What's good
- Excellent display with true-to-life colors
- Thin, light body
- 4G connectivity
What's bad
- Low battery life
- Slightly delayed touch response
- Occasional lag in interface
Although priced for the mid-range market, experts were impressed with the design and features of the Alcatel One Touch Idol S. Influenced heavily by the One Touch Idol X's design, the Idol S offers the same thin and light plastic build measuring in at 0.3-inches thick and weighing 110 grams. The matte finish on the back cover made it easier for critics to grip the phone with the added benefit of repelling fingerprints.
One of the standout features of the Idol S is its 4.7-inch LCD display. With a resolution of 720 x 1,280 pixels, the phone boasts a pixel density of 272ppi. Although not in the same class as the iPhone 5, the Alcatel does beat out other competitors in the market like the Nokia Lumia 625. Critics were especially impressed with the display's almost perfect color reproduction, high contrast ratio and brightness. Digital Versus states, "…this is a practically flawless display." The only issue reviewers had was slightly delayed screen responsiveness.
In terms of specs, this is no powerhouse. It sports a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. Although not as fast as more high end phones, reviewers were satisfied with the overall performance though noted some occasional lag in the interface. The main selling point, however, is the ability to connect to a 4G network. When tested, the connection was found to be very fast. Unfortunately, reviewers noticed that when using 4G the 2,000mAh battery drained quickly and lasted only around 8.5 hours. The smartphone also features 4GB of internal storage, an expandable microSD slot, an 8MP rear camera and 1.3 megapixel front camera.
While the phone's performance didn't wow reviewers, they still recommend it for its price and features. My Mobile says, "So far this is the best budget Android phone I've come across..."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Chris Barraclough, RecombuThe Alcatel One Touch Idol S is a damn infuriating smartphone. We wanted so badly to love it, with its slim, light and attractive design, HD screen and 4G support, all for a good price.But then there’s the flip side. The occasional stuttery performance and crashes. The terrible battery life th...
- Jonathan Bray, PC ProThe Idol S is a superb handset that matches the Motorola Moto G almost all the way. Its slimmer design, larger display and the presence of 4G and a microSD slot push it up the rankings, and it only falls behind on battery life and overall performance. Overall, we prefer the Moto G, especially since...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Alcatel One Touch Idol S user manual here.
Alcatel backs up the One Touch Idol S with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your One Touch Idol S has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Alcatel support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Alcatel's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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