Accelerometer(or G-sensor) - sensor of the device’s position in space. As a main function, the accelerometer is used to automatically change the orientation of the image on the display (vertical or horizontal). Also, the G-sensor is used as a pedometer; it can control various functions of the device by turning or shaking.
Gyroscope- a sensor that measures rotation angles relative to a fixed coordinate system. Capable of measuring rotation angles in several planes simultaneously. A gyroscope together with an accelerometer allows you to accurately determine the position of the device in space. Devices that use only accelerometers have lower measurement accuracy, especially when moving quickly. Also, the capabilities of the gyroscope can be used in modern games for mobile devices.
Light sensor- a sensor that sets the optimal brightness and contrast values for a given light level. The presence of a sensor allows you to increase the battery life of the device.
Proximity sensor- a sensor that detects when the device is close to your face during a call, turns off the backlight and locks the screen, preventing accidental clicks. The presence of a sensor allows you to increase the battery life of the device.
Geomagnetic sensor- a sensor for determining the direction of the world in which the device is directed. Tracks the orientation of the device in space relative to the magnetic poles of the Earth. The information received from the sensor is used in mapping programs for terrain orientation.
Atmospheric pressure sensor- sensor for precise measurement atmospheric pressure. It is part of the GPS system, allows you to determine altitude above sea level and speed up location determination.
Touch ID- fingerprint identification sensor.
Accelerometer / Light / Proximity
Satellite navigation:
GPS(Global Positioning System - global positioning system) - satellite system navigation, providing measurement of distance, time, speed and determining the location of objects anywhere on Earth. The system is developed, implemented and operated by the US Department of Defense. The basic principle of using the system is to determine location by measuring distances to an object from points with known coordinates - satellites. The distance is calculated by the delay time of signal propagation from sending it by the satellite to receiving it by the antenna of the GPS receiver.
GLONASS(Global Navigation Satellite System) - Soviet and Russian satellite navigation system, developed by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The measurement principle is similar to the American GPS navigation system. GLONASS is designed for operational navigation and timing support for land, sea, air and space-based users. The main difference from the GPS system is that GLONASS satellites in their orbital motion do not have resonance (synchrony) with the rotation of the Earth, which provides them with greater stability.
Photos in the interior
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Contents of delivery:
- Telephone
- Charger with USB cable
- Headset
- Instructions
Positioning
The Idol line was a kind of breakthrough for Alcatel - interesting design, good functionality, reasonable price. The appearance of the Mini version with a low price made these devices even more popular, they entered the mass segment. In fact, we can say that Alcatel has created an excellent offer in terms of price/quality ratio, materials and appearance - these models are strikingly different from what we see from most Chinese manufacturers. And at the same time the cost is at the same level.
In 2014, there were no major changes in the design; the entire line received an update to the filling, but at the same time retained the design, which still looks just as fresh. In my opinion, Alcatel devices can be recommended as youthful, bright solutions - they will be chosen by those who prioritize not only functionality, but also the way the device looks. This is a rare case when the form complements the content very well. I like the latest line of devices from Alcatel, they are quite nice to use Everyday life, but at the same time there are not enough stars from heaven. A sort of pragmatic choice is a phone that you can use for several years, and then change it to another. Actually, that says it all.
Design, dimensions, control elements
The Idol Mini 2 line includes several models; for reasons of simplicity, we can combine them into one review, since, by and large, they are the same in the eyes of the consumer. Let's list all the modifications:
- Idol Mini 2 6016X – one SIM card, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory, microSD, UMTS 900/2100
- Idol Mini 2 6016D – two SIM cards, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, UMTS 900/2100
- Idol Mini 2 6016A – one SIM card, 512 MB RAM, 4GB built-in, microSD, UMTS 900/2100
- Idol Mini 2 6016E – two SIM cards, 512 MB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, UMTS 850/1900/2100
- Idol Mini 2 S 6036A – one SIM card, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory, LTE Bands 1,2,4,7,17, no NFC
- Idol Mini 2 S 6036X – one SIM card, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory, LTE Bands 1,3,7,8,20,28, no NFC
- Idol Mini 2 S 6036Y – one SIM card, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, LTE Bands 1,3,7,8,20, NFC available
The review is written based on version 6036Y, this is the best configuration of this device. All versions use a chipset from Qualcomm. In Russia, version 6036Y is sold by the Beeline operator and is partially branded by it (screensavers in the menu and the like).
