Alcatel smartphones. The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos

Alcatel 5 looks quite original, but we still can’t call it beautiful or cute: because of the huge frame on top, it seems that the screen underneath it is unfriendly, as if sullenly, looking at you.

The front panel is distinguished by the already mentioned large frame on top, which they try to “compensate” with very thin ones on the sides and bottom. In addition, you can note thin glossy inserts at the top and bottom.

On the back, the smartphone is decorated with the Alcatel logo, a textured metallic pattern and the same gloss stripe as on the front. There is also a camera lens in the center and a round fingerprint scanner underneath it.

The dimensions of the new product have not yet been announced; only the thickness is indicated - 8.5 mm and weight - 144 grams. By specified parameters it is close to 5-inch, which is already not bad, considering the large difference in diagonals. The case materials are also unknown yet, but it looks and feels like 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 (1440x720 pixels). The pixel density isn't all that high at 282 per inch, but up close you'll see some jaggedness and blurriness in the image.

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

Communications

The communications set of Alcatel 5 is quite typical:

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

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

Battery

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

Performance

The performance of the Alcatel 5 can be called mediocre, but it will not slow down very much. The device uses a MediaTek MT6750 chipset (eight Cortex-A53 cores at 1.5 GHz) and 3 GB of RAM. This should be enough to quickly solve daily tasks and most applications. Except that in heavy games it will slow down.

Peculiarities

Alcatel 5 runs new version Android 8 OS and proprietary interface. The features of the phone are immediately visible - this is a FullView display in 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 your face, in the manner of .

Memory

The smartphone's memory capacity can be called decent: 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, which corresponds to a level above the budget level. There is also a slot for which you can add up to 128 GB.

Price

The start of sales of Alcatel 5 is still unknown, but there is 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 premium for the fashionable screen and dual front camera.

Specifications

• Android 7.0
• Display 5.7 inches, 18:9, 1440x720 pixels, IPS, 2.5D, Dragontrail, up to 5 clicks, automatic adjustment brightness
• MediaTek MT6750 chipset (4 Cortex A53 cores up to 1.5 GHz, 4 Cortex A53 cores up to 1 GHz), GPU MALI-T860M2
• 3 GB RAM, 32 GB internal memory (23 GB available), memory cards up to 32 GB
• Li-Ion battery 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 reduction system
• Rear fingerprint sensor
• Face unlock
• Position sensor (G sensor), proximity sensor, electronic compass, gyroscope
• Plastic body (painted to look like metal)
• Case colors – gold or black metallic
• Dimensions – 152.3x71.1x8.45 mm, weight – 144 grams

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone
• Charger with USB cable
• Instructions
• SIM tray eject tool

Positioning

TCL Mobile decided to market brands such as Alcatel and Blackberry. As a result, the Alcatel line ends at the level of 15,000 rubles (about 250 euros), and Blackberry starts at the level of 250-300 euros. From the manufacturer’s point of view, 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 ones. And this is not good, since in the past Alcatel has proven itself as a supplier interesting solutions in terms of price/quality ratio, including on average price segment.

In the 2018 lineup, Alcatel 5 plays the role of a flagship, although by market standards this model cannot be called a flagship; it is an ordinary mid-ranger with a number of fashionable options - face unlock, improved front cameras. Here we have a typical offer from a B-brand, in which a number of characteristics have been improved in order to distinguish the device from the many analogues that are already on the market.

In my opinion, this model will be of interest to everyone who is looking for a simple design, a large screen and at the same time does not require too much from the device. For those who meticulously study the characteristics, the model is definitely not suitable, since there is an excess supply in this price segment, and most devices are in exactly the same price group. For B-brand consumers, the 18 by 9 screen geometry is not yet a determining factor; they are not willing 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 availability on store shelves and the advertising campaign.

Design, dimensions, control elements

To begin with, the device is completely made of plastic, although it may seem that the side frame is metal; the metallic coating was specially used for this feeling. The device is available in two colors, silver and gold.

