (High-Speed) is used for file transfer and data synchronization.

Settings

Memory and memory card

Both the older and younger models have 1 GB of RAM (it was previously said that Idol has 512 MB of RAM). Free about 600 MB. Since Idol Ultra does not have a slot for a memory card, it uses 16 GB flash, about 13 GB is available. From my point of view, for this class of devices, 16 GB should be enough for most purposes. Idol has a 4 GB "flash", 2.5 GB is free, plus there is a slot for microSDHC.

Cameras

Both smartphones are equipped with two camera modules: 8 MP main and front - 2 MP for Idol and 1.3 MP for Idol Ultra. The quality of the cameras is the same: good detail, natural colors, fairly wide dynamic range, relatively fast focus. In the light, the photos come out cool, in the room the small matrix of the camera makes itself felt - colored noise comes out. In the dark outside the camera copes even better than indoors with lighting. By the way, the lens aperture in both gadgets is f2.2!

Smartphones record video mediocre - practically, like all devices on MTK6577: low detail, poor sound.

Sample photos on Idol:

Sample photos on Idol Ultra:

Performance

When I found out that these new products include the outdated MediaTek MT6577 chipset, I was overwhelmed with sadness ... There is no point in talking about it in detail, since every second review on our website for the last six months was devoted to smartphones based on this chip. I refer you to the following texts:

Mobile phones sold under the Alcatel brand have long been familiar to domestic buyers. Recently, quite worthy smartphones have appeared in their lineup that can compete with devices from well-known manufacturers. For example, Alcatel One Touch Idol X.

It's no secret that the Chinese company TCL is engaged in the release of these gadgets. This advantage or disadvantage is a moot point. Nowadays, a lot of smartphones manufactured in the Middle Kingdom are excellent balanced devices running on Android. Surprisingly, it is the gadgets of this manufacturer that can easily compete with brands such as HTC, Sony, Samsung.

The Alcatel One Touch Idol X has a prototype that is being produced for the domestic market only. The Chinese sell it under their own name - TCL. However, within the framework of this article, we will consider a version of a European-style device that is officially sold in Russia.

Equipment

The first impression about a gadget is formed by its packaging. Here the manufacturer did not skimp on advertising. The front panel of the box presents the smartphone in a favorable perspective. There is the model name above it. Naturally, the manufacturer mentioned brand affiliation.

Disassembling a set of accessories, the buyer will not come across unusual items. Currently, all manufacturers use approximately the same configuration. The Alcatel One Touch Idol X is no exception. Together with the device, a wired stereo headset, an AC adapter, a USB cable, and a 2000 mAh battery are sold. Looking at these elements, you can notice that they correspond to the entry-level segment. Of course, there is documentation in which the user will find an operation manual and a warranty card.

Those who have already purchased a smartphone noticed that the manufacturer did not include a case in the kit. The Alcatel One Touch Idol X has an all-plastic case, so purchasing protective accessories is quite relevant. A certain bonus was the use of impact-resistant glass - Dragontrail. Although it will protect the screen, it is still recommended to use a special film. It is not included in the kit, so you need to purchase it additionally. The devices with 8 GB integrated memory have a slot for a flash drive. However, external storage is not included with the phone.

Design features

Externally, the Alcatel One Touch Idol X smartphone looks solid and presentable. Its body consists of straight, clear lines with slightly rounded corners. 80% of the front panel is occupied by the screen. The frame around it is rather narrow - 2.4 mm. The only thing is that there are black stripes at the top and bottom, which serve as a place for placing important elements. For example, a "peephole" of the front camera, a standard earpiece opening, sensors are displayed above the screen. At the bottom there are three control buttons. They are sensory. And most importantly, the developers used backlighting, thanks to which the keys are easily recognized even in the dark.

On the back cover in the upper part the main camera lens flaunts. There is a single-position LED flash underneath. The output speaker grill is located in the lower right corner.

As mentioned above, the Alcatel One Touch Idol X case is completely made of plastic. Thanks to this, the weight of the gadget turned out to be only 130 g with dimensions of 141 × 68 × 6.9 mm.

As for the connectors and mechanical buttons, they are located on the side faces and ends. The USB port and microphone are on the bottom, and the headphone or speaker jack is on the top. The audio jack is standard, no adapter is needed for most equipment. The lock and volume keys are displayed on the right side.

Hardware "filling"

What do most buyers look for when buying an Alcatel One Touch Idol X? Processor specifications. This criterion is quite important, since the phone is a kind of mini-computer. The device is equipped with a MediaTek chipset, which is not bad by modern standards. It is based on four cores.

The computational modules use the basic Cortex-A7 architecture. The MT-6589T processor provides high performance, during which the core can overclock up to 1500 MHz. At the moment, in this segment, such indicators are considered quite high.

Considering that the gadget was released in 2013, it easily coped with the most difficult tasks, launching any resource-intensive applications and games. However, at the moment, the only thing that is beyond his power is software that is developed for 64-bit platforms. In this smartphone, the chipset is configured for 32-bit computing only. If the buyer sets tasks such as high-quality video display, music playback, surfing the Internet, then all of them are performed flawlessly by the device.

Graphics accelerator

An equally important indicator of the high functionality of the gadget is the video card. AT this device developers used power model VR SGX544MP. Three years ago, she could cope with any task. But when it comes to modern games that require high performance, the graphics accelerator is simply not enough to run them. According to many users, nowadays the video card allows you to easily solve most tasks. The restrictions apply only to games, so you'll have to settle for mid-range applications.