Externally, we see a typical Alcatel - this means a nice plastic case, monoblock design. The manufacturer offers the model in different colors, but as a rule, you can find a dark silver device in retail.
Phone size – 129.5x63.5x8.5 mm, weight – 116 grams. Compact, fits well in your hand. The front panel is one-color (depending on the color of the case; for example, in the white version it is also white). The front side of this device is difficult to distinguish from other models; it starts playing if you turn it over - the body has a slight bend, pleasant plastic, which is resistant to abrasion. On the back surface you can see a large speaker, at the top there is an LED flash, as well as an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus.
On the left side there is a slot for a SIM card, as well as for cards microSD memory, on the right there is a paired volume key and an on/off button. The 3.5 mm connector is placed on the top end, but the microUSB is on the bottom. At the ends you can also see microphone holes, there are two of them.
There is a light indicator above the screen, front-camera, as well as an LED, it can be configured to work when there are missed calls or events. In general, the build quality does not raise any questions, but with strong compression back panel crackles. Some people may not like this - this does not affect the reliability of the device in any way, but the design is such that it creaks. Inaccuracy in the design of the device, which gives such an effect. IN real life you won't pay attention to it and are unlikely to squeeze the phone like that.
Display
The device has a 4.5-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 540x960 pixels (245 ppi). Multi-touch supports up to 5 touches, brightness adjustment in automatic mode works well. The brightness reserve is excellent, and the model turned out to be pleasant in terms of how the screen works - good colors, excellent viewing angles, no complaints. You may find the default fonts a little lacy, but you can always change them to larger ones. The screen fades in the sun, but remains readable.
Battery
The device has a battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh (in versions without LTE – 1700 mAh). According to the manufacturer, it is capable of providing up to 400 hours of standby time and up to 13 hours of talk time in 3G. In practice, the device with quiet use - 20 minutes of calls a day, a couple of dozen SMS, an hour of listening to music and a little mobile internet– lives about 2 full days. At the same time, we can say that with very active use it will be able to live until the evening of the first day, but this is not a typical use of such a device for target audience. Such smartphones are bought mainly for calls, SMS, mail and the like. That is, this is not a machine for constantly being online; there is not enough screen diagonal for comfort. Full battery charging time is about 2 hours.
Memory, memory card, performance
The phone has 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, of which 5.3 GB is available to the user for programs and their data. Memory cards up to 32 GB are supported.
The chipset in this model is Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8226, 4 cores with a frequency of up to 1.1 GHz. Graphics coprocessor – Adreno 305. In my opinion, the performance is quite excellent, there are no complaints, for lovers of virtual parrots I will provide data from benchmarks.
Communication capabilities
The phone works in cellular networks 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (850/900/2100 MHz), as well as LTE (for Idol 2 Mini S). Available Bluetooth version 4.0 for file and voice transfer. Wireless available Wi-Fi connection 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. There is a not very popular Wi-Fi Display function, when you can transmit a signal from your phone to another device via Wi-Fi. Traditionally there is a function Wi-Fi Direct. There is also a remote Wi-Fi display option.
The device in question also has NFC, it can be used to read tags, there is trial version Triger Pro program, which allows you to configure various events using NFC. The tags themselves are not included in the kit, but they can be purchased from any manufacturer, for example, Samsung.
Camera
An ordinary 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, not enough stars in the sky, gives acceptable image quality in bright light, but in the dark the result is noticeably worse. The photographic part is not strong point Alcatel phones However, look at the examples below. Video recording is supported in 1080p resolution, up to 30 frames per second.
Software features – Android 4.3
Idol 2 Mini, just like its predecessor, Alcatel company uses its own software shell, which can be perceived ambiguously by many, since people often prefer “bare” Android and are quite satisfied with its capabilities.
Many functions have been heavily redesigned; Alcatel has added a number of programs that can be downloaded for free anyway, but the fact that they are pre-installed makes the device more interesting for inexperienced users.