I like both options, they look uncluttered, and here we must give credit to Alcatel, 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 slightly more than twice as 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, weight - 144 grams. Due to the roundness of the back panel, the case fits perfectly in the hand, there are no complaints here. The device does not stick out in your pocket, and there are no disadvantages either. 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 there is a paired volume key. The 3.5 mm jack is on the top end, where the second microphone is also located. At the bottom there is a main microphone and a USB Type C connector.

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

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

There are two cameras above the screen, we’ll talk about them separately, but, most importantly, the device has led indicator(it blinks white, quite bright). This is rare for modern devices, so this option is welcome.

The bottom line about the quality of materials and impressions of the design of the model is that it compares favorably with many of its classmates; you can feel the style here. Another thing is that many will simply ignore it and 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, has automatic brightness adjustment. But if we put aside the dry characteristics, then it must be said that the automatic brightness adjustment works strangely, it is very late outdoors, so the display often becomes unreadable, and you have to peer into it. The maximum brightness of the backlight is lower than on many devices, which does not cause problems indoors, but in bright sunlight it already creates inconvenience during automatic adjustment. By turning the backlight to maximum, you will get a clearly visible picture.

And this is what the picture looks like with manual adjustment at maximum.

I like the screen much better indoors, although it simply cannot be called the best. It's good, but the color profile settings are different from most models on the market. And this unfamiliarity hurts your eyes; you need to get used to the device. After a week of use, you will no longer pay attention to it, but at first the colors on the screen catch your eye. Try the device in the store to see how it suits you. Everything here is purely individual. So, many people whom I asked for opinions on color reproduction and picture vibrancy on the Alcatel 5 screen said that everything was fine or just excellent. But to some, like me, the picture seemed somewhat distorted.

The screen is responsive and pleasant to work with. Watching video on the device is also good, the screen geometry does not cause any inconvenience, this is the future that will come for everyone in the near future. It's possible that I would like to higher resolution screen, but in everyday life this is of no use; for most people this resolution is enough.

Battery

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

Unfortunately, the chipset from MediaTek is such that it is very power hungry, for example, the playback time of unconverted video in HD resolution at maximum brightness is just under 5 hours.

A surprisingly low figure, which has become a kind of business card for chipsets from MediaTek, in other use cases it’s not so bad. 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 calls. That is, Alcatel 5 can provide a full working day. It’s a pity, but the device does not hold a record for operating time; many manufacturers that use similar chipsets install batteries with a capacity of 4000 mAh or even more to compensate for the shortcomings of the processor and 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. In terms of memory, everything is excellent in the device; there are no limitations that 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 will not be any of them among the buyers of this device.

MediaTek MT6750 chipset (4 Cortex A53 cores up to 1.5 GHz, 4 Cortex A53 cores up to 1 GHz), MALI-T860M2 graphics processor. This is an average solution in terms of performance, there are no outright failures or achievements, it is enough for the interface and operation of most applications. Look at the results of synthetic tests.

Communication capabilities

Let me start by saying that there are no problems with GPS, everything works well, the start is almost instant, 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 LTE standard supports the following frequencies: band 1/3/7/8/20/28A, no frequency aggregation, LTE cat.4.

Cameras

The camera interface has been redesigned, it has become simpler and more intuitive. Some may like it, while others will miss the old show.

The front camera is dual, with a flash and quite advanced, here are the characteristics of these modules: 13 and 5 megapixels (sensor – 1/3.06; 1/4; pixel size – 1.12 µm, 1.4 µm; aperture f/2.0, f/2.4; fixed focus ). The downside is obvious and is the lack of autofocus, however, photographs taken at arm's length turn out 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 can’t say that I’m 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 light compensation, and the white balance is off. In short, this camera is not for those who want to take high-quality photographs. And, in principle, this is a problem for many manufacturers at this level. In the video, autofocus is sluggish, and the light correction in the composition is also not adjusted. Look at sample photos and videos below.

Software

It's surprising that Alcatel's flagship comes out on the 7th Android versions, there is no information about the availability of the G8 for this device. During testing, the device received an update that corrected a small number of errors, but nothing else happened. About standard Android capabilities I won’t tell you, you can read about them separately. Let's focus on the features of the device and its unusual sides.

