User interface and operating system. Appearance and usability

Finally

The Alcatel 5 is a delicate matter. And it very much depends on what to compare with. For example, against the background of outright hack-work like the Samsung Galaxy A6, he is simply the obvious winner. But in comparison with smartphones, Xiaomi is already losing in almost everything.

The worst thing about the top Alcatel is the old and slower MediaTek MT6750 processor. You can use your smartphone without any problems, but the camera takes pictures slowly, and you can't really play games. And it will only get worse as the applications get heavier. The second problem is overheating. Of course, in ordinary applications it is difficult to reach it, but in games the smartphone surrenders very quickly. And then the already small performance will drop even lower, and even the backlight will dim forcibly.

But Alcatel 5 has definite pluses for which it is impossible not to fall in love with it. First, the great design. Often, budget smartphones seem to show with all their looks, they say, since you are such a miser, then look at me and suffer now. The Alcatel 5 looks like it was approached with soul. You still feel, of course, that this is an inexpensive model, but still beautiful and neat.

Specifications

Android 7.0
Display 5.7 inches, 18: 9, 1440x720 pixels, IPS, 2.5D, Dragontrail, up to 5 clicks, automatic brightness control
MediaTek MT6750 Chipset (4x Cortex A53 up to 1.5GHz, 4x Cortex A53 up to 1GHz), MALI-T860M2 GPU
3 GB RAM, 32 GB internal (23 GB available), memory cards up to 32 GB
Battery Li-Ion 3000 mAh, talk time - up to 12 hours (4G), standby time - up to 420 hours (4G), charger 5V / 2A, full charging time - 2.5 hours
Front camera 13 and 5 megapixels (sensor - 1 / 3.06; 1/4; pixel size - 1.12 microns, 1.4 microns; aperture f / 2.0, f / 2.4; fixed focus), effects, background blur, wide-angle selfie, flash
Main camera 12 megapixels, dual-tone flash, sensor - 1 / 2.8, pixel size - 1.25 microns, PDAF, video recording 1080p (30 frames per second)
Two nanoSIM cards, one radio module
GPS / A-GPS / GLONASS
Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2, USB Type C (USB 2.0), USB OTG
LTE cat.4, band 3/7/8/20 / 28A
FM radio
Led indicator
Two microphones, noise cancellation system
Rear fingerprint sensor
Face unlock
Position sensor in space (G sensor), proximity sensor, electronic compass, gyroscope
Plastic casing (metal painting)
Body colors - gold or black metallic
Dimensions - 152.3x71.1x8.45 mm, weight - 144 grams

Contents of delivery

Smartphone
Charger with USB cable
Instructions
A clip for removing the SIM card tray

Positioning

TCL Mobile decided to market brands such as Alcatel and Blackberry. As a result, the Alcatel line ends at 15,000 rubles (about 250 euros), while the Blackberry starts at 250-300 euros. From the point of view of the manufacturer, this is the right decision, but there is no understanding on the market that Alcatel and Blackberry belong to the same company, which creates the feeling that the former do not have expensive smartphones, and the latter do not have budget smartphones. And this is not good, since in the past Alcatel has established itself as a supplier of interesting solutions in terms of price / quality ratio, including in the middle price segment.

In the 2018 lineup, Alcatel 5 plays the role of a flagship, although by the standards of the market this model cannot be called a flagship, this is an ordinary middle peasant with a number of fashionable options - face unlocking, improved front cameras. We have before us a typical offer from the B-brand, in which a number of characteristics have been improved in order to distinguish the device from many analogs that are already on the market.

In my opinion, this model will be of interest to everyone who is looking for an unbroken design, a large screen and at the same time does not demand too much from the device. For those who meticulously study the characteristics, the model is definitely not suitable, since there is an excess of supply in this price segment, and most devices are exactly in the same price group. For B-brand consumers, 18x9 screen geometry is not yet a determining factor, they are not ready to pay for such a display. As a result, we can assume that this device will be in demand by a small number of buyers, its sales primarily depend on the availability on store shelves and an advertising campaign.

Design, dimensions, controls

To begin with, the device is completely made of plastic, although one might get the impression that the side frame is metal, the metallized coating was specially used for such a feeling. The device is available in two colors, silver and gold.

I like both versions, they look unbroken, and here we have to give Alcatel its due, this design is noticeably more expensive than you expect from a device of this class. It reminded me of recent devices from Sony, for example, the XA2 Ultra, which is in a completely different price class, it is two times more expensive.

