Alcatel One Touch Idol X+

“So where exactly can the plus of the Alcatel One Touch Idol X+ be found? The manufacturer's response would probably include improved battery life and performance. And indeed, the Idol X+ delivers with regard to these two aspects. Although the 8-core CPU sounds more impressive than it is, its performance levels are more than sufficient given the price point of this device. In addition, the not-even-mediocre battery runtimes of the Idol X have been improved considerably, yielding decent battery life. The reception quality and reliability of both the Wi-Fi and GPS modules is great, and there is even a JBL headset in the box, offering somewhat better audio quality than most standard headsets. Most would be well on the software side of things, if it weren't for the ancient Android version and some bloatware. Two SIM card slots, however, are a great addition for travellers, even though it is as much a pain to insert the cards as ever. Still, there are a number of more crucial disadvantages, ranging from the rather high power consumption rate in standby mode, the far bulkier and less premium chassis (when compared to that of the Idol X) and the dimmer screen with a bluish tint to the low maximum 3G speed and the non-expandable storage - these might be dealbreakers from some.”

“The Idol X+ fights back with enhanced audio output and the JBL headphones included in the price, as well as stellar call quality and dual SIM functionality, but the software part pulls it back in the murky mainstream. It runs an older version of Android, with a shady chance for update to KitKat or beyond. Thus, the Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ remains a very good handset for the asking $400 price, but it will have to work harder for the money, compared to its predecessor.”

“The Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ may not have the most unique design in the world, and by looking at it, you can definitely tell where the inspiration came from, but that of course doesn’t mean that it’s a poorly designed smartphone. The build material is a combination of glossy plastic at the back, and an aluminium frame around the perimeter of the phone that actually makes it feel pretty solid in the hand, despite it being fairly light at 130 grams, and being quite thin at 7.9 mm. That being said, the glossy plastic back is a fingerprint magnet, which results in it being rather slippery. Overall, the Alcatel Idol X+ offers some very decent hardware, like the beautiful display and good camera, but suffers from way too many shortcomings to make it a viable option against the other smartphones in this price range, taking away any competitive edge that this phone might have had.”

“The Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ is one of the best dual-SIM phones we've reviewed and a good choice for the price. It has a nice design and good features like a Full HD display and 13 Mp camera but bear in mind that the Moto G 2014 and ZTE Blade S6 are both cheaper and dual-SIM. However, in the wider smartphone market there is tough competition and its lack of a microSD card slot and other hardware such as 4G LTE support mean it's outpaced by the Honor 6.”