The menu has a simplified mode, when the device displays large icons.

A feature of 2018 that all manufacturers are trying to implement is face unlocking. The setup is straightforward, the manufacturer claims that this type of unlocking is not as reliable as a fingerprint, but in practice it is difficult to hack 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 responds noticeably faster). This unlocking does not work in the dark.

In the settings there is a translucent 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 this may annoy someone. You can also assign an imitation to the key touch buttons(“Home”, “Back”, “Open applications”).

The device supports the creation of duplicate applications for communication; you can create two pairs of any instant messengers.

The Resource Manager app is an easy way to see how much memory you're using, how your battery is performing, and which apps are hogging it. In the application manager, you can specify which applications will be allowed for automatic start, which will be in deep sleep and not waste resources. Everything is extremely convenient.

IN additional settings there is a Super Cleaner option, this clears the cache on the phone, it’s better not to go here if you’re not sure you know what it’s for.

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

The built-in FM radio only works 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 because it has an AW8737 amplifier; it makes the sound in the headphones more powerful than many devices of this level. But it’s still impossible to say that it is very different. It's about the same.

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

Impression

This device has no complaints regarding the reception quality, everything is good. The connection is reliable, data transfer, although not the fastest, is without problems. I will 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 device has a design, although the materials used (plastic) are simple, but the model looks nice. The screen is large, but it’s not for everyone and takes some getting used to. Unfortunately, the quality of the main camera is average, there is nothing to brag about, which is typical for this price segment. Operating time is also not the strong point of Alcatel 5; the model does not work for very long, up to one day.

At a cost of 12,990 rubles, I would like to see NFC, but it is also missing; about Android 8, I will note that I would like it, but it is not there either. The bottom line is that we get a device that is interesting because of its 18 x 9 screen geometry, but for many users this is secondary; other aspects are more important to them.

In this price segment, the offer today is huge, you can choose from several dozen models, I will not list them all, I will only note those that are highly popular. For example, it could be old Xiaomi Redmi The Note 5A Prime, which has a Snapdragon 435 chipset, 3GB 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 by anyone.

Fundamentally higher class Honor 9 Lite, in free sale it costs 14,990 rubles, but for members of the Huawei club there is a discount of a thousand rubles, which brings it closer to the described Alcatel 5. This device has 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 benefits in terms of hardware and perception. The glass body, like on flagships, is another plus, I really like it.

The Meizu M5 Note model is an outgoing model, but it is quite capable of competing with this device at a cost of 12,990 rubles. Exactly the same amount of memory, but the MT6755 processor, more time works on a single charge, 4000 mAh battery and a fingerprint sensor on the front panel. In a word, you can take a closer look at it, although I would still choose something new. But this is a time-tested device with few complaints.

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

Alcatel 5 is an inexpensive smartphone by the standards of the modern Russian mobile device market, which, however, has now taken the place of the flagship in the Alcatel family. TCL, which owns this trademark, after acquiring the brand, Blackberry began to separate the products of these two brands away from each other, and Alcatel products were assigned a lower price niche against the backdrop of the premium Blackberry. Thus, simple in many respects, but certainly interesting in some ways, Alcatel 5 turned out to be a completely affordable model, and today we will look at its technical capabilities in detail.

Main characteristics of Alcatel 5 (5086D)

• SoC MediaTek MT6750, 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53 @1/1.5 GHz
• GPU Mali-T860
• operating room Android system 7.0
• Touchscreen IPS 5.7″, 1440×720 (18:9), 282 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 3 GB, internal memory 32 GB
• Nano-SIM support (2 pcs.)
• MicroSD support up to 128 GB
• GSM/WCDMA/HSPA+ networks
• LTE FDD Cat.4 networks (3, 7, 8, 20, 28)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
• Bluetooth 4.2
• USB Type-C,USB OTG
• GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BDS
• Main camera 12 MP, f/2.2, autofocus, 1080p
• Front camera 13 + 5 MP, f/2.0, f/2.4; fixed focus
• Proximity and light sensors, magnetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope
• Fingerprint's scanner
• Battery 3000 mAh
• Dimensions 152×71×8.5 mm
• Weight 144 g

Contents of delivery

The smartphone comes complete with a USB cable, an AC adapter (5 V; 2 A), a wired stereo headset with headphones without pads, and a card eject key. Paper documentation in Russian is available.