And the fact that Alcatel 5 looks like this will be a plus for some, but only if people think about it. Otherwise, the design will not be taken into account, these are two different approaches to products, in one someone understands the value of the exterior, in the other it is simply ignored.

The dimensions of the smartphone are 152.3x71.1x8.45 mm, the weight is 144 grams. Due to the roundness of the rear panel, the case fits perfectly in the hand, there are no complaints about it. The device does not stick out in the pocket, there are also no drawbacks. On the left side there is a combined slot for two nanoSIM cards, as well as a memory card.

But on the right side there is a ribbed on / off button, above it is a volume rocker. A 3.5 mm jack is on the top, along with a second microphone. At the bottom there is the main microphone, USB Type C connector.

The noise canceling system in devices of this level is a rarity, usually Chinese manufacturers get by with one microphone. The fact that there is such a system here allows you to use the device in noisy conditions, the speech quality improves, the interlocutor hears you better.

The fingerprint sensor is located on the rear panel and is easy to find by touch. Given that you can use a face to unlock, the fingerprint sensor is needed only for those who do it the old fashioned way. But it works quickly (the declared time is 0.3 seconds), no problems arise with it.

There are two cameras above the screen, we will talk about them separately, but, most importantly, the device retains an LED indicator (it blinks white, quite bright). This is a rarity for modern devices, so this option is welcome.

The bottom line about the quality of materials and impressions of the design of the model, I must say that it compares favorably with many classmates, here you can feel the style. Another thing is that many will simply ignore this and will not pay attention.

Display

The screen in the smartphone is 5.7 inches, 18: 9, 1440x720 pixels, IPS, 2.5D, Dragontrail, supports up to 5 clicks, there is an automatic brightness control. But if we put aside the dry characteristics, then I must say that the automatic brightness control works strangely, it is very late on the street, so the display often becomes unreadable, and you have to peer at it. The maximum brightness of the backlight is lower than on many devices, which does not cause problems in the room, but in the bright sun it already creates inconveniences with automatic adjustment. By turning the backlight to the maximum, you get a distinguishable picture.

And this is what the picture looks like when manually adjusted to the maximum.

Indoors, I like the screen much more, although it simply cannot be called the best. It's good, but the color profile settings are different from most of the models on the market. And this strangeness hits the eyes, you need to get used to the device. After a week of use, you will no longer pay attention to it, but the first time the colors on the screen catch your eye. Spin the machine around in the store to see how it suits you. Everything here is purely individual. So, many people whom I asked for their opinions on the color rendering, vividness of the picture on the screen of Alcatel 5, said that everything is in order or just fine. But to someone, like me, the picture seemed somewhat distorted.

The screen is responsive and a pleasure to work with. Viewing video on the device is also good, the geometry of the screen does not cause any inconvenience, this is the future that will come for everyone in the near future. It is possible that I would like a higher screen resolution, but in everyday life there is no good from this, for most of them this resolution will be enough.

Battery

The built-in Li-Ion battery has a capacity of 3000 mAh. The declared time of talk time - up to 12 hours (4G), in standby mode - up to 420 hours (4G), charger 5V / 2A, full charging time - 2.5 hours.

Unfortunately, the chipset from MediaTek is such that it is very power hungry, for example, the playing time of an unconverted video in HD resolution at maximum brightness is a little less than 5 hours.

The surprisingly low figure, which has become a kind of calling card for chipsets from MediaTek, is not so bad in other use cases. For example, this device is quite capable of working for a day with 4 hours of screen operation (automatic adjustment, average backlight brightness), as well as up to thirty minutes of talks. That is, Alcatel 5 can provide a full-time job. It's a pity, but the device does not hold the record for battery life, many manufacturers that use similar chipsets install batteries with a capacity of 4000 mAh or even more to compensate for the processor's shortcomings, its gluttony. But this did not happen here, since the dimensions of the device and its weight would have changed.

Memory, chipset, performance

RAM 3 GB, built-in 32 GB (23 GB available), memory cards up to 32 GB. From the point of view of memory, everything is excellent in the device, there are no limitations, which are present in many models in the lower price group. The fact that memory cards are only up to 32 GB can be considered a serious disadvantage, but only for advanced users, and there are no buyers of this device.

