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The first VR-ready Windows 10 phone arrives next week
An upgraded version of Alcatel's Idol 4S smartphone will soon be available with Windows 10 Mobile in the US. T-Mobile will be stocking the unique handset, which comes with a Snapdragon 820 processor (a marked improvement over its Android predecessor), 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. You'll be controlling Microsoft's colorful software on a 5.5-inch, 1080p display, which can easily turn into a desktop-lite experience thanks to Continuum. The fingerprint sensor on the back, meanwhile, works with Windows Hello, giving you secure unlocks. Otherwise, it's an attractive but unremarkable device to showcase the flagging mobile OS.
Mini review video: Our quick verdict on the Alcatel Idol 4S
Alcatel isn't a tier-one company. And the Idol 4S, its latest creation, isn't a tier-one phone. So why did we even bother reviewing it, then? It's all about the value -- specifically, what comes in the box. For $399 (or $350, if you pre-order), you get both the mid-range phone and a simple virtual reality headset to go with it. It's true, this VR viewer isn't at the same level as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or even the Samsung Gear VR, but it's good enough for people who haven't yet experienced this whole virtual reality thing and are keen to give it a try. As for the phone itself, we enjoyed its loud, two-way speakers and bright 5.5-inch AMOLED display. Just know that because this is a mid-range phone, after all, the performance and camera won't match any of the high-end devices we typically review. If you weren't going to spend high-end money anyway, and are also looking to get into VR, this could be the ticket.
Alcatel Idol 4S arrives in the US with VR goggles for $350
Now that high-end phone makers Samsung, LG and HTC have had their fun in the sun, it's time for their more affordable counterparts to enjoy the limelight. Alcatel is bringing its Idol 4S flagship to the US for a pre-order price of $350 ($400 retail), and you can start ordering at 8 a.m. PT on July 15 via Alcatel's website. The company is also offering an installment payment option that lets you get the Idol 4S at $37 a month.
MWC Revisited: The best phones in Barcelona this year
The booths have been dismantled, the bigwigs have boarded their planes and the doors have been closed. That's a wrap for Mobile World Congress 2016. Now that our team has had a chance to kick back and reflect on the mobile maelstrom we've just waded through, meet the four smartphones (in no particular order) that stole our hearts and stole the show.
Alcatel doubles down on cheap-good phones with two new Idols
Alcatel OneTouch had a surprise hit on its hands with the Idol 3, a reversible smartphone seated at the crucial corner of cheap and good. Is it any surprise, then, that the Idol 4S popped here at Mobile World Congress? (In a word: no.) We don't have a price to go with the phone yet, but it seems poised to keep the company's mobile momentum rolling along nicely.
