At the end of 2014, sales of the entry-level smartphone Alcatel Idol Mini 2 began, and in two versions at once. These devices are notable for their low cost and good technical characteristics compared to competitors. It is their characteristics and capabilities that will be considered in the article offered to your attention.
Smartphone hardware
The central processor - graphics adapter plays a decisive role in the performance of a smart phone. It is important to understand one nuance here. If the processor is high-performance, and the graphics adapter cannot boast of this, then it will not be possible to fully reveal the entire computing potential of the former. A similar situation occurs if the CPU is inferior in its capabilities to a video card, but only exactly the opposite. Therefore, chip makers strive to fit commensurate elements into one processor. This is exactly what Alcatel Idol Mini 2 can boast of, and each of its modifications. In a less productive version, this smartphone is equipped with an MCM8210 chip from Kualcom. It consists of 2 cores of the A7 energy efficient architecture. Each of them in the peak load mode rises to 1.2 GHz. Its capabilities are complemented by the video accelerator "Adreno 302". In reality, this bundle is enough to solve most tasks: from reading books and surfing the web to watching movies and quite demanding toys. The only exception is the most demanding games of the latest generation, which are too tough for him. These are all 6014X models. There is a more efficient modification - 6016X. The difference between the two lies in the type of integrated CPU. The latter has already installed MCM8212 with 4 similar cores and exactly the same frequency at maximum loads. Today it does not give a tangible increase in productivity. But in some cases, 4 cores ensure smooth operation of the device. Therefore, it is preferable to buy exactly 6016X. At a comparable cost ($ 165 for the 6014X and $ 190 for the 6016X, respectively), it offers a higher level of performance.
Display and cameras
The diagonal of the working area of \u200b\u200bthe screen in any modification of this smartphone is an acceptable 4.5 inches. Display resolution 960 x 540 pixels. The screen is capable of displaying about 16 million shades and its surface is capable of handling up to five touches at a time. A rather interesting situation has developed regarding the quality of the displayed image. The cheaper model is better than the 6016X in this regard. This is indicated by reviews on various information portals. The Alcatel Idol Mini 2 in 6014X is based on the IPS technology, while the 6016X uses the outdated TFT. Therefore, from the point of view of picture quality, it is more preferable to buy a 2-core modification of this smartphone. But on examination technical characteristics cameras all fall into place. they are identical - 0.3 megapixels and are great for making video calls. In turn, the 6016X is equipped with a matrix of 8 megapixels versus 5 megapixels in the 6014X. Otherwise, these are identical devices - there is autofocus, software system image stabilization and flash based on LED technology.
Memory
The situation is not so simple for this smart phone model with the amount of installed memory. The Alcatel Idol 2 Mini 6016X is equipped with 1GB of RAM, and the storage capacity is 4GB. In turn, in 6014X the amount of RAM is reduced by 2 times, and its volume is 0.5 GB, and the internal memory is all the same 4 GB. Both in the first and in the second case, MicroSD flash cards with a maximum volume of 32 GB are supported. All this is quite enough for normal and comfortable work on this device. But it's still better to buy a 6016X with a lot of RAM installed.
Body and ergonomics
One should not expect anything other than plastic. And here Alcatel Idol 2 Mini pleasantly surprises. Photos indicate the presence of metal inserts around the perimeter. And this is true - all the edges of the device are made of metal. But the back cover and the front panel are made of ordinary plastic. Therefore, you cannot do without a cover and a protective sticker. Otherwise, this is a fairly standard entry-level device. The on / off button, along with the volume rockers, is brought to the right edge, and there are touch buttons under the screen. This allows you to operate your smartphone with only one hand.
and autonomy
Now about the battery that comes with the Alcatel Idol 2 Mini. A review without specifying its characteristics will be incomplete. The battery capacity is 1700 mAh for both versions of the device. This allows the 2-core version of the device to work on a single charge with an average use of 3-5 days. But the more productive version 6016X will be able to last 2-3 days at the same load level.
OS and more
The operating system in this group of devices is Android, and one of its most recent versions is 4.3. Considering that sales of Alcatel Idol Mini 2 started at the end of 2014, it is quite possible that updates will appear in the foreseeable future. Otherwise, a standard set of applications is installed on this device: utilities from Google, international social services, and generally accepted programs (calculator, calendar, etc.).
Communications
Alcatel Idol 2 Mini has an almost perfect set of interfaces. A review of its technical specifications points to the following:
- Wi-Fi is the main way of exchanging information with the global web. The maximum speed of 100 Mbps allows you to transmit and receive absolutely any amount of data.
- "Bluetooth" is an ideal solution for those cases when you need to exchange small files with another smart phone, and there are no other options for transferring information.
- Mobile networks 2Zh and 3Zh. In the first case, it is possible to transfer information only in small volumes. A speed of 500 Mbps or less imposes certain restrictions. But in the second case, as with "Wi-Fi", you can send and receive any amount of data. The only limitation is the state of your mobile account. If there is no material on it, the data transfer will be stopped by the operator automatically.
- There is also a ZHPS sensor, which allows you to navigate the terrain without any problems.