Appearance and ease of use

The body of Alcatel 5 is completely plastic, but we really liked the design: it’s not the usual symmetrical, battered “remnant” streamlined on all sides with rounded edges, but a kind of prefabricated version, where the main part of the body looks like polished metal, and the top and bottom are fixed at the ends panels made to resemble chromed metal.

The body narrows towards the side edges; in profile, the smartphone seems very thin; in the hand, due to the sloping rear back and small mass, it fits perfectly, does not slip and does not collect fingerprints. Due to its light and narrow body, the smartphone can be placed in clothing pockets without any problems. Overall, in terms of ergonomics, the Alcatel 5 is a pleasure to handle.

There are no complaints about the quality of materials or assembly - everything fits perfectly, does not creak when compressed, the body is monolithic. The matte surface of the case is not at all slippery, but still a included case would have been nice. Chinese manufacturers like Oppo and Vivo, even Huawei has already learned that it’s easier to get a penny clear case included, rather than looking for one for a rare model. Sometimes this is simply impossible to do; it will hardly be easy to find a case for the hero of the review.

The only thing that spoils the impression of the finished product stylish design, this is the corrugation of the ring around the camera. Why is this? The notches are completely out of place there; a smooth chrome-plated rim would look organic with the end inserts, but it’s neither one nor the other.

The design of the remaining elements, on the contrary, does not cause rejection: the fingerprint scanner area, for example, is designed exactly as it should, with a smooth polished ring, it looks great. The scanner is slightly recessed, its platform is conveniently installed under index finger, it is easy to find by touch, it stands out well tactilely. There are no complaints about the work of the scanner; it works clearly, without errors in recognition.

The front panel under the glass is attractively decorated with a geometric pattern in the form of longitudinal lines, and this immediately enriched the image. All elements above the screen are located symmetrically, there is an event indicator - in general, it’s a real pleasure.

Special thanks for doing without the notorious “bangs”, which are now being copied from the design Apple iPhone X most manufacturers.

There are no touch-sensitive hardware buttons below the screen, so only a very narrow strip is left here empty space. Thank God, at least TCL does not attach its logo here - this terribly infuriates users.

The side keys are usually installed on one side face. The buttons are narrow and harsh, but they have a tactile difference.

The card slot is hybrid: it can accommodate two Nano-SIM cards or a memory card with one Nano-SIM. Hot swapping of cards is supported.

On the top end there is a hole for an auxiliary microphone and a 3.5 mm audio output for headphones - yay!

At the same time, the USB port is represented at the bottom end with a modern and up-to-date Type-C connector, and this is so pleasing that you can even forgive its asymmetrical location relative to the longitudinal axis. The main speaker, as well as the conversational microphone, are also located here, at the bottom end.

In addition to the golden color (Metallic Gold), Alcatel 5 is also sold in black (Metallic Black), which looks even more beautiful and more strict. The smartphone did not receive moisture protection.

Screen

Alcatel 5 is equipped with an IPS display covered with Asahi Dragontrail 2.5D protective glass. The 5.7″ diagonal screen is elongated, it has an aspect ratio of 18:9 and a resolution of 1440×720, its physical dimensions are 65×130 mm. The frame around the display is narrow: 3 mm on the sides, 7 mm on the bottom and 16 mm on the top.

It is possible to use automatic brightness adjustment based on the operation of the ambient light sensor. Multi-touch tests diagnose support for 5 simultaneous touches.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are no worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Alcatel 5, then they can be distinguished by size):

The Alcatel 5's screen is slightly darker (photo brightness 119 versus 122 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the Alcatel 5 screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (slightly better in efficiency than the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.