Chipset MediaTek MT6750 (4 cores Cortex A53 up to 1.5 GHz, 4 cores Cortex A53 up to 1 GHz), GPU MALI-T860M2. This is an average performance solution, it has no obvious failures or achievements, it is enough for the eyes for the interface and the operation of most applications. Look at the synthetic test results.

Communication capabilities

To begin with, there are no problems with GPS, everything works well, the start is almost instantaneous, the maps correctly display your position in all situations. Bluetooth version 4.2, USB 2.0 (USB Type C connector), Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n. The following frequencies are supported in the LTE standard: band 1/3/7/8/20 / 28A, no frequency aggregation, LTE cat.4.

Cameras

The camera interface has been redesigned to make it simpler and more intuitive. Someone may like it, while others will miss the old performance.

The front camera is double, with a flash and is quite advanced, here are the characteristics of these modules: 13 and 5 megapixels (sensor - 1 / 3.06; 1/4; pixel size - 1.12 microns, 1.4 microns; aperture f / 2.0, f / 2.4; fixed focus ). The disadvantage is obvious and consists in the lack of autofocus, nevertheless, photos from an outstretched arm turn out to be pretty good.

Main camera 12 megapixels, dual-tone flash, sensor - 1 / 2.8, pixel size - 1.25 microns, PDAF, video recording 1080p (30 frames per second). Here I cannot say that I am delighted with the quality of the pictures, they turn out to be quite typical, average in quality. Very often the scene is processed incorrectly, there is no backlight compensation, the white balance is wobbly. In short, this camera is not for those who want to take quality photos. And, in principle, this is a problem for many manufacturers of this level. In the video, autofocus crawls, and the light correction in the composition is also not exposed. Take a look at the sample images and videos below.

Software

Surprisingly, the flagship from Alcatel comes out on the 7th version of Android, there is no information about the availability of the G8 for this device. During testing, an update arrived on the device with the correction of a small number of errors, but nothing else happened. I will not talk about the standard features of Android, you can read about them separately. Let's focus on the features of the device and its unusual sides.

There is a simplified mode in the menu, when the device displays large icons.

A feature of 2018 that all manufacturers are trying to implement is face unlocking. The setup does not raise any questions, the manufacturer claims that such unlocking is not as reliable as a fingerprint, but in practice it is difficult to jailbreak your device, so you don't have to worry about it. Face unlocking takes about a second, it is not too fast (the fingerprint sensor works much faster). This unlocking does not work in the dark.

In the settings there is a semi-transparent Joy key, with its help you can call up a carousel menu with quick access to functions and applications. The only downside is that the key is always visible on the screen and it can annoy someone. Also, the key can be assigned an imitation of touch buttons ("Home", "Back", "Open applications").

The device supports the creation of duplicate applications for communication, you can have two pairs of any messengers.

The Resource Management app is an easy way to see the amount of memory used, how the battery is working, and which applications are consuming it. In the application manager, you can specify which of them will be allowed to start automatically, which will be in deep sleep and not consume resources. Everything is extremely convenient.

In the additional settings, there is a Super Cleaner option, which clears the cache on the phone, it is better not to get in here if you are not sure you know what it is for.

Additional applications include a voice recorder, compass, file manager, and the ability to create videos with screen content.

The built-in FM radio works only with a headset (at the exhibition they said that it could work without a headset, but this did not happen). All settings are typical.

From a musical point of view, the device is interesting in that it has an AW8737 amplifier, it makes the sound in headphones more powerful than in many devices of this level. But to say that it is very different is still impossible. It's about the same.

The Enjoy Now application offers a description of how to work with the device, plus various gifts (there have not been any so far, so I don’t know what it will be, but I guess that there are applications or some kind of subscription).

Impressions

This device has no complaints about the reception quality, everything is fine. The connection keeps confidently, the data transfer, albeit not the fastest, but without problems. I note that the GPS works well, I liked the device in terms of navigation, it quickly picks up the signal and correctly shows your position on the map (the built-in electronic compass provides additional advantages).

I liked the fact that this phone has a design, even if the materials used (plastic) are simple, the model looks nice. The screen is large, but not for everybody, you need to get used to it. Unfortunately, the quality of the main camera is average, there is nothing to brag about, which is typical for this price segment. Battery life is also not the strongest point of Alcatel 5, the model does not work very long, up to one day.

