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The Alcatel One Touch Idol X finds itself in the mid to high-end price range and the performance it delivers correlates with that.
Tthe screen is an amazingly sharp and crisp, the 1.5GHz quad-core processor can handle the majority of tasks in a heartbeat and the 13MP camera is of a higher specification than some of the competitors.
It doesn't quick produce the same quality images as its competitor's devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S4, the HTC One or the iPhone 5S devices. For a device that sells the camera as one of its major features, the images unfortunately tend to come out blurred.
However for a device in this price range it is hard to grumble about the amount of bang for your buck this phone will deliver.
We liked
Alcatel has managed to squeeze a dual-SIM handset into a tiny, super light frame for the Idol X. The device is so light you would be mistaken for thinking the battery has not yet been added, and at just 6.9mm thick you could even forget you have the large 5-inch screen in your pocket.
The rear-facing camera on the Idol X can produce some amazing images if the conditions are right, although you just might have to invest in a tripod to get the crispest images possible.
The built in photo editing tools are amazing for the default camera and will leave you not really needing to download many other camera apps.
The screen is super bright and balanced, and not bias towards red or blue, and the 1080 x 1920 display is perfect for watching your HD footage.
We disliked
The lack of expandable memory is a disappointment on the Idol X, we would have liked to see the addition of more storage capabilities, but we have taken into account that the single SIM version of the Idol X does have this option. Its just a shame that only one version includes a microSD slot.
Without 4G will the Idol X be left in the dark ages? Possibly, as the rollout form all the major networks is now underway. Super fast browsing via the carriers over 4G will never be possible on the Idol X.
The lack of app draw feature will leave some die-hard Android users frustrated at the fact that Alcatel have decided to exclude the feature from the Idol X.
The unknown future regarding weather this device will be able to upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat and beyond is slightly worrying, as there is no sure way to find out whether the Idol X will be future proof.
Verdict
Alcatel has managed to design and produce a solid, feature rich device for not a lot of money, and for the price it's hard to complain about the niggling problems we faced.
The slender super light frame can be perceived in one of two ways. Either you think it feels light and cheap, or light and premium - depending on your prospective. The One Touch Idol X certainly feels well built and sturdy, although the cheap plastic rear of the devices does not do itself any favors in terms of premium quality.
The 13MP camera could have done more to impress us, but can produce some fantastic images if the right conditions while the quad-core CPU with 2GB of RAM should'nt leave you hanging around for the Idol X to catch up with your fast pace usage.
With no NFC or 4G connections, the Idol X from Alcatel is slightly stunted, but overall a great device for the money from Alcatel.
First reviewed: October 2013
