The Alcatel Idol X+ and Acer CloudMobile S500 represent a bygone era of budget smartphones, offering affordable options with varying strengths. Both devices aimed to deliver a decent experience without breaking the bank, but how do they stack up against each other? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Alcatel Idol X+ emerges as the winner thanks to its significantly longer battery life and superior contrast ratio, particularly in sunlight. While the Acer CloudMobile S500 boasts a slightly better nominal contrast, the Idol X+'s endurance makes it the more practical choice for everyday use.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (Dual SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps | HSPA |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, January. Released 2014, Q2 | 2012, February. Released 2012, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 140.4 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm (5.53 x 2.72 x 0.31 in) | 127 x 65.8 x 9.9 mm (5.0 x 2.59 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 125 g (4.41 oz) | 122 (4.30 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~342 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~71.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.3 inches, 51.0 cm2 (~61.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A7 | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6592 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8260A Snapdragon S4 Plus |
| GPU | Mali-450MP4 | Adreno 225 |
| OS | Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 4.4.4 (KitKat) | Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB/ 32GB (optional), 2GB RAM | 8GB 1GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 13.1 MP, AF | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| | - | HD |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | - | CloudMobile cloud service
MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
DivX/XviD/MP4/H.264 player
Organizer
Document viewer
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 36 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 320 h (2G) / Up to 240 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 20 h (2G) / Up to 12 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removable | Removable Li-Ion 1460 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Black |
| Models | 6043D | - |
| Price | About 290 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.0dB / Crosstalk -82.1dB |
Noise -81.6dB / Crosstalk -80.0dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 45h
| Endurance rating 30h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 895:1 (nominal), 3.527 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1063:1 (nominal) / 1.931:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 64dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 69dB
|
Voice 59dB / Noise 58dB / Ring 66dB |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -92.0dB / Crosstalk -82.1dB | Noise -81.6dB / Crosstalk -80.0dB |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 45h | Endurance rating 30h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 895:1 (nominal), 3.527 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 1063:1 (nominal) / 1.931:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 64dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 69dB | Voice 59dB / Noise 58dB / Ring 66dB |
alcatel Idol X+
- Significantly longer battery life
- Better sunlight display visibility
- More powerful Octa-core processor
- Potentially better value due to battery advantage
- Older chipset (Mediatek)
- Likely limited storage
- Basic camera performance
Acer CloudMobile S500
- Slightly better nominal contrast ratio
- Potentially more modern chipset (Snapdragon)
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Poorer sunlight display visibility
- Less powerful Dual-core processor
- Likely limited storage
- Basic camera performance
Display Comparison
Both phones feature displays with a respectable nominal contrast ratio of 895:1 and 1063:1 respectively. However, the Idol X+ shines in direct sunlight with a contrast ratio of 3.527 compared to the CloudMobile S500's 1.931. This suggests better readability outdoors for the Idol X+. Screen resolution and size are likely similar, around 480x854, typical for budget devices of that era.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are limited, but both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities. Image quality would likely be comparable, with both struggling in low-light conditions. Expect grainy images and limited dynamic range. Neither phone was a photography powerhouse.
Performance
The Idol X+ packs a punch with its Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A7 processor, offering a noticeable performance advantage over the Acer CloudMobile S500's Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the Idol X+. The Mediatek chipset, while older, generally handled basic tasks well.
Battery Life
This is where the Idol X+ truly dominates. Its endurance rating of 45h significantly surpasses the Acer CloudMobile S500's 30h. This translates to considerably longer usage time between charges, a crucial factor for many users.
Buying Guide
The Alcatel Idol X+ is ideal for users prioritizing battery life and decent outdoor visibility. The Acer CloudMobile S500 might appeal to those seeking a slightly more modern chipset (though still dated) and a marginally better display contrast in controlled lighting, but the battery life is a significant drawback.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still worth buying?
Given their age, these phones are unlikely to be a good choice unless you need a very basic device for minimal tasks and are on an extremely tight budget. Security updates are long gone, and performance will be limited.
❓ What operating system did these phones run?
Both phones likely ran Android 4.4 KitKat or a slightly older version. Updates were minimal, if any.