- Wired interfaces "MicroUSB" and "3.5 mm audio jack" allow, respectively, to exchange data with a PC and output a sound signal to external acoustics. The first one is also used to charge the battery.
The only thing that causes criticism is the lack. Therefore, it will not work to control the TV or transfer data with it. But this is an insignificant remark, since this device belongs to budget smartphones and one should not expect a full set of communications from it.
Alcatel is gaining more and more popularity in the domestic market, and last year the sales of this company's smartphones were already equal to Huawei, LG and Fly. This manufacturer usually attracts users with a nice design coupled with a fairly high performance. The new line of Idol smartphones is able to meet the needs of everyone in terms of screen diagonal, wireless capabilities, etc. A review of Alcatel One Touch Idol 2, the base model of the series, will show that the gadget came out well thought out: a large screen, high performance, stylish design - these are exactly the parameters that we pay attention to when buying.
Design and ergonomics
Taking a quick glance at the phone, it's hard to tell it apart from some of the flagship models - it looks so good. The slim body with a thickness of 7.3 mm is captivating, so with a diagonal of 5 inches the device does not look like a weighty shovel. The back panel is made of velvety plastic, and there is a chrome edging at the ends. In general, the device looks more than stylish and expensive.
The minimum weight is only 128 g, which, given the stated parameters, seems like a real gift. Thanks to this, the thin bezels around the display and the small thickness of the gadget can be held with one hand, however, it will be more difficult to reach all corners of the display with the same hand.
It is noteworthy that the body is monolithic, the assembly is at a high level, so even with strong pressure, no squeaks can be heard. The location of the control keys is familiar and convenient, there are three touch buttons.
Alcatel Idol 2 appeared in storefronts in different colors: white, gray, pink and brown. In any of these options, it looks harmonious.
Screen
The 5-inch IPS-screen is a significant advantage of the phone, when a large diagonal becomes one of the most important selection criteria. The resolution is not very high - 540 * 960 pixels, which naturally affects the picture. But at a normal user distance, this is not noticeable, the image remains clear and of high quality, and, most importantly, saturated and contrasting, does not fade when tilted.
To protect against damage, glass made of carbon fiber is used: the gadget can be safely carried in a pocket or bag without a cover. For a budget device, the set of these characteristics is pleasantly surprising, so there is nothing to complain about.
The brightness control can be given to the device itself - it copes with this task normally. We also note the sensitive display, which quickly reacts to touch. In the bright sun the image fades a little, but you can still see the necessary information.
Performance and autonomy
Considering that the price of Alcatel Idol 2 is more than affordable, it comes as no surprise to use the MediaTek MT6582M chipset, standard for most budget smartphones, with a 4-core processor and 1.3 GHz frequency, and 1 GB of RAM. The phone works smartly, quickly opens almost all applications, when watching a video or using standard programs, there will be no brakes at all. True, when launching resource-intensive games, bouts of thoughtfulness may be present, but this is forgivable.
The main memory in different modifications provides a different amount: 8 or 16 GB. In any case, the missing gigabytes can be realized using microSD cards.
There is only one SIM card in the gadget, but this is not surprising, because the body is monolithic. Wireless services include support for 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi (plus hotspot mode) and even NFC. The navigator is wonderful, it finds satellites in 15 seconds with a hot start.
The Idol 2 received a modest 2,000mAh battery, but it is still capable of full-fledged operation with many services and always-on Wi-Fi for a day or more. Next, look at your scenario of use: if you don't communicate much, and you rarely surf the Internet, then you can count on 2-3 days of work, and active users will receive a discharged gadget by the evening. These are the standard metrics for an Android smartphone. The charging time is minimal - 1.5 hours.
operating system - Android 4.2 with a proprietary shell from Alcatel: the manufacturer has slightly redrawn the icons in the menu and added a few of its chips. Otherwise, this is a typical and familiar to many operating systems, but upon purchase you get a device with a pre-installed package of useful applications.
Camera and sound Alcatel Idol 2
The main camera uses an 8-megapixel autofocus module with flash, which is nice to see in an inexpensive smartphone. There are no complaints about the work: focusing is fast and almost always accurate, the pictures come out decent, the menu is laconic and understandable. Note that if you want to delve into the settings before taking a photo, then Idol 2 is unlikely to suit you, since there are few manual settings, and the "Auto" mode copes at a high level. The HDR and panorama modes familiar to many modern users are supported.
Video is recorded in a resolution of 1920 * 1080 pixels at 30 frames / s: the picture is clear, the sound is without noise. The 2MP front camera takes decent selfies with optimal lighting.
The main speaker is very loud: you will definitely not be able to miss the call, and the voice speaker provides high-quality voice transmission of the interlocutor.
Outcome
Decent stylish compact and functional budget smartphones exist, and One review Touch Alcatel Idol 2 is another proof of this. For a small amount of money, everyone has a real chance to buy a solid phone with a large screen, slim body and excellent performance. Although the device has a lot of competitors, in terms of the ratio of the filling with external parameters, this is the best option in this price category.
