The Alcatel Idol 4S: A Phone on Life Support

Windows Phone launched seven years ago, but today it's on life support. The question is why does it still exist in 2017? To find out, we'll take a closer look at one of the most promising phones to run Windows 10 Mobile, the Alcatel Idol 4S.

One of the interesting things about this phone is that not only can you get the Windows version, but there's also an Android edition, which is essentially the same hardware. This dual approach makes it easier for consumers to choose between the two operating systems, and it also allows manufacturers to cater to a wider audience. The Alcatel Idol 4S looks really nice, with a large 5.5-inch display, fingerprint reader, glass back, and metal chassis. It's clear that this phone is designed to be visually appealing.

However, when we take a closer look at the hardware, it becomes apparent that it's not as premium as some of its competitors. The bezels are pretty giant, and the phone feels quite plasticky in the hand. But what really matters is how well the phone performs. In this case, the hardware is not on par with some of the other phones in the same price range. Despite this, the Alcatel Idol 4S still offers a good value for its price, especially when considering all the features that come bundled.

One of the most promising features of Windows 10 Mobile is Continuum. This feature allows users to turn their phone into a desktop computer by connecting it to a dock and a monitor. The Acer phone supports all of the same Continuum features as the HP Elite x3, but unfortunately, it doesn't quite live up to its promise. Once plugged into the dock and a monitor, the phone looks and feels like a standard Windows device. However, once you start using it, you realize that this is not a full copy of the desktop experience.

One of the big problems with Continuum on the Acer phone is that everything is just really slow. Whether we're scrolling through Edge or trying to open up the Windows menu, the performance is jerky and annoying. This is particularly disappointing when considering the Microsoft Edge browser, which is fairly full-featured, but it's clear that there are limitations to what can be done on this phone.

Continuum feels like a feature that was ahead of its time, and phones like the Galaxy S8 have already supported similar setups with more success. It's frustrating for Microsoft fans because they expect their phones to offer a seamless desktop experience. The VR headset that comes in the box is another interesting feature, but it's not as polished as something like Gear VR. The 1080p screen makes it look a little sketchy, and it's unlikely that anyone would spend serious time with this phone.

The camera apps on these phones are actually quite good, with nice glass and metal builds. However, the cameras themselves have some limitations. The Idol 4S does a lot with HDR to pull everything in here, but the Acer has slow camera app performance when trying to take an HDR photo. It's clear that Windows Phone is on its way out, at least for now.

For hardcore Windows fans, it might be worth considering picking up one of these phones, as you can get pretty good deals on devices that are still technically supported. However, for everyone else, it's really difficult to recommend buying a Windows Phone in 2017. What do you guys think? Do let me know in the comments below and I will catch you on the next one.

