Alcatel Idol 4
Android VR goes into another gear.
Straight out of the Idol 4’s box, you’re faced with another one, which contains both the VR headset and Idol 4 that powers it. We don’t often talk about packaging, but Alcatel’s method shows that the manufacturer has placed its emphasis on the VR part of the parcel — you’ll have to take the VR headset apart to get to the phone.
It’s simple enough to do, though, and the VR headset feels like one of the better Android VR headsets we’ve tested. Since the goggles are custom-made for the Idol 4, there is no eyepiece tracking dial, and the capacitive touch buttons located on the bottom are stylishly integrated. From afar, it shares a lot of its design with Samsung’s Gear VR (minus that unit’s control pad mounted on the side), and the included strap that goes around and over your head makes the goggles easy to wear.
They’re also comfortable with soft but simple foam padding, and they didn’t leak in any light during our test — important to be fully immersed in whatever you’re playing or watching. Your first few times using it will be interrupted, however, by each app asking for permission to access storage for media, but once you’re in, the screen is clear and engaging. Samsung’s Gear VR is still the go-to mobile VR experience, but for a more affordable all-in-one, the Idol 4 and VR headset bundle is impressive.
As for the 5.2-inch phone itself, it’s lurking around the likes of the Motorolas and Oppos — a mid-priced, midspec phone with features and gimmicks that should entice people wanting some fun with their handset.
Turn the phone on and you’ll be immediately prompted to update the firmware to 6.0.1, a good sign that the unit will receive more updates in the future. Looking at the specs again, and you’ll see that it shares a lot with the Motorola Moto G4 Plus, which we rated highly in our sister mag TechLife (see issue 54, page 46), but our raft of benchmarking software shows it falling short in a few areas. Geekbench scored this at 685/1,969, putting the Idol 4 in Oppo R7 territory in terms of raw power.
Its battery life could likewise perhaps be a bit better: 6 hours 24 minutes in the tough PCMark 8 for Android test isn’t terrible, but most phones manage at least 7 hours.
Of course, benchmarks aren’t a perfect measure of real-world use, and in the hand, the Idol 4 is pleasing once you’re used to its quirky layout. You’d never lust after the Idol 4 with its odd buttons and speakers that jut out away from the edge of the screen, and it’ll trip up anyone who holds it in their right hand. Where your thumb naturally rests is Alcatel’s ‘Boom’ button, which activates different functions according to the context. Screen off, it’ll wake the unit. At the home screen, it’ll animate your background to give you an indication of the weather. Play music and it’ll ramp up the bass and treble. The button can be customised to do one thing, which you’ll likely do to save your sanity.
Considering the price and design, the Idol 4 is a real contender. The only other manufacturer to bundle a phone with a VR unit (or at the least design goggles to use with a phone) is Samsung, and the S7 is leagues ahead — and at about three times the price.
All in all, the Alcatel Idol 4 is a fine mid-range phone.