Accelerometer (or G-sensor) - sensor of the device's position in space. As a primary function, the accelerometer is used to automatically change the orientation of the display image (vertical or horizontal). Also, the G-sensor is used as a pedometer, it can be controlled by various functions of the device by turning or shaking.
Gyroscope - a sensor that measures the angles of rotation relative to a fixed coordinate system. Able to measure angles of rotation in several planes at the same time. The gyroscope together with the accelerometer allows you to accurately determine the position of the device in space. In devices that use only accelerometers, the measurement accuracy is lower, especially when moving quickly. Also, the capabilities of the gyroscope can be used in modern games for mobile devices.
Light sensor - a sensor, thanks to which the optimal values \u200b\u200bof brightness and contrast are established for a given light level. The presence of the sensor allows to increase the operating time of the device from the battery.
Proximity sensor - a sensor that detects when the device is close to the face during a call, turns off the backlight and locks the screen, preventing accidental presses. The presence of the sensor allows to increase the operating time of the device from the battery.
Geomagnetic sensor - a sensor for determining the side of the world to which the device is directed. Tracks the orientation of the device in space relative to the earth's magnetic poles. The information received from the sensor is used in cartographic programs for orientation on the ground.
Atmospheric pressure sensor - sensor for accurate measurement of atmospheric pressure. It is part of the GPS system that allows you to determine the height above sea level and speed up the location.
Touch ID - fingerprint identification sensor.
Accelerometer / Illumination / Approximation
Satellite navigation:
GPS (Global Positioning System - global positioning system) - a satellite navigation system that measures distance, time, speed and determines the location of objects anywhere on Earth. The system is designed, implemented and operated by the US Department of Defense. The main principle of using the system is to determine the location by measuring the distance to the object from points with known coordinates - satellites. The distance is calculated by the time delay of the signal propagation from its sending by the satellite to being received by the GPS receiver antenna.
GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) - Soviet and Russian satellite navigation system, developed by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The measuring principle is similar to the American GPS navigation system. GLONASS is intended for operational navigation and time support of land, sea, air and space-based users. The main difference from the GPS system is that the GLONASS satellites in their orbital motion do not have resonance (synchronization) with the Earth's rotation, which provides them with greater stability.
Inexpensive 4G model
When mentioning the Chinese company TCL and its Alcatel trademark, this year we first of all recalled the very noticeable top-end model of the TCL Idol X + smartphone, which is based on the latest Mediatek platform with a maximum frequency of eight processor cores. However, the company did not limit itself to the release of one flagship model in the new season: at the beginning of the year, during the MWC 2014 exhibition in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bTCL presented a whole line of new mid-range smartphones, including the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 and OneTouch Idol 2S and their various modifications. In accordance with the tradition that has arisen in the mobile market, the company could not help but release a version of the smartphone with the word “mini” in the title.
Such a device for the company has become a smaller smartphone from the aforementioned line, which has received a rather long and inconvenient name for pronouncing: Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S. This small-sized smartphone is not a top-end device in terms of characteristics - it also belongs to the average price level. as well as its "full-size" brothers in the line mentioned above. The domestic operator Beeline, for example, a few days ago presented the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S to the market as an exclusive offer: the smartphone itself is offered in the operator's salons at a “tasty” price of 7990 rubles, and in addition to it, three months of free mobile Internet are given. However, the buyer will have to sacrifice something: the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S bought in Beeline stores is locked to work only with SIM cards of this operator and will not fully function with any other cards. In addition, the phone is crammed to the brim with additional proprietary applications of Beeline, as is usually the case, but this issue, just, is completely solved by standard methods. But in order to make such a device work with SIM-cards of other operators, you will have to look for unconventional means - if someone is interested in such an option at all. Be that as it may, it is the modification of the smartphone offered by Beeline (6036Y) that is the maximum and best configuration of this model - it even has support for LTE networks, which at such a low price makes the Idol 2 mini S one of the most inexpensive devices with 4G on our market. In any case, the described smartphone seemed to us a device interesting enough and worthy to make a full review on it.
