Alcatel OneTouch Idol Pro Reviews

Even though the Alcatel One Touch Idol made a cameo in the Iron Man 3 movie, it isn't really a smartphone fit for a superhero. Rather, it is a mid-range phone suitable for those who need a reasonably-priced dual-SIM handset. The Idol stands out with being really light and really thin, all the while packing a screen of generous proportions. Its camera, however, is not as good as it seems on paper, so those party shots won't be looking fabulous once you take a look at them on a larger screen. The pretty weak processor is another thing you'll have to live with should you choose to spend $300 on one of these. In case you don't insist on having a dual-SIM smartphone, however, then you might want to think twice before getting the Alcatel One Touch Idol. In some markets where it is available, the Google Nexus 4 costs about the same, but has a lot more to offer, including a better screen and a much faster processor, not to mention that it runs the most recent version of Android. And assuming your budget can handle it, the LG Optimus L7 II would also be a great alternative to the One Touch Idol as it comes with a better screen and a faster processor.

I hate to say it all comes down to price and features, but it all comes down to price and features. Alcatel's One Touch Idol isn't for anyone seeking a high-end device, but if you're on the lookout for something cheap that's a cut above the basics, you could do much worse than this $300 Android Jelly Bean handset. Unfortunately for Alcatel, you can also do much better. For the same off-contract price, LG's Nexus 4 piles on the features, and also gives you 4G HSPA+ speeds. The Nexus 4's lack of LTE hurts it in a mature market like the U.S., which has been taught to clamor for high network speed, but if you're realistically in a Wi-Fi zone most of the time anyway, you may not fuss over the highest megabits per second down (Mbps). Besides which, HSPA+ is still much faster than straight HSPA 3G. LG's device has the added benefit of being first in line for OS upgrades on account of its status as a Nexus phone running stock Android. On its own, the Alcatel One Touch Idol is a decent showing for a relative newcomer. Thrown into a competitive landscape where it competes with a better phone for the same price, it doesn't stand a chance. Regardless, it'll be interesting to track Alcatel's next move.

The unlocked Alcatel One Touch Idol smartphone is light and attractive, but that's not enough to make up for dated hardware and lackluster performance.