Without unlocking the device, you can view the weather forecast for the current day. Let's scroll the screen to the right, there will be a calendar and a to-do list for the current day (entering to-dos or viewing another day will not work). You can also view the status bar; it is also available when the screen is locked, if there is no security key or digital code.
The fundamental difference between Alcatel's approach and other shells is that they decided to abandon a separate menu for all applications. On the main screen there is a weather widget and several icons. This is the starting point. We flip the screens to the left, and there will be widgets that you install. Let's go to the right, and these will be program icons, also some programs have already been put into folders, this was done by the manufacturer. You get used to such an organization instantly; it is somewhat logical and definitely has a right to life.
The settings menu now has its own settings, for example, a super saving mode for the battery. The menu itself has also been redesigned in white colors, which is quite nice. In our video, I talk about most of the applications that are in the device, and I don’t want to repeat what has changed compared to previous models.
Next, I could dwell on each program and describe it, but I don’t see much point in this. This is a smartphone, and this software is usually known, or I touched on it in the video. So see the screenshots below.
Another part that I want to describe separately is the multimedia capabilities. The device has support for unconverted video; the chipset plays 1080p perfectly, unlike its predecessor. In terms of music formats, there is support for FLAC, in addition to the usual MP3 and a number of others.
Impression
The sound quality is excellent; your interlocutor can hear you well in all conditions. The call is loud and clearly audible. The vibration alert is quite weak, closer to average, you can skip it.
The cost of the LTE version of this device in Beeline is 7,990 rubles, the difference is NFC support, as well as 8 GB of internal memory and memory card support. In the version without LTE the price is lower – 6,990 rubles. In my opinion, the target audience would be interested in a device without LTE; after all, this technology requires active use of the network, and with a small screen by today’s standards, this is not so convenient. I will say differently, you will be able to surf the Internet, there are no problems with this - but it is unlikely that it will be for long hours, rather look at the necessary pages from time to time, chat on in social networks, use Whatsapp. For this purpose, the device is very comfortable, but you shouldn’t assume that it will allow you to stay online all the time - the screen size plays a role, and there is no way to get around this limitation.
The device turned out to be very pleasant, just like the first Idol Mini, this good smartphone for calls, balanced, there is nothing superfluous in it. I would like a better camera, but this is a weak point in almost all models in this price segment. As an alternative, you can consider last year's Idol Mini, which, taking into account new price looks very interesting - it can be found for 5,000 rubles. In large retail chains its cost is 5,990 rubles, which makes it not so interesting compared to the second version.
Each of the second-tier manufacturers has its own strengths and weaknesses. For Alcatel, cooperation with operators has become a winning strategy; they order various models at the company. There are no clear bestsellers, but quite decent volumes are gradually accumulating. As a rule, carrier devices are profitable for Alcatel - they pay a little more for them than for devices that are aimed at the mass market. But this also means that such smartphones are not so optimal for the consumer - exclusivity and sales through one operator mean a high starting price, lack of alternatives and price flexibility. A model can stay at one price level for a very long time - from the first to the last day of its sales, despite the fact that the entire market has already moved in a different direction and similar solutions will cost noticeably less. Such stability arguably has more disadvantages for consumers, and the benefits are unclear.
These considerations are fully applicable to the Idol 2S; this carrier model costs significantly more than its Alcatel counterparts. It should be noted here that the difference is described by the presence of LTE on board, but is this so important for Alcatel’s target audience? In my opinion, it doesn't matter at all - people buying Alcatel don't need LTE. Don't get me wrong, it's not that they don't need LTE at all, it's a nice extra if it's included - but it's not needed due to the 15-20 percent increase in cost; for Alcatel buyers, cost and price/quality ratio are critical .
The audience for Idol 2s is Beeline subscribers in Russia, who also need an LTE smartphone. That is, this is a niche, and an extremely small one. I also want to note that from the point of common sense it may seem that Idol 2 and 2s differ only in LTE support in the second, but this is not so. This device has a higher screen resolution and a number of other differences; there is no need to say that this is the same model. They are similar, but about the same as all Alcatel models over the past few years. This aspect is also important - a good design, which is already beginning to become obsolete. All models look the same, and something fresh is needed, the time has come.