Key features of Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S (model 6036Y)
| Alcatel Idol 2 mini S | Huawei Ascend G6 | Asus Padfone E | LG G2 mini | |
| Screen | 4.5 ″, IPS | 4.5 ″, IPS | 4.7 ″, IPS | 4.7 ″, IPS |
| Resolution | 960 × 540, 245 ppi | 960 × 540, 245 ppi | 1280 × 720, 312 ppi | 960 × 540, 234 ppi |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (4x ARM Cortex-A7) @ 1.2GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (4x ARM Cortex-A7) @ 1.4GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (4x ARM Cortex-A7) @ 1.2GHz | |
| GPU | Adreno 305 | Adreno 305 | Adreno 305 | Adreno 305 |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Flash memory | 8 GB | 4 GB | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD | microSD | microSD | microSD |
| operating system | Google Android 4.3 | Google Android 4.3 | Google Android 4.3 | Google Android 4.4 |
| Battery | non-removable, 2000 mAh | non-removable, 2000 mAh | non-removable, 1820 mAh | removable, 2440 mAh |
| Cameras | rear (8 Mp; video - 1080p), front (2 Mp) | rear (8 Mp; video - 720p), front (5 Mp) | rear (13 Mp; video - 1080p), front (1.2 Mp) | rear (8 Mp; video - 1080p), front (1.3 Mp) |
| Overall dimensions | 130 x 64 x 8.5 mm, 116 g | 130 x 65 x 7.5 mm, 115 g | 140 x 70 x 9.1 mm, 126 g | 130 x 66 x 9.9 mm, 121 g |
| average price | T-10724720 | T-10724716 | T-10686990 | T-10833941 |
| Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S offers | L-10724720-10 | |||
- SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8226), 1.2 GHz, 4 ARM Cortex-A7 cores
- GPU Adreno 305
- Operating system Android 4.3
- Touchscreen IPS, 4.5 ″, 960 × 540, 245 ppi
- Random access memory (RAM) 1 GB, internal memory 8 GB
- Support for microSD memory cards up to 32 GB
- Communication GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
- Communication 3G 850, 900, 2100 MHz
- Max 4G LTE data rate up to 150Mbps
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, Wi-Fi hotspot
- GPS / A-GPS, Glonass
- Camera 8 MP, autofocus, LED flash
- Camera 2 MP (front)
- Battery 2000 mAh
- Dimensions 129.5 x 63.5 x 8.5mm
- Weight 116 g
Contents of delivery
In our case, we received a test copy of the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S without packaging and, accordingly, a set of accessories, so we can only judge the richness of the smartphone's bundle by the description on the company's website. It states that in the box with the smartphone you can find a universal compact charger, Micro-USB connection cable, in-ear headset and user manual.
Of the additional accessories purchased separately, we can note a case-book with a kind of built-in event indicator, made in the form of perforated illuminated icons - it looks nice and probably not too energy-consuming. Without opening the cover, the user can receive information about incoming SMS messages, mail, incoming calls, etc.
Appearance and usability
In design and shape, the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S smartphone resembles previous Idol series products, most of all it resembles the first flagship Idol X, which users liked so much at one time. To a lesser extent, it is similar to the updated Idol X +, although common design features can be traced here.
The smartphone received a rather medium-sized, graceful and thin body that fits perfectly into the average hand. The device has rather slippery glossy side edges, however, due to the matte non-slip back surface, as well as small dimensions and weight, the smartphone is comfortably held in the palm of your hand. The device is slightly larger than Apple iPhone - more similar to another compact modern model, Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.
The entire body of the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S is entirely made of plastic, there is no metal here. The case has a monoblock structure, the back cover has a slight bend and a matte non-marking surface, which favorably affects both the ergonomics and the neat overall appearance of the device. The side faces are made to look like chrome-plated metal, but this is not real metal, but just a sputtering on the same plastic. The edges of the case have practically no bevels, they are wide enough and slippery to the touch.
The corresponding way of installing the SIM-card follows from this structure of the case: the card is inserted in the same way as in the previous models of the Idol series into the side slot, which is covered from above with an unusual cover. This cover does not need to be removed with a special needle-clip, it opens in the manner of a hinged door. To open it, you must press one end of the lid, push it inward. In principle, this method of opening was quite convenient for the full-size representatives of the Idol series, however, in the smaller model, all these elements also turned out to be reduced in size, which made it not very convenient to manipulate these miniature lids. In this case, you have to use something sharp to press in one end of the lid. You have to act in the same way with the card itself - the usual length of the nail is not enough to sink the SIM-card to the depth necessary for capture.
The adjacent slot for installing a memory card has the same structure - microSD cards up to 32 GB are supported. Both caps have short leashes, they can be pulled out quite a bit so that they do not interfere with the installation of cards. In general, the whole process is quite uncomfortable, the method of installing cards in the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S is far from the most convenient.
On the back of the smartphone, all the elements are familiar and are arranged in the traditional order: on top - the camera and LED flash eyes, on the bottom - a row of holes for sound out of the ringing speaker.
The speaker grill is covered by the surface of the table, which partially muffles the sound of a lying smartphone. The one-section LED flash comes with pre-installed software to control it as a flashlight.
On the front surface, almost the entire front panel is covered with a flat protective glass without sides, a hole for a large shiny chrome grille of the earpiece is cut out in it, the eyes of the front camera and sensors are visible nearby.
Below the screen, there is space for hardware buttons to control the system and applications. These buttons are touch-sensitive, have a whitish backlight of medium brightness, for which there was no item in the menu to adjust.
There are only two mechanical hardware keys on the sides of the device, and both of them are located on one - the right side, one next to the other. The volume and lock keys have a fairly short stroke, are small in size and stick out quite a bit outside the body. In general, the implementation of controls is not the best, but you can get used to it.
The Micro-USB connector is located here at the bottom end - next to the microphone hole. The headphone output is implemented on the upper end; the opening of the second auxiliary microphone is visible nearby.
The connectors of the smartphone are not covered with any plugs and covers, because the device is not protected from water and dust. Not found on the case and the hook for attaching the strap.