One thing is clear: the hardware of these phones isn't too bad, but the software is what's holding them back. With better performance from apps and more features to make up for it, maybe Windows Phone would be a better choice. But for now, unless you're a die-hard fanboy, it's hard to recommend picking up one of these in 2017.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Hey guys, this is Austin.Windows Phone launched seven years ago;however, today, it's on life support.Why does it still exist in 2017?First of all, we have the Alcatel Idol 4S.You know, what's interestingabout this phone is that,not only can you get the Windows version,but there's also an Android edition,which is essentially the same hardware.Even though this is a littlebit more of a mid-range phone,when you actually take a lookat it, it looks really nice.So, what you're getting hereis a large 5.5-inch displayand some nice features,like a fingerprint reader,as well as, a glass backand a metal chassis.And, because we've got theWindows Phone version here,we also have a VR headset,which comes in a box.So, it looks very muchlike something like Gear VRand I'm actually curious.I've never tried a Windows Phonethat actually has any kind of VR support.Oh, wow, this is actuallyreally nice packaging.What you're getting here,especially for 200 bucks,is pretty solid.This should be the fullContinuum experience.What?!I will say the hardware ofthis guy definitely is noton par with the Idol.It's very much plasticky andthe bezels are pretty giant.But again, 230 bucks,including all of this stuff.One of the most promising featuresof Windows 10 Mobile is Continuum.So, paired with this dock,which gives you not only USB3and HDMI, as well as acouple of USB2 ports,is that you can take your phone, dock it,and once you have a mouse,keyboard, and monitor,essentially this singledevice can do double duty,as your phone, as well as your desktop.At least, in theory.The last phone I took a look atthat ran Continuum was the HP Elite x3and, to be fair, thatwas a very premium phone,but also came with a premiumprice tag of about $700.The Acer, in theory, supports allof the same Continuumfeatures and there's a lotof potential here.However, it feels like itreally isn't fully baked.So, we take a look at it, onceyou're actually plugged into the dock and a monitor.This looks very muchlike standard Windows.However, once you actually get into it,you realize that this isdefinitely not a full copy.One of the big problems here isthat everything is just really slow.Now, say we're in Edge and,yes, we can kind of scroll,but it's very jerky.It's not particularlysmooth and that's annoying.I mean, sure, this is phone hardware,so you shouldn't expect itto be as fast as a laptop,but this is a lot slower.On top of that, there's just not that muchthat you can actually do.So, to be fair,the Microsoft Edge browseris fairly full-featured,but once you actuallyopen up the Windows menu,you'll see that, beyond the standard appsthat come with WindowsPhone, there's not a lotof extra support.This guy does not runfull Windows applications.It's really disappointing,because Continuum feelsway ahead of its time.And phones like the GalaxyS8 have actually supporteda very similar sort ofsetup and, honestly,have done it a lotbetter, which just sucks.I mean, come on.This is Microsoft.If anyone is gonna pull offrunning Windows on a phoneand on a desktop, it's going to be them.With the Idol 4S, the bigfeature is the VR headsetthat comes in the box and Iam actually kind of curiousto see how this is going to work.I'm actually not totallysure how this is connected,since it actually doesn'tconnect via USB-C.But I do have some buttons here.I will say it is a 1080p screen,which makes it a littlebit sketchy looking,but let's just see.So, I'm in a 360 video right now andI mean, the tracking looks okay.I mean, it's VR.It works.I guess.I mean, the 360 effect looks okay,but it's nowhere near as polishedas something like Gear VR.I honestly don't think anyone would spendsome serious time at this.Gimmicks aside, what I'm curious about ishow usable Windows Phone is today.So, the big downsides tobasically all Windows Phones,besides this and a coupleof the more recent ones,such as the HP, is that theyare no longer supported.So, Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone 8.1,none of these are gonnabe getting any updatesand, if the rumors are true,Windows 10 is actually not goingto be that much farther behind.To be fair, there are someapps that are still supportedon Windows Phone, mostlybecause a lot of the appsthat are meant for the Windows10 store will run here.When you look through the top category,the apps are pretty slim.Once you get past a few of the main ones,there's not a lot that's stillgoing to run on this phone.It is very clearthat the software is what'sholding back these phones.'Cause the hardware,actually, isn't too bad.So, with the Acer,not only are you gettinga 1080p AMOLED display,which looks pretty nice, butit also has a Snapdragon 808.Maybe not the newest thing in the world,but totally decent.And yet, not a lot actually works.The Idol 4S even bumps thatup to a Snapdragon 820.You're still getting thenice glass and metal buildand there are a lot ofnice little features,like having the fingerprint sensor,as well as the dual front-firing speakers.Something that does hold uppretty well on both phones,however, are the cameras.Ah, that's actually not bad.So, the Idol 4S actuallydoes a lot with HDRto pull everything in here.Now, with the Acer, man,the camera apps are not badon these phones, but itis really, really slowto take an HDR photo.These look pretty similar,but I actually have to give itto the Acer here, especiallywhen you look really upand close, there's a littlebit less compression.You can see a lot moredetail on the tiles.To me, it's pretty obviousthat Windows Phone ison its way out.Now, yes, you can get pretty good dealson phones that are stilltechnically supported,but don't expect much of a future here.Unless you are a hardcore Windows fanboy,it is really difficult torecommend picking up oneof these in 2017, butwhat do you guys think?Let me know in the commentsbelow and I will catch youon the next one.