When manually controlling brightness and when outputting a white field full screen the maximum brightness value was about 480 cd/m², the minimum - 15 cd/m². The maximum brightness is high, and given the excellent anti-glare properties, readability on a sunny day outdoors could be good, but everything is spoiled by the dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness (see below). In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located in the upper right corner on the front panel). IN automatic mode When external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider. If it is 100%, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 50 cd/m² (a little bright, but acceptable), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 550 lux) it sets it to 230 cd/m² (normal), in very bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight- 20,000 lux or a little more) the brightness increases to 480 cd/m² (to the maximum, which is what is needed). If the slider is at about 50%, then the values ​​are as follows: 15, 95 and 480 cd/m² (the second value is a bit low, but generally normal), and if the slider is at 0% - 6, 20 and 480 cd/m² (the first and second values underestimated). We were more satisfied with the option with a slider of about 75% - 20, 160 and 480 cd/m². It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.

This smartphone uses an IPS matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which identical images are displayed on the screens of Alcatel 5 and Nexus 7, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and the color balance on the camera is forced to switch to 6500 K.

There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field.

And a test picture:

The color balance of the screens is clearly different, color saturation is normal, the picture on Alcatel 5 is clearly darkened.

Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, but on the Alcatel 5 the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to the strong bleaching of blacks.

And a white field:

The brightness at an angle of the screens has decreased (at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the Alcatel 5 screen at this angle is slightly brighter. When deviated diagonally, the black field brightens greatly and acquires a bluish tint. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is average:

The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 1200:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 21 ms (11 ms on + 10 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 35 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.20, which is equal to the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence:

This device has an aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the output image - on average dark images, the backlight brightness is greatly reduced. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - (however, as always) when displaying special templates with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen. In general, such a non-switchable brightness correction does nothing but harm, since constantly changing the brightness of the screen can at least cause some discomfort, reduce the visibility of gradations in shadows in the case of dark images and reduce the readability of the screen in bright light, since in images that are not the lightest on average, the backlight brightness is underestimated .

Color gamut is close to sRGB:

The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components with each other:

As a result, the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is average, since the color temperature is significantly higher than the standard 6500 K, but the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is below 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device (data signed as Without corr. in the graphs below). At the same time, the color temperature changes little from shade to shade - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since there is no color balance of great importance, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

This device has a fairly advanced system of profiles and settings, supposedly providing the ability to adjust color balance, etc. It’s called MiraVision. You can try to correct the color balance (or more specifically, lower the color temperature) in three places. On the page Colorful temperature in MiraVision:

In the screen settings (parameter Colorful temperature):

And on the page EYE PROTECTION in MiraVision. Let us recall that, in principle, bright light can lead to disruption of the daily (circadian) rhythm (see article about), but this problem can be solved by adjusting the brightness to a comfortable level, and there is absolutely no point in distorting the color balance, reducing the contribution of blue.

Moreover, only the last option works normally; for the first two, 6500 K is not within the range. The result is data signed as Corr. in the graphs above. As a result, we adjusted the color temperature, and ΔE on average decreased slightly. At the same time, the maximum brightness decreased to 400 cd/m².

Let's summarize: formally the screen has a high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can somehow be used outdoors even on a sunny summer day. For conditions of complete darkness, you can set a comfortable brightness level. The mode with automatic brightness adjustment works adequately. The advantages of the screen include the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, an effective oleophobic coating, high contrast, as well as an sRGB color gamut and a color balance close to standard (after correction). Significant disadvantages include low black stability due to gaze deviation from perpendicular to the screen plane and aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image. In general, the screen quality is conditionally slightly above average.

Cameras

The front camera in Alcatel 5 is advanced, it has a dual module with a sensor resolution of 13 and 5 megapixels, the lenses have a maximum aperture of f/2.0 and f/2.4. It even has its own LED flash, but there is no autofocus. You can apply a “beautifier” to images; the difference is visible in test images. The last photo is taken in group selfie mode; it is selected separately in the menu; there is no quick button for it on the viewfinder screen. But the camera automatically switches to group mode, detecting the presence of three or more people’s faces in the frame.