The product traditionally goes on sale in several color options at once: there are options for light gray and dark gray shades, as well as options for pink and chocolate. In different versions, the front panel under the glass of the smartphone also turns out to be of different colors: for example, in the chocolate version it is black, while in the others it is white.
Screen
The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S smartphone is equipped with an IPS sensor matrix. The physical dimensions of the display are 56 × 99 mm, the diagonal is 4.5 inches. The screen resolution in dots is 960 × 540, the density of dots per inch reaches 245 ppi.
The brightness of the display has both manual and automatic adjustment, the latter based on the operation of the light sensor. The smartphone also has a proximity sensor that locks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. Multi-touch technology allows you to handle 5 simultaneous touches.
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Alexey Kudryavtsev, editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, conducted a detailed examination using measuring devices. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the test sample.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are not worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the turned off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Alcatel Idol 2 Mini S, then they can be distinguished by their size):
The screen of the Alcatel Idol 2 Mini S is even slightly darker (brightness in the photos is 84 versus 92 for the Nexus 7). The doubling of reflected objects in the Alcatel Idol 2 Mini S screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (such as glass-air) with greatly different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong ambient light, but their repair in the case of cracked outer glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, similar to that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are much easier to remove, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.
With manual brightness control and displaying the white field in full screen, the maximum brightness value was about 500 cd / m², the minimum - 42 cd / m². The maximum brightness is very high and, given the excellent anti-glare properties, readability even on a sunny day outdoors will be high. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable value. In the presence of automatic brightness control by the light sensor (located in the left upper corner on the front panel). In automatic mode, when the ambient light conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. In complete darkness in automatic mode, the brightness is reduced to 42 cd / m2 (acceptable), in an office lit with artificial light (approximately 400 lux), the brightness is set to approximately 500 cd / m2 (this is maximum and excessively bright), in a brightly lit environment (corresponds outdoor lighting on a clear day, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or slightly more) - rises to the same 500 cd / m². As a result, the auto-brightness function does not work adequately for external conditions, and the whole point is in the software implementation, since the light sensor itself shows quite plausible results. At any brightness level, there is practically no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering either.
AT this smartphone uses an IPS matrix. The micrographs show the typical IPS sub-pixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of photomicrographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without a significant color shift, even with large gaze deviations from the perpendicular to the screen and without inverting (except for the darkest when looking to the right) shades. For comparison, we present photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of Alcatel Idol 2 Mini S and Nexus 7, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to about 200 cd / m2 (along the white field in the entire screen), and the color balance on the camera was forcibly switched to 6500 K. Perpendicular to the screens white field:
Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And the test picture:
Color reproduction is good and colors are saturated on both screens. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the image quality at this angle for the Alcatel Idol 2 Mini S screen has noticeably deteriorated. And a white box:
The brightness at an angle of the screens decreased (at least 6 times, based on the difference in exposure), but the Alcatel Idol 2 Mini S screen is noticeably darker. The black field, when deviated along the diagonal, is lightened to a medium degree and acquires a purple tint. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is about the same!):
And from a different angle:
When viewed from a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the black field is average, since there are areas with increased black brightness along the edge of the screen:
The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is not the highest - about 680: 1. The response time for the transition black-white-black is 24 ms (13 ms on + 11 ms off). The transition between gray tones of 25% and 75% (by the numerical value of the color) and back takes 38.5 ms in total. The gamma curve, plotted using 32 points at equal intervals in terms of the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 1.86, which is below the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve strongly deviates from the power dependence:
Such a deviation is usually a sign of the presence of a dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image (since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of gray shades on almost the entire screen), but we did not receive additional evidence of its existence. But just in case, we carried out a number of tests - determining the contrast and response time, comparing the black illumination at angles - when displaying special templates with invariably average brightness, and not single-color fields across the entire screen.
The color gamut is close to sRGB:
The spectra show that the matrix light filters mix the components together to a moderate extent:
As a result, the colors visually have natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale does not cause much enthusiasm, since the color temperature is noticeably higher than the standard 6500 K, the deviation from the spectrum of an absolutely black body (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device, however, ΔE changes significantly from shade to shade - this negatively affects the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance is not very important there, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
To summarize: the screen has a high maximum brightness and has good anti-reflective properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. The mode with automatic brightness adjustment is practically useless, since already in a lit room it increases the brightness to the maximum, which, of course, leads to unnecessary energy consumption. TO significant merits the screen should include an effective oleophobic coating, no air gap in the layers of the screen and no flicker, as well as sRGB color gamut. The rest of the characteristics are not outstanding, but not a failure either. In general, given the importance of characteristics for this particular class of devices, the screen quality can be considered high.
Sound
In terms of sound, the smartphone does not represent anything special. Both speakers emit a fairly clear sound, but without a noticeable presence of low frequencies, and also not loud enough. However, this does not really affect the perception of sound during a conversation - the voice of a familiar interlocutor, timbre and intonation remain recognizable. From the settings - the standard features of the equalizer with preset values \u200b\u200band some additional effects.
