Alcatel Idol 5s Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Alcatel Idol 5s is a feature-packed smartphone that combines impressive performance with sleek design. With its vibrant 5.2-inch Full HD display, you'll experience stunning visuals and vibrant colors. The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, ensuring smooth multitasking and efficient performance. Capture every moment with the 12-megapixel rear camera, which delivers clear and detailed photos. The front-facing camera is equipped with a wide-angle lens, perfect for capturing group selfies. The device also features a fingerprint sensor for added security and convenience. Available in an attractive metal design, the Alcatel Idol 5s offers exceptional value for its price.

Design and Build Quality

The Alcatel Idol 5S impresses with its sleek design and premium look and feel. The phone features a combination of glass and metal, giving it an elegant and sophisticated aesthetic. The glass front and back panels add a touch of sophistication, while the aluminum frame enhances the overall sturdiness and durability of the device.

The Idol 5S has a form factor that feels comfortable in the hand, thanks to its well-crafted ergonomics. Its weight is well-balanced, making it easy to hold for extended periods without causing strain. The dimensions of the phone are compact, allowing for easy one-handed usability.

The texture of the device is smooth, although it can be a bit slippery at times. However, the finishing touches on the phone are excellent, with no noticeable gaps or inconsistencies in the construction. The buttons and controls are well-placed and offer a satisfying tactile response.

The bezels surrounding the display are relatively slim, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and providing an immersive viewing experience. The back panel of the Idol 5S houses the fingerprint sensor, which is conveniently located for quick and easy access.

Overall, the Alcatel Idol 5S showcases a robust build quality and attention to detail in its design elements. It combines a sleek design with premium materials to create a device that exudes sophistication and durability.

Display

The Alcatel Idol 5S features a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, offering a sharp and vibrant viewing experience. The LCD technology used in the display provides accurate colors and good color vibrancy. The brightness levels are adequate for indoor use, but outdoor visibility may be slightly compromised under direct sunlight.

The touch responsiveness of the display is smooth and precise, allowing for fluid navigation and effortless scrolling. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, ensuring durability and resistance against scratches.

With a pixel density of around 424 pixels per inch, the Idol 5S delivers crisp and detailed visuals. The refresh rate is standard, providing smooth transitions and animations. However, the phone does not support HDR or wide color gamut, which may affect the depth and richness of certain media content.

The viewing angles on the Idol 5S are wide, allowing for comfortable viewing from different positions. The display does not have an anti-reflective coating, which means there may be some glare in brightly lit environments.

The phone does not feature a notch design and has noticeable bezels, resulting in a screen-to-body ratio that is not as high as some other modern smartphones. It does not have an always-on display or a blue light filter, but it does offer adaptive brightness for optimal visibility in different lighting conditions.

In terms of screen calibration, the Idol 5S offers a balanced and natural color representation, although it does not provide extensive customization options. Overall, the display of the Alcatel Idol 5S delivers a satisfactory visual experience with its sharpness, color accuracy, and responsive touch functionality.

Performance

The Alcatel Idol 5S offers a solid performance with its chipset and GPU, making it capable of handling various tasks and providing a smooth user experience. The phone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, which is a mid-range chipset known for its efficiency and performance. It performs well in CPU benchmarks, demonstrating its processing power and multitasking capabilities.

When it comes to gaming, the Alcatel Idol 5S delivers a decent gaming experience. The Adreno 506 GPU handles graphics-intensive games with reasonable efficiency and provides satisfactory gaming capabilities. Although it may not match the performance of higher-end smartphones, the Idol 5S still manages to provide enjoyable gaming sessions with smooth frame rates and responsive controls.

In terms of graphics scores, the Idol 5S may not achieve top-tier results but still performs admirably for its price range. The GPU efficiency allows for decent graphics rendering and ensures that most games run without significant lag or frame drops. While it may not be the best choice for hardcore gamers seeking top-tier performance, casual gamers will find the Idol 5S more than capable of meeting their gaming needs.

The Idol 5S also excels in other performance aspects, such as app loading speeds and smooth overall user experience. Thanks to its optimized system and efficient thermal management, the phone provides lag-free performance even during extended usage. The processor efficiency ensures that the phone doesn't drain its battery excessively, allowing for prolonged usage without compromising performance.

While specific benchmark scores were not provided, synthetic benchmarks and gaming benchmarks indicate that the Idol 5S performs well for its price range. These performance metrics demonstrate that the phone is capable of handling everyday tasks with ease and providing a satisfactory gaming experience.

Overall, the Alcatel Idol 5S offers reliable performance with its Snapdragon 625 chipset and Adreno 506 GPU. While it may not match the performance of higher-end smartphones, it provides a smooth user experience, capable gaming capabilities, and efficient multitasking. Whether you're browsing the web, playing games, or running multiple apps simultaneously, the Idol 5S delivers a solid performance that meets the needs of most users.

Software and User Interface

The Alcatel Idol 5S runs on the Android Nougat 7.1 operating system, providing users with a familiar and user-friendly interface. This version of Android offers a range of features and improvements, including the ability to use Google Assistant for quick queries and tasks. The Idol 5S also comes with a range of pre-installed apps, including popular ones like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps. However, it is worth noting that the phone does come with some bloatware, including Amazon apps and advertising. While these apps can be a downside for some users, they can be easily disabled or uninstalled if desired. Overall, the software experience on the Alcatel Idol 5S is smooth and responsive, with the phone handling everyday tasks like messaging and social media with ease. The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it a user-friendly choice for those who may be new to smartphones.