Design, dimensions, control elements
Externally, we see a typical Alcatel - this means a nice plastic case, monoblock design. The manufacturer offers the model in different colors, but, as a rule, you can find a dark silver device in retail.
Phone size – 136.5 x 69.7 x 7.45 mm, weight – 126 grams. Compact, fits well in your hand. The front panel is one-color (depending on the color of the case; for example, in the white version it is also white). The front side of this device is difficult to distinguish from other models; it starts playing if you turn it over - the body has a slight bend, pleasant plastic, which is resistant to abrasion. On the back surface you can see a large speaker, at the top there is an LED flash, as well as an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus.
On the left side there is a slot for a SIM card, as well as for microSD memory cards, on the right there is a paired volume key and an on/off button. The 3.5 mm connector is placed on the top end, but the microUSB is on the bottom. At the ends you can also see microphone holes, there are two of them.
Above the screen there is a light indicator, a front camera, and also an LED; it can be configured to work when there are missed calls or events. In general, the build quality is not in question, but the back panel crackles when pressed hard. Some people may not like this - this does not affect the reliability of the device in any way, but the design is such that it creaks. Inaccuracy in the design of the device, which gives such an effect. In real life, you won't pay attention to this and are unlikely to squeeze your phone like that.
Display
The device has an IPS matrix with a diagonal of 5 inches and a resolution of 720x1080 pixels. Multitouch supports up to 5 touches, brightness adjustment in automatic mode works well. The brightness reserve is excellent, and the model turned out to be pleasant in terms of how the screen works - good colors, excellent viewing angles, no complaints. You may find the default fonts a little lacy, but you can always change them to larger ones. The screen fades in the sun, but remains readable.
Battery
The device has a battery with a capacity of 2150 mAh. According to the manufacturer, it is capable of providing up to 400/520 hours of standby time (4G/3G), up to 7/16.5 hours of talk time. In practice, the device, with quiet use - 20 minutes of calls a day, a couple of dozen SMS, an hour of listening to music and a little mobile Internet - lasts about 2 full days. At the same time, we can say that with very active use it can survive until the evening of the first day, but this is an uncharacteristic use of such a device for the target audience. Such smartphones are bought mainly for calls, SMS, mail and the like. That is, this is not a machine for constantly being online; there is not enough screen diagonal for comfort. Full battery charging time is about 2 hours.
Memory, memory card, performance
The phone has 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, of which 5.3 GB is available to the user for programs and their data. Memory cards up to 32 GB are supported.
The chipset in this model is Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8926, 4 cores with a frequency of up to 1.1 GHz. Graphics coprocessor – Adreno 305. In my opinion, the performance is quite excellent, there are no complaints, for lovers of virtual parrots I will provide data from benchmarks.
Communication capabilities
The phone operates in 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (850/900/2100 MHz) cellular networks, as well as LTE (for Idol 2 Mini S). Available 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. There is a not very popular Wi-Fi Display function, when you can transmit a signal from your phone to another device via Wi-Fi. Traditionally, there is a Wi-Fi Direct function. There is also a remote Wi-Fi display option.
The device in question also has NFC, it can be used to read tags, there is a trial version of the Triger Pro program, which allows you to configure various events using NFC. The tags themselves are not included in the kit, but they can be purchased from any manufacturer, for example, Samsung.
Camera
An ordinary 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, not enough stars in the sky, gives acceptable image quality in bright light, but in the dark the result is noticeably worse. The photo part is not the strong point of Alcatel phones, however, look at the examples below. Video recording is supported in 1080p resolution, up to 30 frames per second.
Software features – Android 4.3
In Idol 2s, as well as in other models, Alcatel uses its own software shell, which can be perceived ambiguously by many, since people often prefer “bare” Android and are quite satisfied with its capabilities.
Many functions have been heavily redesigned; Alcatel has added a number of programs that can be downloaded for free anyway, but the fact that they are pre-installed makes the device more interesting for inexperienced users.
Without unlocking the device, you can view the weather forecast for the current day. Let's scroll the screen to the right, there will be a calendar and a to-do list for the current day (entering to-dos or viewing another day will not work). You can also view the status bar; it is also available when the screen is locked, if there is no security key or digital code.
