Back in September we tried the Alcatel Idol 4S, a VR headset and phone combo that gave you a Google Cardboard VR experience. Now, Alacatel has partnered with T-Mobile to bring the experience we loved to their network… with a completely different OS and some refreshed specs.
Source: T-Mobile.com
Microsoft’s Windows for phones is a really underrated system. Previous versions were ignored by way too many developers and handset makers. Several features, like a great keyboard, all-in-one text/chat app, and easy MS Office integration were often ignored for the new and shiny. Plus, Cortana has come a long way since we reviewed the digital assistant last year. I know more than a few people who prefer it to Siri. Plus, the Windows 10 experience on the Alcatel is standard – unlike Android there are no Windows 10 skins. And I’m, dying to try the Continuum feature that adapts the phone into a PC if I hook it to an external KB/mouse/screen.
With Windows 10 handhelds, Microsoft is focusing a lot more on VR, and Alcatel is the perfect partner for that. At $469.99, the Windows version costs $79.99 more than the Android one, but it also comes with 64 GB of storage instead of the 32 of the Android system, 4 GB of RAM instead of just 3, a more robust 21 MP camera, and a more powerful processor, the Snapdragon 820. This is the same chip that powers the HTC 10 and Samsung Galaxy S7, both of which cost a lot more. This is more than just slapping a new OS on – it’s a total refresh.
The Alcatel Idol 4S on T-Mobile is an impressive device on paper. Hopefully, I’ll be able to bring you a more detailed review in the future. In the meantime, the T-Mobile Alcatel Idol 4S goes on sale 11/10, if you decide you want to pull the trigger before.