Camera

The Alcatel Idol 5S boasts a 12-megapixel rear camera that captures images with decent detail. The camera's aperture and focal length are not specified, but it is equipped with an average-sized sensor, which contributes to its overall image quality. In daylight photography, the camera performs well, producing images with natural colors and good sharpness. It also offers a satisfactory dynamic range, capturing a decent amount of detail in both highlights and shadows.

Indoor photography with the Idol 5S can be a bit challenging in low-light conditions, as the camera's low-light performance is not exceptional. However, it does come with a night mode and noise reduction features to help improve image quality in dimly lit environments. The camera's low-light sensitivity is decent, but there may be some visible noise in the resulting images.

The Idol 5S offers a range of camera features, including portrait mode, HDR, panorama mode, and pro mode. These features allow users to experiment with different shooting styles and enhance their photography skills. Additionally, the camera supports video recording, including 4K video, and offers video stabilization for smoother footage. Slow-motion video and time-lapse modes are also available, adding creative options for capturing unique moments. The camera supports various video formats, ensuring compatibility with different devices and platforms.

Overall, the camera of the Alcatel Idol 5S delivers satisfactory image quality in daylight scenarios, while its low-light performance may be a bit lacking. However, the range of camera features and video capabilities make it a versatile option for capturing both photos and videos.

Battery Life

The battery of the Alcatel Idol 5s is a point of concern. It has a 2620mAh battery, which is smaller compared to its predecessor, the Idol 4s. This smaller capacity translates to shorter battery life compared to other phones in its price range. Users may experience the need to recharge the phone frequently, especially with heavy usage or extended periods of screen-on time. The phone does not have any specific power optimization features or battery-saving modes mentioned in the review. The charging speed and efficiency of the Idol 5s are also not mentioned, so it is unclear how quickly the battery charges or if it supports fast charging technology. Overall, the battery performance of the Idol 5s may not be as impressive as some other phones in its category.

Connectivity and Networking

The Alcatel Idol 5s offers a range of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you go. It supports 4G LTE network compatibility, allowing for fast data speeds and reliable connectivity. With dual SIM capabilities, you can easily switch between two different phone numbers or data plans.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Idol 5s features Wi-Fi standards that support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, ensuring a stable and speedy internet connection. It also has Bluetooth version for seamless pairing with other compatible devices, such as headphones or speakers, for wireless audio streaming.

For convenient data transfer and charging, the Idol 5s comes with a USB-C port, which offers faster data transfer speeds compared to traditional USB ports. Additionally, the phone supports NFC technology, enabling quick and secure contactless payments with compatible payment systems.

When it comes to navigation, the Idol 5s features GPS capabilities, allowing for accurate location tracking and navigation. Whether you're using maps or other location-based apps, you can rely on the Idol 5s to provide accurate positioning information.

Lastly, if you need to share your internet connection with other devices, the Idol 5s has a mobile hotspot feature, allowing you to create a Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices to connect to and access the internet.

Overall, the Alcatel Idol 5s offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options, ensuring that you can stay connected and enjoy fast data speeds, reliable wireless connections, and convenient data transfer capabilities.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Alcatel Idol 5s with related gadgets in the market, it is important to consider its features, performance, pricing, and competition. One notable competitor in the same price range is the Moto G5 Plus.

In terms of design, both phones offer a sleek and premium look. The Idol 5s stands out with its glass and aluminum construction, resembling the iPhone 4S, while the Moto G5 Plus features a metal body.

Display-wise, the Idol 5s has a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display, which offers a sharp and vibrant viewing experience. On the other hand, the Moto G5 Plus boasts a slightly larger 5.5-inch display with the same resolution.

When it comes to performance, the Idol 5s is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and 3GB of RAM, providing smooth multitasking and everyday usage. The Moto G5 Plus, however, is powered by a more powerful Snapdragon 625 processor and 4GB of RAM, making it better suited for heavy gaming and demanding tasks.

In terms of camera quality, both phones offer decent performance for their price range. The Idol 5s features a 12-megapixel rear camera, while the Moto G5 Plus boasts a 12-megapixel camera with Dual Pixel autofocus, which results in faster and more accurate focusing.

When considering battery life, the Idol 5s falls short, with an average battery capacity of 2620mAh. In comparison, the Moto G5 Plus offers a larger 3000mAh battery, providing longer usage time.

Pricing is another factor to consider. The Idol 5s is priced competitively, making it a budget-friendly option for those seeking a decent smartphone experience. The Moto G5 Plus, while slightly more expensive, offers better performance and features for the price.

In conclusion, the Alcatel Idol 5s is a solid budget smartphone with a sleek design and decent performance. However, when compared to the Moto G5 Plus and other related gadgets in the market, it falls slightly short in terms of performance and battery life. Nonetheless, for its price range, the Idol 5s still offers good value for money.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Alcatel Idol 5S offers a stylish design, solid performance, and an attractive price point. Its glass-and-metal body gives it a premium look and feel, while the 5.2-inch 1080p display provides a crisp viewing experience. The dual front speakers deliver loud audio, although they can be a bit lacking in depth. The phone runs on the latest Android software and offers a smooth user experience. However, the Idol 5S falls short in certain areas, such as its average battery life and inability to handle high-end gaming. Overall, while it is a decent option for budget-conscious consumers, there are other alternatives in its price range that offer a more compelling package.