The fundamental difference between Alcatel's approach and other shells is that they decided to abandon a separate menu for all applications. On the main screen there is a weather widget and several icons. This is the starting point. We flip the screens to the left, and there will be widgets that you install. Let's go to the right, and these will be program icons, also some programs have already been put into folders, this was done by the manufacturer. You get used to such an organization instantly; it is somewhat logical and definitely has a right to life.
The settings menu now has its own settings, for example, a super saving mode for the battery. The menu itself has also been redesigned in white colors, which is quite nice. In our video, I talk about most of the applications that are in the device, and I don’t want to repeat what has changed compared to previous models.
Next, I could dwell on each program and describe it, but I don’t see much point in this. This is a smartphone, and this software is usually known, or I touched on it in the video. So see the screenshots below.
Another part that I want to describe separately is the multimedia capabilities. The device has support for unconverted video; the chipset plays 1080p perfectly, unlike its predecessor. In terms of music formats, there is support for FLAC in addition to the usual MP3 and a number of others.
The quality of a smartphone is determined primarily by its parameters. Based on them, you can talk about how long the device will last you and whether it is worth purchasing such a smartphone at all. But what do they say about idol 2? mini specifications?
Visual component
In Alcatel one touch idol 2 mini, the characteristics depend on visual data. Based on them, the developers assembled all the other components of the device. Its weight is only 110 grams, taking into account the thickness of less than 8 mm. Impressive, isn't it?
Before you is a standard candy bar with three touch-sensitive keys on the bottom. Its unique feature is the metallic silver frame, which adds elegance to the phone. The case is made quite well. It is simply unrealistic to find fault with any backlash or other problems. The device gives the impression of a premium class although, in fact, it is a budget device.
There is a power button on the right, and a volume rocker above. It is also used to block the device’s sensor. On the left is the SIM card slot, covered with a plug. At the bottom there is a USB connector and a microphone. The charger and headset connectors are very well separated. Many users noted this as one of the bright advantages of this device.
On the back plastic cover there is a main camera, a LED flash and an additional microphone for high-quality sound in videos. The front part of the device, in addition to touch keys and a screen with an oleophobic coating, has a speaker grille and a front camera.
Camera
If we talk about cameras, then the characteristics of idol 2 mini are more than acceptable. The main camera takes pictures at a resolution of 5 megapixels, and videos at 1280x720. All this is complemented by fairly high-quality autofocus and an elegantly integrated flash. At the same time, the quality of the pictures is noticeably higher than that of smartphones from other brands, the cameras of which, according to statements, reach eight and even 13 megapixels.
The front camera in such a smartphone is a disadvantage for a modern person, since it is not intended for selfies, but only for communication, and by modern standards it has a very modest resolution - only 0.3 megapixels. If you are not a fan of taking pictures of yourself, then this device is just right.
Battery
The battery in the smartphone is lithium-ion and non-removable. Its capacity is 1700 mAh. The manufacturer promises that the battery is capable of autonomously spending at least 400 hours in standby and 5 in active use. Excellent result for budget smartphone. Considering one SIM card and a minimal set of applications, battery consumption is really low. And not very productive hardware contributes to even greater savings.
Memory and performance
We can safely say that the memory characteristics of idol 2 mini are not encouraging, but they are not disappointing either. These are standard 1 gigabyte of RAM and 4 gigabytes of non-volatile or random access memory. Based on the latest technical innovations, these are not the best indicators. Although if you remember that the device was released in 2014, there is nothing to be surprised about.
Regarding the “iron” component, one should also not expect any special miracles. The device has a processor capable of overclocking each of its four cores to a frequency of 1.2 GHz. These indicators are sufficient to work with simple programs, like instant messengers, but nothing more. Do not forget that the device is primarily positioned as a fashion device and at the same time a budget one. And in the case of attractive appearance You can rarely find more or less productive hardware at a low price.
To improve performance, you can root the device and remove some built-in applications. This will allow, in addition to reducing the load on the processor, to unload a certain amount of non-volatile memory, of which there is not too much here anyway.
conclusions
The Alcatel one touch idol 2 mini smartphone is a 4.5-inch reliable touchscreen phone with IPS matrix. This is a smartphone with a low price, 4 nuclear processor and Android 4.4 has made thousands of people fall in love with it. It will be a suitable option for those who value light weight and the disadvantages include a slot for only one SIM card, which may not be enough in today’s conditions of fierce competition among operators, and not the most productive hardware, which reduces the comfort of use. It will ideally fit into the role of an additional gadget for use in rare cases; as a main smartphone, it will not be able to provide the full range of capabilities provided by the modern electronic world.