At a cost of 12,990 rubles, I would like to see NFC, but it is also absent, about Android 8 I would like to, but it is not. The bottom line is a device that is interesting for its 18x9 screen geometry, but for many users this is secondary, other aspects are more important to them.

In this price segment, the offer is huge today, you can choose from several dozen models, I will not list them all, I will note only those that are highly popular. For example, it can be an old Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime, which has a Snapdragon 435 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and a slightly better main camera. The screen is 5.5 inches, but not elongated in height, which is unlikely to be considered a disadvantage.

Fundamentally higher in the Honor 9 Lite class, on free sale it costs 14,990 rubles, but for members of the Huawei club a discount of one thousand rubles, which brings it closer to the described Alcatel 5. This device with an 18: 9 screen, a more energy efficient and powerful processor, it has dual main camera. And the FullHD + screen resolution, in a word, this device is close in cost, but noticeably wins in terms of filling and perception. The glass case, like on the flagships, is another plus, I really like it.

The outgoing nature is the Meizu M5 Note, but it is quite capable of competing with this device at a cost of 12,990 rubles. Exactly the same amount of memory, but MT6755 processor, longer battery life, 4000 mAh battery and a fingerprint sensor on the front panel. In short, you can take a closer look at him, although I would still choose something new. But this is a time-tested device, to which there are few complaints.

As you can see, the flagship from Alcatel falls into a segment where there is no end of supply, most manufacturers play here and the number of smartphones is great. Everyone can choose something to their liking, and it is very difficult to stop at one thing. The Alcatel 5's advantage can only be its design, all other characteristics are secondary for the mass consumer. The ideal price for this device is 11,000 rubles at the start of sales.

At the very beginning of the year, TCL, which produces smartphones under the Alcatel brand, announced a new series of devices. All models belonged to the budget and middle class. At the same time, the device with the maximum functionality was the Alcatel 5, made in a frameless design with a 5.7-inch screen, a fingerprint scanner and a camera with face recognition.

In the line of the brand's devices, the Alcatel 5 smartphone takes the place of the flagship. It is clear that you cannot compare it with the real flagships of other manufacturers. Of the features, it is worth noting the original plastic case, a fingerprint scanner and a face recognition function. The screen of this model has an 18: 9 ratio, HD + resolution.

The hardware uses a Mediatek MT6750 chip with a clock speed of 1.5 GHz. Memory - 32 GB for data storage and 3 GB of RAM. The battery is 3000 mAh, there is USB Type-C and fast charging function. Operating system - Android Nougat. The Alcatel 5 is available in two color options: metallic black and metallic gold.

Alcatel 5 also uses a main single camera (12 megapixels) and a dual front camera, in which the main module of 13 megapixels is combined with a wide-angle (120 degrees) 5 megapixel, which is useful for group selfies.

It remains to evaluate the work of the novelty in business and understand whether it is worth the money.

Specifications Alcatel 5 (index 5086D)

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Characteristic	Description
Body materials:	Plastic, glass
Operating system:	Android 7.0
Screen:	diagonal 5.7 inches, resolution 720x1440 pixels, IPS with a ratio of 18: 9, 2.5D, Dragontrail, up to 5 clicks, automatic brightness control
CPU:	8-core MediaTek MT6750 (4 cores Cortex A53 up to 1.5 GHz, 4 cores Cortex A53 up to 1 GHz)
GPU:	MALI-T860M2
RAM:	3 GB
Flash memory:	32 GB internal (23 GB available), microSD card slot up to 32 GB
SIM card type:	two nanoSIM, one of the slots is combined with a slot for a memory card
Mobile connection:	EDGE / GPRS / GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), WCDMA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), LTE (800/1800/2600 MHz)
Communications:	Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, USB Type C for charge / sync, FM radio
Navigation:	GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU
Sensors:	G-sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor, fingerprint scanner, gyroscope, compass
Main camera:	12 megapixels, dual-tone flash, sensor - 1 / 2.8, pixel size - 1.25 microns, PDAF, video recording 1080p (30 frames per second)
Front-camera:	13 and 5 megapixels (sensor - 1 / 3.06; 1/4; pixel size - 1.12 microns, 1.4 microns; aperture f / 2.0, f / 2.4; fixed focus), effects, background blur, wide-angle selfie, flash
Battery:	Non-removable, 3000 mAh, fast charging
Dimensions, weight:	152.3x71.1x8.45 mm, 144 g
Body colors:	black metallic and golden metallic

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Package contents and first impressions

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The Alcatel 5 smartphone comes in a box made of white hard cardboard with blue inserts on the sides. The front side of the package has an image of the model and the name. In addition to the smartphone itself, the package contains a cable for synchronization and charging with a USB Type C connector, headphones with a 3.5 mm jack, an adapter for an electrical outlet with support for fast charging (current 2 A), a clip for opening the SIM card tray, instructions and a warranty card ...