The quality in terms of detail and color reproduction of the main front camera is quite tolerable, especially considering the abundance of green in the frame. The camera handled all this well, and even the white balance was set correctly. There are also no special complaints about sharpness across the frame field. The camera is very good for its level, this is one of the strongest points of the Alcatel 5 smartphone, but it still lacks autofocus. The wide-angle module, designed for taking group selfies, takes worse pictures as expected; you should not switch to this shooting mode unless necessary.

But the main camera is unremarkable, although in good lighting it produces images of quite passable quality, both in detail and in sharpness. It received a sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels and a lens with an f/2.2 aperture. The control menu is chaotic: it’s impossible to even get to the settings in video mode; you have to switch to photography every time. Naturally, there is no standard option for saving images in RAW.

Examples of photos taken with the main camera:

The quality of the pictures is surprisingly decent even in dim lighting, and on a sunny summer day the frames do not require correction at all, they can be viewed in full size. Perhaps all the pictures lack sharpness a little, ringing You can’t really call it here - perhaps this is a consequence of the work of the noise reduction. But for its intended purpose, the noise reduction works perfectly. In general, for a smartphone priced at 13 thousand rubles, such cameras are a real find.

The camera can shoot video in maximum resolution 1080p at 30 fps, no more advanced modes. There is no optical stabilization either. In general, the camera copes well with video shooting, but nothing more. Sharpness is normal, there are no special complaints about color reproduction, but detail is low. IN soundtrack You may notice slight distortion; the sound recorded here is not of the best quality.

Video examples:

• Video No. 1 (34 MB, 1920×1080@30 fps, H.264, AAC)
• Video No. 2 (25 MB, 1920×1080@30 fps, H.264, AAC)
• Video No. 3 (21 MB, 1920×1080@30 fps, H.264, AAC)

Telephone and communications

Alcatel 5 has support for LTE Cat.4 networks (data transfer speed 150/50 Mbit/s). Depending on the region, the smartphone can support six LTE FDD frequency bands, including three used in Russia (Band 3, 7, 20). In the Beeline operator network within the city limits, the device registers quickly, but does not demonstrate high speeds even in 4G.

Only one Wi-Fi band is supported (2.4 GHz), there is also Bluetooth 4.2, but NFC module missing, which is sad.

The navigation module works with GPS (with A-GPS) and with the domestic Glonass, but without the Chinese Beidou. During a cold start, the first satellites are detected within the first minute. They didn’t forget to install a magnetic compass, necessary for navigation programs, in the smartphone, which is good news.

Phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing telephone number A search is also carried out immediately using the first letters in contacts. Methods for sorting and displaying contacts are standard for the Android interface.

The platform supports active standby of both SIM cards in 3G/4G simultaneously. That is, the SIM card can be in active standby on a 3G/4G network, and not just on 2G, even if another card is assigned to transmit data on 4G. Cards work in Dual mode SIM Dual Standby, there is only one radio modem.

Software and multimedia

As software platform Alcatel 5 uses the Android OS, which is no longer the latest version 7.0, with its own shell and the ability to update over the air (OTA). There is support for gestures, a virtual on-screen multifunction button. There is an application cloning mode for working with different accounts on social networks. Kit useful utilities includes voice recorder, compass, FM radio, yes file manager, a store of your own themes and a familiar phone manager that provides comprehensive system monitoring.

The ability to recognize a face to unlock a smartphone has been implemented, and it works perfectly - in any conditions, without errors. It is officially reported that the front camera supports facial recognition with 106 identification points.

In terms of sound, Alcatel 5 does not demonstrate anything special; through the loudspeaker the sound is quite simple; in headphones the sound is clearly better, but still this is not a solution for music lovers. The sound is thick and pleasant, but for some reason there is not enough volume reserve. The settings have a five-band equalizer with presets. There is a built-in FM radio.