Thanks to the release of mid-price smartphones with good consumer properties, the share of TCL Communications (trademark Alcatel One Touch) is growing rapidly in Russia. One of the flagships of this size is the Alcatel Idol 2 smartphone. We tested this model with a five-inch screen and pleasant appearance.
Sales of Alcatel smartphones in Russia in the first half of 2014 came very close to the indicators of such brands as Huawei, Fly and LG. This was largely due to the successful launch of the second generation Idol line on the market, which included the Idol 2 (5-inch screen), Idol 2S (with LTE support), Idol 2 mini (4.5-inch screen) and Idol 2 mini S (version with LTE). I had at my disposal the basic model of Alcatel Idol 2. We will talk about it further.
In technical terms, the device is typical average. It has a quad-core MTK6582M processor, 1.3 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, a large 5-inch screen with an IPS matrix, a resolution of 540x960 pixels, and an 8 megapixel camera. The device operates under Android control 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Well, the price of the issue is 7,990 rubles.
Dimensions. Contents of delivery
id="sub0">The first thing you notice is that the device looks great. Despite the large screen, the phone is thin and relatively light. Its dimensions are 136.5 x 70 x 7.3 mm and its weight is 128 grams. The gadget fits in your hand, although you still can’t reach the corners of the screen with a finger of one hand. You have to use your second hand.
The build quality is in no way inferior to flagship models from other manufacturers. During two weeks of testing, I did not notice any creaking or play. The positive aspects include the velvety plastic from which it is made. rear end apparatus.
If we talk about the convenience of carrying a smartphone in the pockets of tight clothes, then there are no problems here. Wear it wherever you want and with whatever you want.
The scope of delivery includes:
- Alcatel 6037Y Idol 2 phone
- Charger adapter USB devices
- Cable for synchronization with computer
- Stereo headset with 3.5 mm mini-jack connector
- Instructions
Design, construction
id="sub1">The smartphone looks great, it’s pleasant to hold in your hands, and a lot of people like it. This is largely due to the thinness of the case, as well as the finishing, which includes velvety plastic on the back and chrome inserts on the sides.
It is worth mentioning that the design of the smartphone is monolithic. The back cover and battery in this model are non-removable. Hence the feeling of reliability: there are no gaps between structural elements and no creaking or play of individual parts of the body. For assembly - five points out of five.
There are several body color options available for sale: brown, pink, gray and white. I had a white device at my disposal.
If we talk about the placement of different elements, then almost the entire front part of the device is occupied by a 5-inch diagonal touch display. Above it is a speaker for voice calls. To the left is the front camera, to the right are all kinds of sensors: motion sensor, light sensor, G-sensor. In the upper transparent part of the case there are LEDs that glow during charging, charging incoming SMS or missed call. They shine with white light. The operation of the diodes can be configured in the menu.
Touch control buttons are located under the screen. There are three of them, like all Android devices of a similar level.
On the right side there is a button to turn on, turn off and lock the phone, as well as a volume key. The microSIM slot can be found on the left side. There is support for hot memory replacement. Nearby is a slot for memory cards. MicroSD cards are used here. On the bottom edge of Idol 2 there is a microUSB connector. It is universal because it connects to Charger and a sync cable. There are also speakers for playing external calls and audio files. The speakers are loud enough to ensure you don't miss an outgoing call. The playback quality of audio files is average. At high volumes the sound begins to creak slightly.
At the top end there is a hole for connecting a standard 3.5 mm headset.
8 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash located on the back of the smartphone. You can also see the manufacturer's logo on the back.
Alcatel Idol 2 is assembled at the TCL Communications plant in China. By the way, I really liked the assembly.
Screen. Graphics capabilities
id="sub2">Alcatel Idol 2 does not use the most modern 5-inch screen. The main disadvantage of the display is its low resolution. Only 540x960. The matrix here is IPS, which boasts good color reproduction, colorful and contrasting images. To protect the display, high-quality carbon fiber glass is used, which reliably protects the screen from damage. During the two-week test, by the way, no scratches appeared on the screen.