First impressions after unpacking the smartphone - it is very compact against the background of recent devices. Its dimensions are 152.3x71.1x8.45 mm, and its weight is 144 grams. In terms of dimensions, the phone is similar to models with a 5 "screen, but it has a 5.7" display. This is achieved by reducing the edges on the sides and bottom. So, on the left and right, the frames reach only 2 mm, from the bottom - 4 mm, from the top - about 10 mm. Due to this, the usable surface area on the front of the apparatus has increased.

The Alcatel 5 feels surprisingly comfortable in the hand. He's more grasping or something. It is convenient to hold the smartphone. This is largely due to the aspect ratio - the phone is stretched in length. Therefore, the width of the device is about 71 mm. The device is not felt in the pocket of clothes and is placed extremely conveniently. The phone can be carried even in skinny jeans.

You can buy Alcatel 5 in two body colors: black metallic and golden metallic. We had a golden apparatus on the test. It looks very organic.

Design and appearance

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The appearance of the novelty is very interesting. It is somewhat similar to the design style from Sony. Most importantly, the gadget stands out from dozens of similar models. The Alcatel 5's case is made with metal spraying, but it is made of plastic. At the presentation of the device, Alcatel's chief designer boasted that they managed to achieve the feeling of more expensive thing than it really is. In reality, this is not entirely true. The phone looks really original, but it is not perceived as an expensive thing quite definitely. The smartphone is very light and feels rather flimsy.

During the two-week test, some abrasions and traces of use appeared on the case. At the same time, the solidity of the structure remained at the same level. No creaks, no gaps. The build is good.

The screen of the smartphone is widescreen with a ratio of 18: 9, diagonal of 5.7 inches. A speaker for phone calls is placed above the screen. Left and right - a dual front camera with modules of 13 and 5 megapixels. Here you can also see the proximity sensor, the light sensor, and also the LED indicator. Depending on the occurrence of certain events, it starts to glow. The speaker volume is enough to communicate in a noisy room or on the road.

There are no buttons or sensors under the screen. The function keys are fully integrated into the Android 7 shell.

The power button (has a relief pattern) and the screen lock is located on the right side. They are quite thin, but they do their job properly. Hands felt well.

On the left side there is a tray for two nanoSIM-size SIM cards, one of which can also be used for a microSD memory card if the built-in 32 GB is not enough for you. You can open the compartment using a paper clip from the kit, or using a regular paper clip. The tray itself is plastic and requires care so as not to break it.

The top end houses the usual 3.5 mm jack for wired headphones and a microphone for noise cancellation during a telephone conversation. On the lower edge on the right there are speaker holes for external calls and music, as well as a microphone. In the center you can see the USB Type C connector. It is used for charging and connecting to a computer.

The sound quality and volume of the main speaker are at a fairly high level. The sound is powerful and bright, although the detail is not the best quality. However, the tunes do not wheeze or hiss. Covering the speaker with your hand or finger will decrease the volume.

On the back is the main 12 Mpix camera unit. The module protrudes 1 mm relative to the surface of the case. The camera takes pictures with autofocus, there is an LED flash.

A fingerprint scanner is located just below the camera block. It is round in shape. You can use it to unlock your device. The scanner, by the way, not only unlocks the screen, but can also duplicate the shutter button in selfie mode, or can be programmed to launch any application.

The fingerprint sensor itself works quickly. During testing, he accurately recognized my prints and did not react to strangers. In total, you can store up to five prints in the device's memory.

Screen. Graphics capabilities

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The screen in the Alcatel 5 has a diagonal of 5.7 inches. HD + (720x1440) resolution, 18: 9 aspect ratio. This is an almost ideal combination for those who value compactness. By increasing the usable area and thin frames.

