The Alcatel Idol 3 that we had reviewed a year ago has been one of our all-time favourite budget smartphone. So we had high hopes for the next one. And you know what- the Alcatel Idol 4s smartphone does not disappoint. Everything about the phone is likeable- starting from the packaging which is basically a VR headset. More on that later.
Design and Features
If there is one thing good about today’s mid-range smartphones, it’s that they come with premium designs which are no longer reserved for flagship devices. Alcatel has moved from a plastic build used in the previous Idol 3, to a combination of metal and glass. You get a smooth metal frame with chiselled edges that’s reminiscent of the latest Samsung Galaxy devices. Button layout includes a power button on the upper left side, volume rockers on the upper right, and the Alcatel-exclusive “BOOM” key on the right that’s easily reachable by your thumb.
So what’s the BOOM key you ask? It’s a multi-functional button that can be configured as a quick-access button for turning on the screen, long press to take a snap when the screen is locked, capture a screenshot, fire up fancy animations while watching images, videos, apps and VR, and boost the bass and loudness of the speakers.
Speaking of speakers, I was surprised to find out that the Idol 4s holds not just two, but a total of four JBL certified speakers (each pair placed in the front and rear side). The speaker grill design appears to be similar to the one found in the previous Idol 3. The loudness and audio quality are top-notch which produces a well-balanced audio experience. The smartphone features a brilliant 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 1440p resolution. The screen fires up a brightness of 534ppi.
The rear side of the Alcatel Idol 4s is covered with 2.5D glass which unfortunately is a magnet for fingerprints and smudges. While the camera module does protrude outwards, the device doesn’t wobble much when placed on a flat surface which is impressive. The whole device is light and weighs only 149g.
The one thing that I'm disappointed with is that the model released in the Middle East does not come with a fingerprint sensor which is present on the phone sold in other parts of the world.
Chipset and Software
Inside the Alcatel Idol 4s lies the octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor with 3GB RAM running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box. I’m glad that Alcatel didn't play around much with the UI and left it close to a stock Android experience with some impressive animations like the system folder that unboxes itself (just as on the Idol 3). I found the device to be fast and snappy during most of my usage. The smartphone comes with 32GB internal storage with MicroSD support (2ndSIM slot). Check out some of the benchmarks we ran on the Idol 4s, and a video of the Idol 4s UI in action.
The VR headset
I have to hand over it to Alcatel for its smart and fancy packaging of the Idol 4s and the VR headset. The Idol 4s is perhaps the first smartphone in the market that comes with a VR headset out of the box, along with a plastic shell that holds the strap and other accessories.
The Idol 4s VR headset comes with a smartphone compartment that’s easy to lock or remove the device, and a pair of buttons on the bottom that functions for “Select” and “Back” operations. There is also a cushioned backstrap that comes with the headset. The screens of the headset feature a brilliant 60 Hz refresh rate. Alcatel has a VR-store that helps to easily find VR-based apps from the Google PlayStore. To use the VR, you fire up the Alcatel VR launcher. The VR UI is simple to use with head-pointed navigation and button controls. Sections include VR-games, VR-gallery, 360-videos, and 360-images. I’m impressed with the performance of the VR-headset for a mid-range smartphone. Check out the VR UI video bellow.
Camera
Alcatel has placed a 16MP image sensor on the rear side of the Idol 4S, with a bright F2.0 aperture lens and a 75º wide angle view. The camera is capable of recording 4K videos and slow-motion 720p videos up to 120fps. The camera is supported by a dual-tone flash. Interestingly, the 8MP front selfie sensor with F2.4 lens comes with a wider 84º field of view. Check out some samples below:
Battery
One of the best features of the Idol 4s is the massive 3000 mAh battery with support of Quick Charge 2.0. The device is charged using the standard Micro USB port, and not the USB Type-C which isn’t really an issue. Standby time of the Idol 4s is great as it stayed active for over four days straight with over 40% battery still left. By making several calls, couple of VR sessions, camera and apps, I was able to use the Idol 4s for a whole day.
Verdict
It looks like Alcatel has once again proved that a great smartphone can be affordable. The premium design is appealing, the camera is great, and you get a large battery for long-lasting connectivity.
As a bonus, you get a JBL in-ear headphones, a cover case, and a 2.5D glass protector for free in the package. The introduction of the VR headset within the Alcatel Idol 4s package marks the beginning of virtual reality experience on mid-range smartphones.
The Alcatel Idol 4s with VR headset costs about 1799 AED.