Performance

Alcatel 5 uses the MediaTek MT6750 single-chip system as its hardware platform. This 28nm SoC is configured with an octa-core processor, with 4 ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.5 GHz and 4 more at 1 GHz. A dual-core Mali-T860 (MP2) video accelerator with a frequency of 520 MHz is responsible for graphics processing. The amount of RAM is 3 GB, and the built-in flash memory is 32 GB. Of these, about 23 GB are free.

It is possible to expand the memory by installing microSD cards, and you can install applications on the memory card. The system also offers to format the card as internal storage. You can also connect external flash drives to USB mode OTG.

MediaTek MT6750 is a weak platform by today's standards. It is produced using an outdated 28-nanometer process technology, is not economical, and is intended for smartphones entry level. It is pointless to expect high results from it, all tests clearly demonstrate this, and releasing a smartphone on it in 2018 is nonsense.

The platform's capabilities are still sufficient for basic needs and tasks, but this is clearly not a gaming solution; demanding games like Injustice 2 slow down. And such a smartphone certainly doesn’t have any performance reserves for the future.

Testing in comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench:

For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions benchmarks, so many worthy and current models- due to the fact that at one time they went through an “obstacle course” on previous versions test programs.

	Alcatel 5 (MediaTek MT6750)	Vivo V9 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 626)	Oppo F7 (MediaTek Helio P60)	Meizu m6s (Samsung Exynos 7872)	Honor 9 lite (HiSilicon Kirin 659)
AnTuTu (v7.x) (more is better)	52404	90155	139207	92315	87589
GeekBench (v4.x) (more is better)	608/2518	942/4650	1533/5831	1321/3190	930/3625

Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:

When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

	Alcatel 5 (MediaTek MT6750)	Vivo V9 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 626)	Oppo F7 (MediaTek Helio P60)	Meizu m6s (Samsung Exynos 7872)	Honor 9 lite (HiSilicon Kirin 659)
3DMark Ice Storm Sling Shot ES 3.1 (more is better)	310	474	1090	420	311
3DMark Ice Storm Sling Shot Ex Vulkan (more is better)	—	424	936	341	362
(Onscreen, fps)			12	12	5
GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (1080p Offscreen, fps)			12	5	5
GFXBenchmark T-Rex (Onscreen, fps)			37	24	19
GFXBenchmark T-Rex (1080p Offscreen, fps)			38	17	19

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

	Alcatel 5 (MediaTek MT6750)	Vivo V9 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 626)	Oppo F7 (MediaTek Helio P60)	Meizu m6s (Samsung Exynos 7872)	Honor 9 lite (HiSilicon Kirin 659)
Mozilla Kraken (ms, less is better)	14182	17080	4738	4463	9666
Google Octane 2 (more is better)	3198	2459	4874	8450	4696
SunSpider (ms, less is better)	1812	2146	1755	859	1320

AndroBench memory speed test results:

Thermal photographs

Below is a thermal image rear surface obtained after 10 minutes of battery testing in the GFXBenchmark program:

Heating is more localized in the upper right part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat camera, the maximum heating was 41 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), this is the average heating in this test for modern smartphones.

Playing video

To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Internet. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, don't expect mobile device decoding everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a table.

Further testing of video playback was performed Alexey Kudryavtsev.

This unit does not appear to support DisplayPort Alt Mode for USB Type-C - outputting image and sound to an external device when connected to USB port, - which was found out with the help of (company). Therefore, we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In the tests we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode. The test results are tabulated: no

Fine No

Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes exhibited green estimates, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Reds marks indicate possible problems related to the playback of the corresponding files.

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since in most cases frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. The screen refresh rate is 61 Hz, so in the case of files with 60 fps, ideal smoothness is not obtained. When playing video files with a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels (720p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly at the height of the screen (in landscape orientation), one to one pixel by pixel, that is, in the original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the actual range in the given file.

Battery life

The non-removable battery installed in Alcatel 5 has a capacity of 3000 mAh. This is not much, especially considering the outdated SoC, which eats up battery power at an incredible rate. In real life, the device, depending on the usage scenario, will last half a day or a day, until an evening charge at most.

Testing has traditionally been done at normal power consumption levels without using power-saving features.