The picture on the display looks good. The viewing angles are decent. However, the image may not always be readable in direct sunlight. The screen starts to glare. It should be noted that automatic brightness control does not always work correctly. For example, it lags a lot on the street, so the display often becomes unreadable, and you have to peer into it. The maximum backlight brightness is lower than on many devices, which does not cause problems indoors, but in the bright sun it already creates inconveniences. By turning the backlight to the maximum, you get a distinguishable picture.

It is also worth noting the ability to select a setting for the color temperature of the screen. If we talk about the sensitivity of the screen, then it reacts quickly to touch and recognizes gestures without any problems. In total, the device supports up to five simultaneous touches.

Hardware platform: processor, memory, speed

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The speed of the smartphone is provided by the MediaTek MT6750 chip, which includes 4 Cortex A53 cores with a clock speed of up to 1.5 GHz and 4 Cortex A53 cores up to 1 GHz. The graphics coprocessor Mali-T860M2 is used here. RAM is 3 GB, and internal memory is 32 GB, of which about 23 GB is available to the user. You can expand this volume by using external microSD cards up to 32 GB.

The hardware of the Alcatel 5 copes with all the tasks. This is an average performance solution, there are no obvious failures or achievements in it, it is enough for the eyes for the interface and the operation of most applications.

Streaming YouTube videos, surfing the web, and instant messengers do not pose a major performance threat. Heavy games, on the other hand, can fill up RAM and processing power.

Communication capabilities

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In terms of communication capabilities, the Alcatel 5 is a typical budget employee. There is support for single-band Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n (2.5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, USB Type-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack.

It is also interesting that the device received two methods of biometric identification: the usual one - by a fingerprint and the second - by the owner's facial features. The unlock function is available only when the screen is activated (on), but it works correctly, even in the dark.

Like all modern smartphones, Alcatel 5 received a slot for two nano-sized SIM cards. One connector is universal: you can insert either a SIM card or a memory card into it. The smartphone has one radio module. This means that when any activity occurs on one of the cards, for example, an incoming call, the other goes offline. A SIM card in any slot can work with 3G / 4G networks, however, only one of them can function at the same time in this mode. To change the assignments of the card slots, you do not need to change places - this can be done directly from the phone menu.

The smartphone supports all modern communication networks: 2G / 3G and 4G on Russian frequencies (4G TDD LTE: Band 38/40 and 4G FDD LTE: Band 1/3/7/8/20), confidently receives the signal and does not lose it without visible for that reason. Testing of the 4G network of the operator MegaFon by Speedtest.Net produced about 30 Mbit / s. Talking on the phone is comfortable. The speaker has a good volume reserve, and the interlocutors did not complain about poor audibility during testing.

Additional communication means include GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou (standard Google Maps is built into the smartphone). The radius of navigation error during testing is about 1.5 meters, which is very small. The gadget does an excellent job of being a navigator.

Duration of work

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Alcatel 5 received a 3000 mAh Li-Ion battery. In testing conditions, with the number of calls 30 minutes a day, browsing the Internet for about 1.5 hours through 4G, listening to an mp3 player through a headset for about 2.5 hours a day, the device worked for 28 hours with an average brightness of the display backlight. When watching a video, the gadget worked for a little less than 5 hours, in navigator mode - 3 hours. As a result, the device has to be charged once a day. If you use your smartphone in a less intensive mode, then it will work for 1.5 days or even more.

From the standpoint of autonomy, the phone is a typical average. The "Battery" section in the settings has all the necessary functions: power saving mode, screen resolution selection, limiting the activity of background applications, detailed battery usage statistics and an optimization tool.

Fully recharging from the supplied power adapter takes about an hour. There is a "fast charging" mode (the adapter from the kit supports fast charging). Fast charging technology provides a 45% charge within 30 minutes.

User interface and operating system

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Alcatel 5 runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. The user can choose the effect when unlocking or moving between desktops, choose the style of icons, fonts, as well as answer an incoming call when the phone is held to his ear. There is a function of switching to silent mode when turning the screen down, as well as tilting the phone to arrange widgets. In general, there are a lot of little things that especially impressionable people should like.

In the settings there is a semi-transparent Joy key, with which you can call up a carousel menu with quick access to functions and applications. The only drawback of this solution is that the key is always visible on the screen, and it may annoy someone. Also, the key can be assigned an imitation of touch buttons ("Home", "Back", "Open applications").

Among the preinstalled applications, there are standard applications for the manufacturer: free programs Google, OfficeSuite, Opera Mini, WhatsApp, Sberbank online application, etc. it is worth noting the presence of an FM radio.

