At the end of 2014, sales of the entry-level smartphone Alcatel Idol Mini 2 began, and in two modifications at once. These devices are characterized by low cost and good technical characteristics compared to competitors. It is their characteristics and capabilities that will be discussed in the article brought to your attention.
Smartphone hardware
The key to the performance of a smart phone is the connection between the central processor unit and the graphics adapter. It is important to understand one nuance here. If the processor is high-performance, and the graphics adapter cannot boast of this, then it will not be possible to fully unleash the full computing potential of the first. A similar situation occurs in the event that the CPU is inferior in its capabilities to the video card, but only exactly the opposite. Therefore, chip manufacturers tend to put commensurate elements in one processor. This is exactly what Alcatel Idol Mini 2 can boast of, and each of its modifications. In a less productive version in this smartphoneinstalled MSM8210 chip from Qualcom. It consists of 2 cores of energy efficient A7 architecture. Each of them in peak load mode, the clock frequency rises to 1.2 GHz. Its capabilities are complemented by the Adreno 302 video accelerator. In reality, this bundle is enough to solve most tasks: from reading books and surfing the web to watching movies and fairly demanding toys. The only exception is the most demanding games of the latest generation, which are too tough for him. These are all model 6014X. There is a more productive modification - 6016X. The difference between them lies in the type of integrated central processing unit. The latter already has MCM8212 installed with 4 similar cores and exactly the same frequency at maximum loads. It does not give a tangible increase in productivity today. But in some cases, 4 cores ensure the smooth operation of the device. Therefore, it is preferable to buy exactly 6016X. At a comparable cost ($165 for the 6014X and $190 for the 6016X, respectively), it provides more performance.
Display and cameras
The diagonal of the working area of the screen in any modification of this smartphone is acceptable 4.5 inches. Display resolution 960 x 540 pixels. The screen is capable of displaying about 16 million colors and its surface is capable of processing up to five touches simultaneously. Quite an interesting situation has arisen regarding the quality of the displayed image. The cheaper model is better than the 6016X in this regard. They talk about itreviews on various information portals. The Alcatel Idol Mini 2 in the 6014X version is based on an IPS technology matrix, while the 6016X uses an outdated TFT. Therefore, from the standpoint of picture quality, it is more preferable to buy a 2-core modification of this smartphone. But when examining the technical characteristics of the cameras, everything falls into place. The front cameras are identical - 0.3 megapixels and are great for making video calls. In turn, the 6016X is equipped with an 8 megapixel matrix versus 5 megapixels for the 6014X. Otherwise, they are identical devices - there is autofocus, a software image stabilization system and a flash based on LED technology.
Memory
Not such a simple situation has developed for this smart phone model with the amount of installed memory. Alcatel Idol 2 Mini 6016X is equipped with 1GB RAM and 4GB built-in storage. In turn, in 6014X, the amount of RAM is reduced by 2 times, and its volume is 0.5 GB, and the internal memory is still the same 4 GB. Both in the first and in the second case, MicroSD flash cards with a maximum capacity of 32 GB are supported. All this is quite enough for normal and comfortable work on this device. But it's still better to buy 6016X with more RAM installed.
Case and ergonomics
You can't expect anything other than plastic in a budget device. And here Alcatel Idol 2 Mini pleasantly surprises. Photos indicate the presence of metal inserts around the perimeter. And thisindeed, all the edges of the device are made of metal. But the back cover and front panel are made of ordinary plastic. Therefore, you can not do without a cover and a protective sticker. Otherwise, this is a fairly standard entry-level device. The on/off button, along with the volume rockers, is placed on the right edge, and there are touch buttons below the screen. This allows you to operate your smartphone with just one hand.
Battery capacity and autonomy
Now about the battery that comes with Alcatel Idol 2 Mini. A review without specifying its characteristics will not be completely complete. The battery capacity is 1700 mAh for both modifications of the device. This allows the 2-core version of the device to run on a single charge at an average usage level of 3-5 days. But a more productive version of 6016X will be able to stretch 2-3 days at a similar load level.
OS and more
The operating system in this group of devices is Android, and one of its most recent versions is 4.3. Given that sales of Alcatel Idol Mini 2 started at the end of 2014, it is quite possible that updates will appear in the foreseeable future. Otherwise, a standard set of applications is installed on this device: utilities from Google, international social services and generally accepted programs (calculator, calendar, etc.).
Communications
Alcatel Idol 2 Mini has an almost perfect set of interfaces. Overview of ittechnical specifications points to such:
- "Wi-Fi" is the main way to exchange information with the global web. The maximum speed of 100 Mbps allows you to send and receive absolutely any amount of data.
- Bluetooth is the perfect solution for when you need to exchange small files with another smart phone and there are no other transfer options nearby.
- Mobile networks 2G and 3G. In the first case, only small amounts of information can be transmitted. A speed of 500 Mbps or less imposes certain restrictions. But in the second case, as with Wi-Fi, you can send and receive any amount of data. The only limitation is the state of your mobile account. If there are no material resources on it, the data transfer will be stopped by the operator automatically.
- There is also a ZHPS sensor that allows you to easily navigate the area.
- Wired interfaces "MicroUSB" and "3.5 mm audio jack" allow, respectively, to exchange data with a PC and output an audio signal to external acoustics. The first one is also used to charge the battery.
The only thing that causes criticism is the lack of an infrared port. Therefore, it will not work to control the TV or transmit data using it. But this is an insignificant remark, since this device belongs to budget smartphones and one cannot expect a full set of communications from it.
Owner Reviews
In general, veryAlcatel Idol 2 Mini turned out to be a balanced entry-level solution. The price is an acceptable 160 (for a more modest solution) or 190 dollars (a more productive modification), good hardware stuffing, as for entry-level devices, and a fairly recent version of the operating system. But this is all just preliminary information, which is based on technical specifications. This is where real testimonials come in handy. Alcatel Idol Mini 2 went on sale relatively recently, but now it is characterized only from the positive side. Among them are:
- Good level of autonomy (up to 3 days on a single battery charge).
- OS stable operation.
- Acceptable performance for a wide range of applications.
The disadvantage, in turn, is only one - a plastic case that can be scratched. But this problem can be easily and simply eliminated - it is enough to carry the device in a case, and the front panel must be covered with a protective film.
CV
For the price and features, the Alcatel Idol Mini 2 is the ideal entry-level smartphone. This is a great device that has virtually no weaknesses. And if they are, then their presence is compensated by the very democratic cost of the device.