	Battery capacity	Reading mode	Video mode	3D Game Mode
Alcatel 5	3000 mAh	15:15	7:00 am	3 hours 50 minutes
Vivo V9	3260 mAh	20:00	10:00 am	6:00 am
Oppo F7	3400 mAh	20:30	13:15	5:00 a.m.
Meizu M6s	3000 mAh	13:00	10:00 am	4 hours 20 minutes
Honor 9 lite	3000 mAh	21:20	11:10 am	4 hours 40 minutes

Continuous reading in the Moon+ Reader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) with auto-scrolling lasted until the battery was completely discharged for about 15 hours, and when continuously watching videos in high quality (720p) with the same brightness level through home Wi-Fi network The device operates for only 7 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone can work for up to 4 hours, depending on the specific game.

The smartphone does not support fast charging, from its own network adapter it charges in 2 hours 15 minutes with a current of 1.9 A at a voltage of 5 V. Wireless charging The smartphone doesn't support it either.

Bottom line

Poor technical equipment is compensated in Alcatel 5 by its attractive design and fashionable screen geometry with an elongated 18:9 aspect ratio. However, by design and unexpectedly good cameras strengths heroes of the review, perhaps, are exhausted. Screen quality, sound, communication capabilities, autonomy - everything is at a satisfactory level, nothing more. Installing an outdated SoC is frankly frustrating, and the lack of NFC for many now may be a decisive factor against the purchase, especially considering how high the competition is in this price segment. By the way, about the price: in official Russian retail they ask for 13 thousand rubles for Alcatel 5, and this is clearly an inflated price for a device with simple characteristics on a backward platform, albeit in a very attractive shell. This smartphone simply needs to throw off a couple of thousand - fortunately, this device can actually be purchased for 11 thousand rubles, you just need to look hard.

AGREEMENT
for the processing of personal data

Moscow

1. Subject of personal data (Buyer)- a person who submitted an order for the purchase of goods and/or services in the online store and provided his personal data to complete the order (fulfillment of obligations under the relevant agreement concluded by the Buyer with the Operator).
2. Personal data processing operator(Operator): Public Joint Stock Company "Vympel-Communications" (PJSC "VimpelCom"); location: Russian Federation, 127083, Moscow, st. On the eighth of March, house 10, building 14.
3. Purpose of processing personal data: placing an order for the purchase of goods and/or services remotely through the online store of PJSC VimpelCom (concluding an agreement and fulfilling obligations under the agreement).
4. List of personal data of the Buyer: Full Name; Buyer's phone number; E-mail address; product delivery address.
5. List of actions with personal data: The operator processes personal data - collection, recording, systematization, accumulation, use, storage, clarification (updating, changing), extraction, transfer (provision, access), blocking, destruction of personal data. The operator carries out automated processing, non-automated and mixed processing of personal data. general description methods of processing personal data: non-automated method - processing of personal data carried out with the direct participation of a person; automated method - processing of personal data using computer technology.
6. Processing time: 2 years from the date of order.
7. Withdrawal of Consent: Withdrawal of consent to the processing of personal data is sent by the subject of personal data in the form posted on the website on the Internet (www.beeline.ru).
8. Persons involved in processing personal data: Limited Liability Company "I.M. El" (address: 125130, MOSCOW, VYBORGSKAYA STREET, BUILDING 2, BUILDING 1, FLOOR 1 ROOM I ROOM 31), Limited Liability Company "SPSR-EXPRESS" (address: 107031, MOSCOW , ROZHDESTVENKA STREET, BUILDING 5/7, PAGE 2, ROOM V ROOM 18).

By providing your personal data, you confirm that the data for placing an order for the purchase of goods and/or services in the online store VimpelCom PJSC (including when placing an order by phone) filled out by you yourself, you agree to the processing of personal data of VimpelCom PJSC on the above conditions in accordance with the Personal Data Processing Policy (posted on the website www.beeline.ru) , as well as an audio recording of your communication during the period of placing an order and fulfilling obligations under the agreement concluded between the Buyer and the Operator, including telephone conversations during delivery of the goods.