Camera. Photo and video capabilities

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The device is equipped with a double front camera. It includes a 13 Mpix and 5 Mpix module (sensor - 1 / 3.06; 1/4; pixel size - 1.12 microns, 1.4 microns; aperture f / 2.0, f / 2.4; fixed focus). The downside of the camera is the lack of autofocus. However, selfies.

The main camera has a resolution of 12 megapixels, the sensor is 1 / 2.8, the pixel size is 1.25 microns, PDAF, video recording 1080p (30 frames per second). There is a two-tone flash. The quality of the images is average. Very often the scene is processed incorrectly, there is no backlight compensation, the white balance is wobbly. In short, this camera is not for those who want to take quality photos. And, in principle, this is a problem for many manufacturers of this level.

The Alcatel 5 can record video in maximum FullHD resolution at 30 fps with stereo sound (AVC, 17 Mbps). Stereo sound (AAC, 192 kbps, 48 kHz). The quality is not the best among similar devices. In the video, autofocus works with a creak, and the light correction in the composition is also not set.

Outcomes

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The main features of Alcatel 5 are stylish appearance, wide-screen display, powerful chip and face recognition function. Another question is that the phone has a plastic case, the battery life is not as long as we would like, and the main camera does not always take excellent quality pictures. Taking into account the large number of alternatives in the 10-15 thousand rubles price segment, the choice of a new smartphone from Alcatel is not so obvious. However, it's worth taking a closer look at the device. At least hold in your hands and draw your own conclusions.

Among the alternatives to buying an Alcatel 5, one can also note the Huawei Honor 7C with a price of 9,000 rubles, it is also worth looking at the Honor 7C Pro and Xiaomi Mi A1 for 13,000 rubles. The listed devices have a comparable and more efficient hardware, a metal case and a comparable screen diagonal.

Advantages

Stylish appearance

Good build

Widescreen display

disadvantages

Plastic case

Battery life below average

Poor gaming performance

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On the day of publication, the Alcatel 5 smartphone could be bought at a price 10,990 rubles.

Alcatel 5 looks quite original, but still we cannot call it beautiful or cute: because of the huge frame on top, it seems that under it the screen looks at you unfriendly, as if from under his brows.

The front panel stands out with the already mentioned large frame on top, which they try to "compensate" with very thin ones on the sides and bottom. In addition, there are thin glossy inserts at the top and bottom.

The back of the smartphone is adorned with the Alcatel logo, a textured metallic pattern and the same strip of gloss as on the front. Not without a camera lens in the center and a circular fingerprint scanner underneath.

The dimensions of the novelty have not yet been announced, only the thickness is indicated - 8.5 mm and the weight - 144 grams. According to the specified parameters, it is close to 5-inch, which is not bad, looking at the big difference in the diagonals. The materials of the case are also unknown, but visually and by sensations it is similar to metal.

Alcatel 5 will be available in black and gold colors.

Screen

Alcatel 5 has a fairly large 5.7-inch screen with an IPS-matrix, an elongated 18: 9 format and HD + resolution (1440 × 720 pixels). The pixel density is not that high - 282 per inch, you will see jaggedness and blurry images up close.

Cameras

Alcatel 5 has a 12 MP main camera and two front cameras, 13 and 5 MP. Most likely, they will shoot at an average level.

The rear camera received focusing and a typical f / 2.0 aperture. Not much is known about the front ones either, only the same aperture for the first frontal and a wide viewing angle of 120 degrees for the second. Obviously, the latter is here for group selfies.

Communications

The Alcatel 5's communications set is quite typical:

simple Wi-Fi b / g / n, with hotspot
LTE support
Bluetooth 4.2
FM radio
A-GPS.

Everything is simple and without frills like the second band for Wi-Fi, IrDA or NFC chip. But there is USB type C and support for two SIM-cards, it is not clear only whether the slot for the second separate or shared with a microSD card. And not everything is so smooth with the USB port - the promo video shows the "old" Micro-USB instead of the new type C.

Battery

The battery capacity of the Alcatel 5 is 3000 mAh, which is normal for a 5.7-inch diagonal and should be enough for a day of use. Especially given the moderate screen resolution. For comparison, the battery capacity is the same 3000 mAh, while the other frameless has only a little higher - 3200 mAh.

