The Alcatel Brand Got a Makeover and Unveiled Two New Phones at MWC 2016 – Idol 4 and Idol 4S

Credits: NDTV

Alcatel OneTouch made its entry in the budget smartphone market with the Idol 3 in 2015. Since then, the company has gone for an image makeover having dropped the ‘OneTouch’ from its name to become simply Alcatel. In its new avatar, Alcatel displayed two new and updated versions of the Idol series at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona – the Idol 4 and the Idol 4S where the former was introduced chiefly as a successor to the Idol 3 and the latter positioned as the premium model.

In terms of features both Idol 4s and Idol 4 are more or less similar. The Idol 4s is priced Rs. 34,299 while the price of Alcatel Idol 4 has been pegged at Rs 21,299.

Specifications – Alcatel Idol 4S

For a start, the Alcatel Idol 4S has a larger Quad QHD AMOLED display of 5.5 inches with a higher screen resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 534 pixel density per square inch. This translates into the Idol 4S delivering pictures that are colorful, bright, and have an excellent contrast. The processor embedded inside the Idol 4S is also more potent – the Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 chipset with Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 processing units that get a boost up owing to a 3GB RAM and a 3,000 mAh Lithium-ion battery.

More from iSpyPrice: Order your Alcatel Idol 4S mobile today

The battery, Alcatel claims, will offer a maximum standby time of 420 hours when it is charged to the full and the ‘Quick Charging’ functionality is a good add-on. The internal storage potential of 32 GB is expandable up to a maximum of 512 GB that offers you more than sufficient room to archive all your sundry files, folders, and documents. The primary camera at the back is of 16 megapixel whereas the front camera is an 8 megapixel unit. The smartphone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS that is identical to the one supporting Idol 4.

Alcatel Idol 4

The Idol 4 has a display screen measuring 5.3 inches and capitalizes on full-HD technology. It comes with a Qualcomm MSM8952 Snapdragon 617 chipset with Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 and quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 processing units boosted by a 3 GB RAM and powered by a 2,600 non-removable Lithium-Ion battery. The Idol 4 has an internal memory of 16 GB that can be expanded up to a maximum of 512 GB, which is the same as the Idol 4S.

More from iSpyPrice: Check out the new Alcatel Idol 4 mobile now

The rear camera has a resolution of 13 megapixels and the one at the front has an 8 megapixel resolution. At 130 grams, the Idol 4 is a tad lighter than the Idol 4S which weighs 149 grams. However, the Idol 4S is compacter at 6.99 mm than the Idol 4 which has a bezel thickness of 7.1 mm.

The Idol 4 vis-à-vis the Idol 4S

Both the phones are fortified with one attribute that adds a competitive edge to this Alcatel twin in a market flooded with smartphones. This extraordinary feature is the ‘Boom key’ which is basically a humble knob implanted onto the right end of the phone’s bezel.

The ‘boom key’ can be used to activate the camera when the phone is in a lock mode as well as capture shots in a burst for which you need it to press the knob and hold. You can also use the key to spike up the bass level when you’re listening to a favorite soundtrack. Also, this key can assist you in opening an app.

Both the phones are sturdy-made of glass and aluminum and have JBL speakers that take your acoustic pleasure to a new high. However, the Idol 4S is compatible for transforming readily into a VR receiver with the help of plastic supplies that is included in its package. This one exceptional feature puts the Idol 4S at a higher pedestal than the Idol 4. That the UI automatically adjusts itself no matter how you pick up or hold the phones is another smart attribute that both the Alcatel handsets have.

Which of these two handsets you choose will be a matter of individual choice and preference as both models will, in all likelihood, live up to your expectations.