Both the Alcatel Fierce XL and the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL represent a bygone era of Windows Phone, targeting the budget-conscious consumer. However, despite similar price points, a key difference lies under the hood: the Alcatel utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 210, while the Lumia 640 XL opts for the Snapdragon 400. This comparison dissects these differences, alongside display and battery performance, to determine which device offers the better experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a functional, albeit aging, Windows Phone experience, the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL is the superior choice. The Snapdragon 400 provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Snapdragon 210 in the Alcatel Fierce XL, resulting in smoother multitasking and app loading, without sacrificing battery life.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 12 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, January. Released 2016, February | 2015, March. Released 2015, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 151.9 x 77.8 x 9.5 mm (5.98 x 3.06 x 0.37 in) | 157.9 x 81.5 x 9 mm (6.22 x 3.21 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 174 g (6.14 oz) | 171 g (6.03 oz) |
| | Splash and dust resistant | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Asahi Dragontrail Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~259 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.7 inches, 88.9 cm2 (~69.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | - | ClearBlack display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.1 GHz Cortex-A7 | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8909 Snapdragon 210 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8226 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 304 | Adreno 305 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 10 | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Microsoft Windows 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 8GB 1GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Zeiss optics, LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), 1/3.0", AF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 5 MP |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass, sensor core |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 820 h (3G) | Up to 936 h (2G) / Up to 936 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 14 h (3G) | Up to 31 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 23 h 40 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Light Blue | Matte cyan, Orange, Black, Matte white, Glossy white |
| Price | - | About 170 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -94.4dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 74h
|
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1119:1 (nominal), 3.065 (sunlight) |
alcatel Fierce XL (Windows)
- Potentially lower price point (depending on current market availability)
- Large screen size for media consumption
- Acceptable battery life (74h endurance)
- Significantly slower performance due to Snapdragon 210
- Likely limited app compatibility due to aging Windows Phone OS
- Camera performance likely subpar
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
- Better performance with Snapdragon 400
- Comparable battery life to the Alcatel Fierce XL
- Potentially better software support (though limited)
- May be slightly more expensive than the Alcatel Fierce XL
- Aging Windows Phone OS with limited app availability
- Camera performance likely still limited
Display Comparison
Both devices share a similar display contrast ratio of 1119:1 (nominal) and 3.065 (sunlight), suggesting comparable outdoor visibility. However, the context data lacks information regarding screen resolution, size, or panel technology (IPS, TFT). Given the target market, it's likely both utilize TFT panels. The lack of detailed display specs makes a definitive judgment difficult, but the similar contrast ratios suggest a broadly comparable viewing experience in terms of color depth and visibility under direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Unfortunately, the provided data doesn’t detail camera specifications beyond the chipsets. Given the market segment, both phones likely feature basic camera setups. Without knowing sensor sizes, apertures, or megapixel counts, a direct comparison is impossible. It’s reasonable to assume both cameras will struggle in low-light conditions and produce images with limited detail. The absence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device further limits their photographic capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Microsoft Lumia 640 XL’s Snapdragon 400, with its quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU, represents a clear upgrade over the Alcatel Fierce XL’s Snapdragon 210 (1.1 GHz). While both utilize the Cortex-A7 architecture, the 400’s higher clock speed and more efficient architecture translate to faster app launches, smoother web browsing, and improved multitasking. The Snapdragon 400 also features a more capable Adreno 306 GPU, offering a better, though still limited, gaming experience compared to the Adreno 304 in the 210. The 28nm fabrication process is shared, meaning thermal efficiency differences are minimal, but the 400 will still handle sustained loads better.
Battery Life
Both the Alcatel Fierce XL and the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL boast an endurance rating of 74 hours, suggesting similar battery life under typical usage. This implies that despite the Snapdragon 400 being more powerful, its increased efficiency offsets the power draw, resulting in comparable longevity. Charging speeds are unknown for both devices, but given their age and target market, it’s unlikely either supports fast charging technologies. The 74-hour rating is a significant positive, indicating all-day battery life for moderate users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Alcatel Fierce XL (Windows) if you absolutely need the lowest possible price point for a large-screen Windows Phone and are willing to tolerate significantly slower performance. Buy the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL if you prioritize a more responsive user experience, even for basic tasks, and value the slightly better overall performance offered by the Snapdragon 400 chipset.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 210 in the Alcatel Fierce XL struggle with modern apps, even basic ones?
Yes, the Snapdragon 210 is a very low-end processor. Even for apps available on Windows Phone 8.1, you'll likely experience significant lag and slow loading times. Modern web browsing will also be sluggish. It's best suited for very basic tasks like calls and texts.
❓ Is the Lumia 640 XL likely to receive any further software updates, given the end of Windows Phone support?
Unfortunately, no. Microsoft officially ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 several years ago. While some security updates may have been released, there will be no further feature updates or OS upgrades. Both devices are effectively frozen in time from a software perspective.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 400 handle multitasking compared to the Snapdragon 210?
The Snapdragon 400 handles multitasking significantly better. The increased processing power and more efficient architecture allow it to switch between apps more smoothly and keep more apps running in the background without noticeable slowdowns. The Snapdragon 210 will struggle with even a few open apps.