Memory

When reviewing the Alcatel One Touch Idol X, you should definitely pay attention to the memory characteristics. Despite the fact that there are several modifications of this model, the developers in all used the same amount of "RAM". It is 2 GB. Initially, system processes take up about 700 MB. The rest of the storage can be used to work with additional software.

As for the integrated memory, in the modification with one SIM card, its volume is only 8 GB. The developers have provided a slot for a memory card. The device supports 32 GB flash drives. Models working with two SIM cards have 16 gigabytes of internal memory. This modification does not provide a slot for an external drive.

Screen features

What image will please the Alcatel One Touch Idol X? The display is made using modern OGS technology. Thanks to her, the picture is displayed on the screen in maximum quality. There are no complaints about viewing angles, since the image is practically not distorted when tilted at 180 degrees. Currently, such displays are rarely found in mid-range devices, not to mention the budget segment.

The main element of the smartphone is its 5-inch screen. The display resolution is relevant to this day. Even now, there are few smartphones that can boast of 1920 × 1080 px.

To protect the screen, the manufacturer used an analogue of Gorilla Glass - Dragontrail. This is a protective glass that is not afraid of shocks and withstands mechanical stress of different levels. The presence of an oleophobic coating will also please. Thanks to it, owners will not have to constantly struggle with fingerprints.

Alcatel One Touch Idol X: camera specifications

The Idol X gadget from Alcatel also does not deserve comments in matters with optics. The main camera was manufactured using modern technologies. It is based on a 13-megapixel sensor. Its manufacturer is a leader in this field. It's about Sony. Most of the buyers have already dealt with her products, leaving only positive reviews. To increase the quality, additional functions have been used, such as flash and auto focus. This camera can be used to record movies. The speed per second does not exceed 30 frames. The maximum resolution is 1080p.

TO front camera buyers did not have much interest, since it is equipped with a 2-megapixel matrix. It can be used mainly for video calls only. For a high-quality selfie, this resolution is no longer enough.

Battery specifications

All of the above characteristics can only be attributed to advantages. However, it is worth talking about the weaknesses of the Alcatel One Touch Idol X. The battery installed by the developers will not please the owners. Its capacity for modern requirements is scanty - only 2000 mAh. It is based on lithium-ion technology. If we study the battery indicators declared by the manufacturer, then according to them, when working with second-generation networks, the device will be discharged after 320 hours, and when connected to 3G, the time will decrease by 80 hours.

Users in their reviews claim that with maximum savings, the gadget will be able to work up to 2 days. If you make the most of all its functionality, then the battery life will only last for daylight hours. All owners are advised to purchase an external battery. Thanks to it, you can avoid situations when the battery is suddenly completely discharged at the most inopportune moment. It is important to understand that different functional processes consume energy in different ways.

Communications

Smartphone One Touch Idol X is equipped with all the necessary communications. Users are provided with Wi-Fi support as a priority method for data exchange. A USB cable is used for wired data transfer. The device has a connector, thanks to which you can not only charge the device, but also connect to computers, laptops and other equipment. To use wireless communication methods, Bluetooth is provided. You can also use a special headset with it.

3G support provides not only making calls and sending messages, but also connecting to the Internet. In this case mobile operators provide high-quality speed, thanks to which you can make video calls to the Alcatel One Touch Idol X (the front camera is intended for this purpose). The device also supports the GSM standard. It is designed for quick identification location of the device. And of course, the developers have provided the ability to connect a wired speaker system... For this, the gadget has a 3.5 mm port.

Software

The developers used the most common operating system as a platform. It's about Android. As for the version, the device runs on a rather outdated 4.2. Many users say that this causes some inconvenience, since there are restrictions on installing applications. But if we take into account that the processor runs on a 32-bit system, then this version is quite enough to ensure the operation of many non-resource-intensive programs. All owners, without exception, can use international social media, without exception google services... And for installing additional content, a special Play Market is intended.

Over operating system the manufacturer used its own proprietary shell. It provides an initial set of applications - organizer, calendar, alarm clock, calculator, and more. To expand the functionality of the gadget, the user can always download additional software from the Internet.

Solution of problems

According to most users, this model the smartphone boasts a high level of reliability. If there were any breakdowns, then they make up a very small percentage. Most often, users encounter freezes. In most cases, this is unusual for the Alcatel One Touch Idol X. The firmware of the original version usually works smoothly. However, there are still isolated cases. To do this, users are advised to contact service center in order to update your device. The most "advanced" do it themselves. However, you must understand that changing the firmware yourself can lead to the complete failure of the gadget. Therefore, such actions are done at your own peril and risk.

Briefly about the price

Due to the fact that this phone model has already been discontinued, it can be purchased only from stock. As a rule, users choose online stores for this. Undoubtedly, you can make quite profitable purchases in them. However, buyers are advised to be very careful as the Idol X is very similar to the Alcatel One Touch Idol X Mini. They have the same design, however latest version somewhat inferior in characteristics and dimensions. Naturally, this is reflected in the price.

The full-fledged Idol X model launched with a cost of about $ 250 (14,000 rubles). For three years, new devices have "pushed" the smartphone to the entry-level segment. However, it is difficult to say that the Alcatel One Touch Idol X has fallen in price a lot. The price is currently about $ 125-150 (7000-9000 rubles). If we compare with competitors, then in this price category there are devices that have the best technical equipment, for example, in the Sony and Xiaomi lines.