The device is able to use the built-in tools to record a conversation from the line, while both talking parties are recorded, and the recorded files are automatically added to the appropriate folder. Equipped with a smartphone and built-in FM radio, which traditionally works only with headphones connected as an external antenna.
The main rear camera here has an 8-megapixel module and shoots with a maximum resolution of 3264 × 1836. The quality of the images is average, most often the photos come out overexposed and slightly blurry. The settings are clearly arranged and conveniently arranged, but the possibilities laid down here are quite modest.
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The video camera can shoot at a maximum resolution of 1080p (30 fps), examples of test clips are presented below.
- Movie # 1 (35 MB, 1920 × 1080, in daylight)
- Movie # 2 (33 MB, 1920 × 1080, indoors)
- Movie # 3 (18 MB, 1920 × 1080, at night)
Examples of photos with our comments are presented below.
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The sharpness in the distant shots is not bad. |
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The camera cannot fully resolve the foliage, but overall it works well. |
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Sharpness across the frame is fairly uniform. |
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In the background, foliage practically does not merge. |
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The noise in the shadows is not that strong, and, apparently, is well processed. |
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The camera behaves relatively well indoors. |
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Even when shooting at night, the camera shows not such a bad result. |
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The camera copes well with macro photography. |
Before us is exactly what can be safely called a balanced camera. Let's start with the fact that the camera has no significant drawbacks. With its 8 megapixels, it copes, perhaps not perfectly, but very well. The camera got a good sensor, good optics and moderate software processing. It is all these three parameters in symbiosis that give the camera that very balance. The sensor does a good job in the shadows, so the noise reduction does not need to be processed. The optics work well for the image in the field of the frame and in the plans, so there is practically no sharpening in the pictures. Oddly enough, the camera's merits are not limited to this: it works very well in low light. The camera resorts to values \u200b\u200bof light sensitivity above ISO 100 only when urgently needed, but even a night shot (ISO 232, 1/17 second) demonstrates relatively good performance.
As already mentioned, the camera is good and balanced and will be fine for most subjects.
Telephone part and communications
The smartphone works as standard in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and there is also support for fourth generation networks (4G) used in Russia. With the SIM-card of the domestic operator Megafon, the smartphone in practice confidently finds and works with the LTE network. The data transfer rate, respectively, in theory, can reach up to 150 Mbps of incoming traffic. Support is available from additional network capabilities. Connection mode external devices to the USB port (USB Host, OTG), unfortunately, is not supported here, so flash drives connected via the OTG adapter will not be recognized. The navigation module supports both GPS and domestic Glonass and works very clearly and quickly, there are no problems with this.
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Spontaneous reboots / shutdowns during testing were not observed, as well as slowdowns or freezes of the system. The LED warning sensor here modestly shines with a small whitish dot in the upper left corner of the front panel, unobtrusively signaling various incoming events. The light sensor adjusts the brightness level in automatic mode, but it does not quite correctly.
Drawing letters and numbers virtual keyboards small enough and not too comfortable to operate. The layout and arrangement of the keys are standard: here you can switch languages \u200b\u200bby pressing a special button with a globe, there is no separate row with numbers - you need to switch the layout every time. The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, when dialing a phone number, a search is immediately carried out in contacts.
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OS and software
Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S is currently running on the Google Android software platform, not the most recent version 4.3. The proprietary shell, stretched over the standard Android interface, has a rather heavily redesigned and expanded functionality here: sections have been added to the settings menu, there are rudiments of gesture support, there was even such an opportunity as unlocking the screen by tapping. In general, everything is very familiar from the previous models of the Idol series. The application menu is present in this user interface; most of the already preinstalled applications are carefully arranged in thematic folders by the developers themselves. Creation of folders / groups is supported on desktops.
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As already mentioned above, a modification of the smartphone, branded specifically for the Beeline operator, with all the ensuing consequences, visited our test laboratory. The interface of the smartphone has not only special themes with the familiar black and yellow coloring, but also crammed with a mass of all kinds of proprietary applications that, in general, are not of particular interest. However, it is not difficult to return appearance the interface is the original, more relaxed look. In our case, to test all the capabilities of the device, it was also unlocked, and after that it worked perfectly with SIM-cards of other operators, and even registered in LTE networks.
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Performance
The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S hardware platform is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC (MSM8226). The central processor here has 4 ARM Cortex-A7 cores operating at a frequency of 1.2 GHz, although the maximum possible frequency is provided here up to 1.6 GHz (SoC production technology is 28 nm). Random access memory the device has 1 GB, and the storage available to the user to upload their own files is about 5 GB out of the nominally designated 8 GB - the rest went to the system itself and applications. The memory can be expanded with microSD cards up to 32 GB. Unfortunately, you won't be able to connect a flash drive via an OTG adapter - the device does not support this mode.
