Here's my review:
The Alcatel Idol 4S with Windows (that's a mouthful) is a beautiful, even elegant device. Seeing it in pictures doesn't do it justice. It is the sleek device that many were hoping the Lumia 950/XL would be. I believe the fit and finish is not only equal to Nokia's Lumias, but exceeds them in quality. There are no sounds of creaking from this phone. It feels good in hand, although it is a bit slippery.
Powering it up you find a bright, crisp screen that is readable in sunlight. I know some were disappointed that it doesn't have a QHD screen but, with the exception of the VR goggles, it's completely unnecessary here and results in better battery life.
In use the phone is responsive and apps open fluidly. In the time I've had it there have been no freezes, crashes or overheating. Having the power button on the upper left-hand side has taken a little getting used to, but I've decided that I actually prefer it there. DTTW works with a very slight delay and DTTS works flawlessly. I'm finding myself using those to wake the phone or put it to sleep more than the power switch.
Call quality is excellent, better than my Lumia. The parties on the other end report that voice is clear on their end, too. Reception is also very good. I'm getting more bars at my home location than I did with my lumias. I had read that some people thought the phone didn't have visual voice mail, but I can report that it does.
Oh those speakers! I would challenge anyone to find a phone with better speakers. It's a real pleasure to listen to music without headphones. It's a real treat hearing them on speakerphone. There's minor distortion at full volume, but that's to be expected.
Sixty-four GB storage. Check.
Expandable memory. Check.
Four GB ram. Check.
The specs are excellent!
Regarding the camera: I have posted some picture samples in the Videos and Pictures thread. I'm satisfied with the pictures that the camera takes, especially since I think the camera app will improve under the Creators Update next year. I do wish the camera had OIS for video. It does have digital stabilization, but as a video professional I'm all too aware that digital stabilization is no match for optical stabilization and can actually degrade the video. For me personally, though, it's not a deal breaker because I never go to an event or take a trip without a point and shoot or DSLR If I want video I take one of my pro camcorders. The camera does a good job otherwise and is completely acceptable for casual pictures and video, although I will also use it on trips. Some have questioned the location of the camera button, but I find that I like it where it is. Regardless of one's feeling about the location, I think we can all agree that it's refreshing to see an OEM include a camera button at all. I know many reviewers have said that the camera is mediocre. Obviously those conclusions are subjective, but I would put the camera in the "Good" category. It's not at the level of the Lumia cameras (although one wonders if it could be at that level if MS would share some of that tech with OEM's), but it holds it's own.
Clearly, for some people, there are some cons. I don't think I need to talk about apps since we all know about that situation and, for me personally, I have every app I need (and if apps matter to you, maybe it's time to move to one of the other OSes). My pay checks are direct deposit and, on the occasions that I receive a check from someone, I don't find it difficult to stop by the bank. It is curious that Alcatel chose to not include NFC but, once again, that doesn't affect me because I have never used it and, unless I'm forced to, I never will. It's not that hard to pull my credit card out of my wallet. But, again, it's a shame they didn't include it for people that do want to use it. It's an odd omission. Wireless charging would also have been nice, but would it have increased the price? Finally, the non replaceable battery. I'm okay with that because the design wouldn't have been as attractive if the battery was replaceable. And, frankly, I've never needed to replace a battery. By the time it gets to that point, I'm ready for a new phone. I know some people carry spare batteries so I understand the desire to have it be replaceable, it's just not an issue for me.
Alcatel has done a fantastic job with this phone. I think they are poised to pick up where Nokia left off - IF. IF there are sufficient sales. And, sadly, that's a huge IF. If not, we may find ourselves with very little to choose from in Windows phones. With that in mind, if you've been looking for a new phone and considering the Idol 4S, and you are okay with the few missing features, don't hesitate to make the purchase. It's a gorgeous, well crafted device that is a pleasure to use (and look at)!
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