The pixel density is low, which is why people with good eyesight can see the pixels clearly. This is why the font and pictures look imperfect. However, it is worth remembering that before us a budget option device and by definition one cannot expect excellent quality from it.
Among the advantages, I will note the excellent response to clicks and large viewing angles. In the sun, the screen fades a little, but the information remains legible and understandable.
Menu. Interface and navigation
id="sub3">Alcatel Idol 2 runs operating system Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. A custom Alcatel shell with redrawn icons and individual menu items is installed on top of the operating system. Looks a little childish.
Otherwise, we have good old Android. In standby mode, the user has access to several desktops. By default, one of them is completely empty, the other displays shortcuts for individual applications and widgets, the rest display a calendar, bookmarks, and music player. Each desktop can be customized.
Among the distinctive features of Alcatel Idol 2, I note pre-installed applications, including navigation and reference 2Gis, antivirus package, Evernote, Facebook, Twitter, OfficeSuite, Opera mini, Flipboard, LinkedIn, PicSay, Skype, WatsApp, Viber, Kinoofisha, Yandex.Taxi, scanner barcodes and others.
In terms of the number of applications running on the smartphone out of the box, the device can be praised. All you need is already there. The rest can be downloaded from Google Play.
Multimedia capabilities
id="sub4">The application for playing music is called "Music" . Here you can view and listen to audio tracks. The following file formats are supported: MP3, AMR, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+. There is sorting by artists, albums, genres, composers. The standard headset is included in the package.
The “Video” item displays videos made both by the device’s camera and downloaded from the Internet.
Camera. Photo and video capabilities
id="sub5">Alcatel Idol 2 has an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash. The model offers a very concise menu with settings; a minimum of parameters is offered. Manual settings very little. At the same time, the device offers such popular modes as HDR and panorama shooting, and can also record video in a resolution of 1920x1088. The quality of the images is average, noise is clearly visible in low light, sometimes autofocus behaves strangely, and you have to focus again.
Videos are shot in Full HD format with a resolution of 1920x1088 pixels. The device has support for unconverted video, but the chipset does not handle 1080p well, the sound is often out of sync, or there is no sound at all. In terms of music formats, there is support for FLAC in addition to the usual MP3 and a number of others.
Memory and speed
id="sub6">A version of the smartphone with built-in memory of 8 GB or 16 GB is available in stores. This volume can be expanded using microSD memory cards.
The hardware is typical for most mid-price smartphones. It has a MediaTek MT6582M chipset with a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. Under RAM 1 GB allocated.
You can watch HD videos on your smartphone without any glitches. However, if you run several “heavy applications” at the same time, the interfaces will begin to become dull. In general, the speed of the device leaves a very good impression.
Communication capabilities
id="sub7">The device operates in 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (900/2100 MHz) networks. IN basic version The smartphone does not support LTE. For these purposes, there is a version of Alcatel Idol 2S, which supports 4G.
In addition, there is Bluetooth version 4.0 for file and voice transfer. Eat there's Wi-Fi here IEEE 802.11 b/g/n. The device, of course, can be used as an access point or modem. In the settings, this item is listed as “Modem mode” (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz for 802.11n mode). Eat Wi-Fi support Display. To transfer files, among other things, you can use the NFC module.
The smartphone has a GPS navigator, A-GPS. “Cold” start - 5-6 minutes, “hot” - up to 15 seconds. To work with maps, the device has the following programs: “Maps” and “Navigator”. Personally, I had no problems with the navigator.
Duration of work
id="sub8">The smartphone has a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh. Under testing conditions, with a number of calls of 10 - 15 minutes per day, Wi-FI always on, browsing the Internet via 3G for 1.5 hours, listening to an mp3 player through a headset for about 2 hours, the device worked for about a day. If you use the device more intensively, the operating time will decrease. The battery charges in 1.5 hours. These are standard indicators for an Android smartphone.
The smartphone offers a built-in power saving feature that will help extend battery life, especially when the device is in standby mode for a long time. Activating this mode, according to my own feelings, does not particularly affect the operating time.