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To get an idea of \u200b\u200bthe performance of the tested smartphone platform, let's run a standard set of tests. We have already tested devices based on SoC MSM8226: a recent and most recent example is the LG G2 mini, which is based on exactly the same platform. For comparison, let's take the results of the same platform, but with a slightly faster core frequency (1.4 GHz, model Asus Padfone E), and also add the results of another similar platform from Qualcomm - Snapdragon 200, in which the cores and their number are exactly the same, but the SoC itself is made using 45 nm technology. This relatively fresh budget platform is called the Snapdragon 200 (MSM8212), and we tested it on the example of the Huawei Ascend G6 smartphone, which is now heavily advertised on TV, and a review of which is also already being prepared for release.
All the results obtained by us when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks, we summarized for convenience in tables. Several other devices from different segments are usually added to the table, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry numbers). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, therefore, many worthy and relevant models remain behind the scenes - due to the fact that they once passed their "obstacle courses" on previous versions of test programs.
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According to the test results, it can be seen that the SoC Snapdragon 400 MSM8226, made according to the 28 nm process technology, turned out to be slightly faster in all respects than the SoC Snapdragon 200 MSM8212, which manipulates the same cores, but made according to the 45 nm process technology (Huawei G6 platform). The results of LG G2 mini turned out to be identical, which is logical, because their platforms are the same, and the slightly faster cores of the Asus Padfone E showed a slight superiority, which is also quite logical and meets our expectations.
In general, according to the results of all tests, the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S smartphone can be safely attributed to the category of devices with an average, or even slightly above average performance. At the moment, the hardware performance of this smartphone should be enough to perform most of the tasks that any games or other applications from the Google Play Store can deliver.
Test results in MobileXPRT, as well as the latest versions of AnTuTu 4.x and GeekBench 3:
When testing the graphics subsystem in the 3DMark cross-platform test for the highest performing smartphones, it is now possible to run 3DMark in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (due to which the speed can rise above 60 fps).
The results of testing the graphics subsystem in the gaming test Epic Citadel, as well as Basemark X and Bonsai Benchmark:
| Alcatel Idol 2 mini S |
Huawei g6 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 200, 4 ARM cores [email protected], 2 GHz) |
Asus Padfone E (Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 4 ARM cores [email protected], 4 GHz) |
LG G2 mini (Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 4 ARM cores [email protected], 2 GHz) |
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| Epic Citadel, High Quality | 57.7 fps | 54.4 fps | 56.8 fps | 57.1 fps |
| Epic Citadel, Ultra High Quality | 47.3 fps | 34.8 fps | 33.0 fps | 48.7 fps |
| Bonsai benchmark | 30 fps / 2139 | 16 fps / 1115 | 25 fps / 1779 | 31 fps / 2197 |
| Basemark X, Medium Quality | 4561 | 3488 | 4579 | 4323 |
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Video playback
To test the "omnivorous" video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that it is important for mobile devices to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is often impossible to process modern versions using processor cores alone. Also do not wait from mobile device decoding everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.
According to the test results, the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S was not equipped with all the necessary decoders, in this case sound ones, which are necessary for full playback of most of the most common files on the network. To play them successfully, you will have to resort to using a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, in it you will first have to change the settings, switching from hardware decoding to software or to a new mode called Hardware +(not supported by all smartphones), only then the sound will appear. All results are summarized in a single table.
| Format | Container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Native video player |
| DVDRip | AVI, XviD 720 × 400 2200 Kbps, MP3 + AC3 | reproduced normally | reproduced normally |
| Web-DL SD | AVI, XviD 720 × 400 1400 kbps, MP3 + AC3 | reproduced normally | reproduced normally |
| Web-DL HD | MKV, H.264 1280 × 720 3000Kbps, AC3 | Hardware + | |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264 1280 × 720 4000 Kbps, AC3 | plays fine with decoder Hardware + | video plays fine, no sound¹ |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264 1920 × 1080 8000Kbps, AC3 | plays fine with decoder Hardware + | video plays fine, no sound¹ |
¹ the sound in MX Video Player was only played after switching to software decoding or to a new mode Hardware +; the standard player does not have such a setting
We did not find the MHL interface, like Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. For this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Testing methods for video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"). Screenshots with an exposure of 1 s helped to determine the nature of the frame output of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p) and 1920 by 1080 (1080p) pixels) and the frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps) from). In our tests we used the MX Player video player in the "Hardware +" mode. The test results are summarized in the table:
Note: If both columns Uniformity and Skips green ratings are set, this means that, most likely, when watching movies, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and skipping of frames will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problemsrelated to playback of the respective files.
In general, according to the criterion for outputting frames, the quality of video files playback on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can be displayed with more or less uniform intervals and, with rare exceptions, without frame drops. When playing 720p and 1080p video files with an aspect ratio of 16: 9, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly at the edge of the screen. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - all shades are displayed in shadows and highlights.
Battery life
The capacity of the lithium-ion battery installed in the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S is small for a modern smartphone 2000 mAh. However, according to the test results, the subject did not hit his face in the dirt, demonstrating a very decent battery life in various standard use cases. The device even bypassed most direct competitors in this matter, except for the mini-models Samsung and LG - Korean modern smartphones have recently demonstrated the best optimization in terms of energy consumption.
