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Why does Alcatel think it can sell the OneTouch Idol Alpha for £280? Having played with it for a week I honestly can't explain. It doesn't seem likely that any carriers in the UK will pick it up, so you're looking at paying the full whack up front.
The simple truth is that you shouldn't buy it because there are too many better options at around the same price tag.
It isn't an awful smartphone by any means, and I do like the exterior design, but I want to do more than look at my phone. People seeking an entry-level phone will find plenty to tempt in the budget bracket, this is presumably supposed to attract anyone upgrading and on that basis it's destined for failure.
We liked
Those shiny chamfered edges are lovely. The Alcatel OneTouch Idol Alpha looks like a premium device.
When the translucent segments light up, so do I. It's a genuinely innovative design touch and you don't see them very often, especially in the mid-range segment.
The camera is easy to use and fast at capturing a shot. The detail level is good and the burst mode is handy. Video recording is solid. Overall it's far from perfect, but it definitely goes in the plus column.
We disliked
The stuttering is a major turn off. A combination of Alcatel's skin, the processor, and the lack of RAM is causing it to lag and even struggle sometimes. Poor performance during graphically intensive games and in the browser simply isn't good enough for a phone at this price.
You can't even get through a busy day on a single charge. The battery life is weak and it drops surprisingly fast at times.
The OneTouch Idol Alpha would obviously benefit from the latest version of Android. It could help soothe the stuttering and extend the battery life. Alcatel should update it as soon as possible.
And the omission of a headphone jack - now that's just plain crazy.
Final verdict
The experience of using the Idol Alpha definitely doesn't live up to the early promise. There are an awful lot of other Android smartphones that match or surpass the hardware and software on offer here and cost the same or less.
If you're wondering why you should buy the Alcatel OneTouch Idol Alpha, the short answer is you shouldn't.
