I usually do not write reviews here, but I am posting a review for this one because there is very little information about this phone. I bought it because my old Nexus 6p was dying. Not willing to spend $500 on a phone again, I decided to try out Honor 8, but returned it because it had poor calling quality and was prone to overheat. I bought an ad-free version of Idol 5S here for $220, my score is based on the price.
Good
Build & Design -- As others have said, this looks and feels like $400 phone, not $250 phone. Its look and feel is much better than Moto G5, its main competitor.
Speakers&Headphone jack -- This must have the best speaker I have ever heard from a smartphone (though I have never tried boomsound HTCs). Similarly, its headphone output is much better than N6P or H8. I am impressed here.
Performance -- It uses Snapdragon625, so don't expect a speed demon here. That being said, it is snappy enough for daily uses and light gaming, and it does not overheat like N6P or H8.
USB Type-C -- it is the future, and it supports quickcharge as well.
Near stock Android -- although custom skins are getting better nowadays, I still prefer starting from the stock or near-stock Android.
FM Radio -- oddly enough, this phone comes with FM Radio, in case you like to use it.
Mixed
Screen -- its screen has a nice colors, especially for a sub $300 phone (I would say it is better than the screen on H8), and it can get very bright. However, it is no match to quality AMEOLED when it comes to production of darker colors.
Battery -- it lasts long enough, and having ad-free version helps here according to some user reports. However, it does have relatively small battery.
Camera -- it is not bad, especially for a sub $250 phone -- but it is nothing to write home about, and tend to struggle in poor lighting conditions. N6P and H8 performed better here. The front camera is merely serviceable, as well.
Tweaks -- its version of Android is near stock, which means there are no useful custom tweaks -- the only exception are the equalizer and the ability to change color tones.
(edited) It turned out that Alcatel did add few more common tweaks -- they added the ability to display battery percentage on the status bar (this option is somewhat well-hidden), and they split the volumes for alarms and notifications. As these are some of the most popular tweaks for Android, they win points here.
Bad
Case&Screen Protector -- as far as I am aware, these don't exist as of now for this phone. This phone is slippery, so you have to be extra careful. Note that many of the cases and screen protectors listed on Amazon ATM are for Idol 5, not for 5S, AFIAK.
NFC -- as often with budget phones, there is no NFC here.
Lack of future updates -- Alcatel is not known for providing speedy (or any) major Android updates. You are most likely staying with Nougat till the end of time. This is the biggest flaw IMO, though it may change in future.
Overall, this is a very good media-focused midrange phone it is a great value if you can buy it under $250.
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| Customer Rating | (87) | (1029) | (52) | (14) | (33) |
| Price | From $159.99 | $43.60 | $54.99 | $77.99 | $35.00 |
| Sold By | Available from these sellers | lifeline786 | Mobile Dist | Aimportar USA | lifeline786 |
| Connector Type | Lightning | 3.5mm Jack | Micro USB | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Screen Size | 5.2 inches | 5 inches | 5 inches | 5.0 inches | 5 inches |
| Operating System | Android 7.1 | Android 8.1 | Android 7.0 | android | Android 9.0 |
From the manufacturer
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Portable Entertainment SystemEnjoy an immersive viewing experience with the stunning 5.2-inch Full HD display with clear and crisp sound from the dual 3.6-watt front-facing speakers. |
Stunning DesignThe stunning full-glass design, wrapped in a durable aluminum frame, gives the Idol 5S a slim profile and premium look and feel. |
Instant and Exclusive AccessThe built-in fingerprint sensor gives you instant and exclusive access to your device and select apps, and lets you take photos without hitting the shutter button. |
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High Quality Photos that Stand OutTake high quality photos ready to share with the 12MP large pixel rear camera with dual-tone flash and 8MP front camera with flash. Stand out in social media feeds with fun new camera features that make your photos pop. |
Powerful and EfficientThe Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 powers the premium experiences of the IDOL 5S, so users can enjoy a superior performance, faster response times and fast connectivity coupled with outstanding battery life with the 2620mAh battery that effectively puts in the hours. |
Updated OS with Google AssistantThe IDOL 5S runs the Android 7.1 Nougat OS. Multi-task more efficiently with two windows open at once with Split Screen View, and experience your own personal Google with Google Assistant. |
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I feel the Alcatel Idol 5S is a nearly premium smart phone at a basic phone price. Not that a quarter grand is chump change, but you get a lot for your money. It is replaces my even more basic, small LG phone (pictured) that cost about as much two years ago. Even comparing the 5S to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus my wife and I use, in some ways the 5S is a more advanced mobile device. In both body and screen size, it is larger than my 6 and a little smaller than my wife's 6 Plus (also in photos). The screen doesn't have quite the resolution of an Apple Retina, but it is a bright full HD display. It is more than sharp enough for my needs. The difference is minuscule. It's really a perfect size and feels great in my hands.I normally use iOS phones, but I have to say that this Android Nougat phone is easy to get used to and has nearly all of the functionality I'd want from a Smart phone. Most of the apps I use on my iPhone are available for the Idol 5S. It has double the base memory (expandable) of my iPhones, more camera megapixels, and the stereo front-facing speakers beat out those bottom facing one on the older Apple units. Compared to the LG it is replacing, the improvement is night and day. I miss the pull-out keyboard, but that is progress for you. Swapping out the SIM card was easy. I visited my local Verizon store and they were able to switch over my card and get it up and running with the unlocked and add-free phone in less than half an hour.Battery life is good for all day under moderate use. Performance with the Snapdragon 625 processor is snappy. I detect little if any lag and pre-loaded bloatware is minimal. Calls connect easily and sound good on both ends. Streaming video plays flawlessly. My daughter has lots of fun with the camera's slow-motion capture option. It takes decent 12MP photos, but I can’t detect any real improvement over the images from my 8MP iPhone 6.The 5S was newly released when I got it. I wasn't able to get a case for a while, but finally picked up a clear one that works just fine (another photo). With its glass back, I wanted to make sure it was protected. More accessories are slowly becoming available, but it isn't a widely recognized brand, so third party roll outs take more time. It should get more exposure though. Over the past few months, I've been very impressed with the new Alcatel Idol 5S and can't think of many downsides to owning it.~ Kort
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