Continuous reading in FBReader (with a standard, light theme) at the minimum comfortable brightness level (the brightness was set to 100 cd / m²) lasted almost 16 hours until the battery was completely discharged. When you continuously watch high quality (HQ) YouTube videos at the same brightness level through home network Wi-Fi lasted about 9 hours, and in 3D games - about 4 hours. The smartphone charges quickly enough: it takes less than 2 hours to fully charge.
Outcome
As for the cost of the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S - or rather, the best configuration of this device (6036Y), with LTE and NFC support, which we tested, it is offered on the domestic market only in the form of a branded device of the domestic operator Beeline. Such a smartphone costs 7,990 rubles, which is a couple of thousand more expensive than the previous mini-model of the Alcatel Idol series, which was recently advertised on television by actor Konstantin Khabensky. And nevertheless, even this price seems to be quite acceptable for such a nice, compact, but powerful enough and technically advanced solid mid-range device. For small money by the standards of the domestic market, the user receives a very high-quality product with solid materials of manufacture, indisputable assembly, productive hardware filling, a well-thought-out screen for its level, which allows the device itself to remain within a comfortable hand framework. Finally, we can state that not only among the "shovels" have begun to appear very solid mobile devices that meet most modern technical requirements, such as the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact or even more affordable hero of today's review - the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S smartphone.
2 years ago 0
Thin, good screen, good sound from the external speaker, passable camera and battery.
2 years ago 0
1. Handsome, thin! I understand that the taste and color of markers are different. But to me it looks very pretty! I have it in chocolate color. 2. Nimble. 3. The battery is decent. Over active use - a lot of long calls, the Internet, social network - keeps the day. If you do not "torment" him - it will keep longer)) 4. Price. I bought it for 5990 rubles. 5. Camera! Very good photos are obtained. And I am also pleased that there is stabilization.
2 years ago 0
I liked these qualities: Size, proportions of the phone, main camera (takes fantastic pictures)
2 years ago 0
Awesome design: stylish case, great color Great screen Great sound Everything flies (I'm not a gamer) After flashing, with very active use of the Internet and the phone, I kept the battery for 1.5-2 days.
2 years ago 0
thin, good screen, the battery holds the whole day, very good photos when shooting at close range, you can "wake up" by double-clicking on the screen (I have not seen this before, a very useful option)
2 years ago 0
Processor - 1.3x4 GHz. RAM is honest 1GB. 5 "screen, very bright and clear.
2 years ago 0
Very subtle, minimalism and austerity, 4.4.2 suddenly came, heavy games fly.
2 years ago 0
Handsome, thin, I ordered myself a white one. Photo quality is good, at least compared to phones from the same price range. I took half a year ago for 6, or 7 thousand, I don't remember already.
2 years ago 0
Stable operation, no glitches and freezes Stylish, compact, thin (I don't want to let go of my hands) Excellent screen (colors, brightness, clarity, oleophobic coating) Productive (20,000 in anttu) Good GPS camera, Wi-Fi works perfectly The branded shell is pleasant, not heavy (free opera after reboot 700-800 mb) The battery is not bad
2 years ago 0
Thin. Not expensive. Overall performance is good, I could play decent games, but not all. The sound in the headphones is decent.
2 years ago 0
the sound in the headphones is weak
2 years ago 0
I don't like android 4.4)) Although, you can get used to everything!))) Well, or reflash))
2 years ago 0
Touchscreen, sometimes it recognizes 1 touch as 3 or more, non-main camera, it gives out 10 fps! That is, it lags. The fragility of the phone, I dropped it and it is already all cracked. It gets very hot around the camera.
2 years ago 0
At first I was very pleased with this phone, but every month it strained me more and more, mistakes and jambs grew like a snowball. After NG, I wanted to carry this phone to the service under warranty until it came out at all, but no luck. On new Year the first and last time I dropped it on a snow-covered stone and after that the touch stopped working.
Here are the points I wrote out for the service before I wanted to include it there:
It slows down more and more every month, began to slow down where it had not previously slowed down.
After watching 5-6 videos on YouTube, it just freezes, you have to restart, and with an emergency press, the restart button does not work.
Began to strongly and severely slow down the process of answering the calls, sometimes the call is simply dropped and does not fit into the list of callers. Flashes the number
2 years ago 0
plastic case (although the phone fell several times and did not break)
sometimes freezes for a minute, turns on for a long time, sometimes I don't hear the call, maybe there is a mute function when you take the phone out of your pocket
2 years ago 0
Glitch on the touchscreen (apparently, all representatives of this model).
Very fragile.
A few months later, he bent over in his pocket, apparently, some contact had gone away, and he died safely.
2 years ago 0
The battery (everything is as usual), a problematic touch, the buttons are wiped off, it gets very hot with active use. Taking into account all the bugs and not a large number of pixels per inch, those who switched from a phone with 300 or more will understand that the price is certainly too high.
2 years ago 0
Sometimes he behaves inappropriately. Scrolls late, or the screen goes blank. But I think it's still because of the frequent falls.
No camera button on the body, a little inconvenient
2 years ago 0
Didn't find
2 years ago 0
Breaks often! The battery runs out quickly. Pictures are not best quality... Heats up.