Performance

The performance of the Alcatel 5 can be called mediocre, but it won't slow down very much. The device uses the MediaTek MT6750 chipset (eight Cortex-A53 cores at 1.5 GHz) and 3 GB of RAM. This should be enough for a vigorous solution of daily tasks and most applications. Unless in heavy games, it will slow down.

Peculiarities

Alcatel 5 is running a new version of Android 8 OS and a proprietary interface. The features of the phone are immediately visible - this is a FullView display with an 18: 9 format, thin frames on the sides and bottom of it, as well as a dual front camera. Another feature is the ability to unlock with a face, in a manner.

Memory

The amount of memory of the smartphone can be called decent: immediately 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of constant, which corresponds to a level higher than the budget. There is also a slot for which you can add up to 128GB.

Price

The start of sales of Alcatel 5 is still unknown, but there is an approximate price - 230 euros, or about 16,000 rubles. I must say that this is not cheap for a device of this level; there is clearly a markup for a fashionable screen and a dual front camera.

Alcatel 5 is a smartphone with an almost bezel-less display with an aspect ratio of 18: 9. Equipped with almost all the functions that are available on top models, although the functionality is still more modest. It can be a great phone if everything stated works as it should.

stylish;
almost frameless screen;
there is a face unlock function.

small memory (32 GB);
does not work with Android Oreo.

Usually, the path from a top model to a budget analogue takes quite a long time, but in the case of the Alcatel 5, the manufacturer was able to make a cheaper smartphone with an 18: 9 screen just a year after the debut of this type of display. Much more affordable than the Galaxy S8 or LG G6, the Alcatel 5 might make it a smart choice for those who want a large display but don't want to overpay. However, this smartphone can hardly be called a budget choice due to the set of available functions, up to unlocking by face scan.

Price and start date of sales

This model is already on sale in some countries. In Europe, the company plans to set the price at 229.99 euros (about $ 280).

Exterior design and display

The look of the smartphone is flawless. It differs from other brands with the same display size. A minimal bezel is present on the bottom and sides of the phone. The top bezel is wider to house the selfie camera and multiple sensors.

The brilliantly made matte metal case makes the device look more solid and expensive. Although, upon closer acquaintance with the material of the case, it becomes clear that for the sake of the low price, the designers had to find a compromise in the choice of material.

There are two color options for the case: the more attractive Metallic Gold and the more versatile Metallic Black. The weight of the smartphone is only 144 g. It feels a little light in the hand, although it will be noticeable only for people who are used to heavier premium models. The fingerprint sensor is located quite well - on the back of the device, under the camera. But it may not be necessary, as Alcatel launched its own Face Key facial recognition technology, similar to the face unlocking technology on the iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Judging by the demo video, the system is fast and smooth.

The 5.7-inch HD + display looks striking, although a closer look at it reveals a 1440x720 resolution. Comparing the Alcatel 5 to the recently launched Alcatel 3V with a 6-inch display and 2160x1080 resolution is puzzling - why is the screen with a lower resolution chosen for the more expensive device? The difference in playback quality is especially noticeable when you place both models side by side. However, many buyers are not too worried about such subtleties - when watching clips, the available resolution is quite enough.

Camera and technical features

Since the time allotted for testing the device was limited, it is difficult to describe in detail how the smartphone works. At first glance, the used eight-core MediaTek MTK6750 processor works very quickly. The built-in memory is installed in a single version - 32 GB. You can expand it up to 128 GB using microSD cards.

So far, the company hasn't provided any details on the device's 3,000mAh battery. Considering the screen resolution, it is unlikely that a full charge will last more than a day.

It's a little disappointing that the phone comes preinstalled with Android Nougat rather than Android Oreo. Also, the manufacturer does not promise that the device will have the latest version of Google software.

Alcatel's new lineup uses dual cameras, but Alcatel's 5 doesn't. A single 12-megapixel camera is installed at the back, which did not cause much enthusiasm during testing. On the front, there is a dual camera for selfies (13 Mpx + 5 Mpx), which allows you to take a picture with a capture angle of 120 degrees. That is, you can shoot a large company without using a selfie stick.

Conclusion

Despite the somewhat odd lack of some of the expected features such as dual main cameras and higher display resolutions, the Alcatel 5 still appears to be a great phone, especially considering the planned price. No other brand offers a quality 18: 9 display, face unlock, and dual selfie cameras in this price range.