Alcatel has just announced the release date of the IDOL 4S, the first Windows 10 phone to support VR. This release follows the synonymous Android version last year, but comes with some significant upgrades.
The IDOL 4S will feature a 5.5″ FHD, AMOLED screen, the Snapdragon 820 processor, and 4GB of RAM. It also comes with support for Continuum and Windows Hello. This makes it one of the most robust and capable Windows devices on the market, and it comes with a semi-modest price tag.
The smartphone will ship at $470 at T-Mobile next Thursday, November 10th. To put that into perspective, the recently released HTC Elite x3 is $800. The IDOL 4S comes with the same processor, the same amount of RAM, and a higher resolution camera.
IDOL 4S Full Specs
One place the IDOL falls behind is in battery life, which is at 20 hours of talk time, compared the Elite’s 33. Other than that, the specs are looking pretty good:
- “Screen: Brilliant 5.5-inch Full-HD (1920×1080) AMOLED display that delivers a great viewing experience, even in direct sunlight
- Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon 820 (2×2.15GHz + 2×1.6GHz)
- Graphics: Qualcomm® Adreno 530 GPU (integrated in Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor)
- Camera: 21MP main camera with Sony IMX230 sensor + 8MP front camera with 84-degree wide angle lens
- Battery: 3000mAh Battery for up to 20 hours of talk time and USB-C charging featuring Quick Charge
- Memory: 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM (with MicroSD support up to 128GB)
- Sound: Dual 1.2W multi-directional speaker featuring Hi-Fi audio for a more immersive sound experience
- Biometrics: A fingerprint sensor that enables Windows Hello for added convenience and security”
Though the phone isn’t up to the standards of the Elite x3 in every way, it’s also $330 cheaper. It comes with a 45 day trial of Hulu Plus, a 30 day trial for Groove Music, a free copy of Halo: Spartan assault, and a complimentary VR headset. It’s looking like a compelling option for the price and is sure to do well against competitor handsets as VR adoption grows.
