Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Everything you need to know about the Alcatel Idol 5

The Alcatel Idol 5 releases in October exclusively through Cricket Wireless

By

While there have been many rumors surfacing about Alcatel’s next phone, details on the device have officially been released. The TCL-owned brand is following up to its predecessors —  last year’s Idol 4S and this year’s Idol 5S — with the Alcatel Idol 5 which will be available by the end of October exclusively through Cricket Wireless.

Design

On the outside, the Idol 5 is encased in a sleek-looking metal body, with aluminum edges wrapped around a curved Gorilla Glass 5.2-inch full HD display. On the bottom, you will find the 3.5 mm headphone jack and USB-type C charging port. The device also features dual front-facing speakers.

Recommended Videos

On the right side, you will see an Alcatel-exclusive Now Key button which gives you faster access to complete tasks. You can launch your commonly used apps like Facebook or Snapchat, take a screenshot, compose an e-mail, and more. There is also a reversible display, which quickly adjusts to the way you pick up the phone whether it’s upside down or right-side up.

Related

Specs

Under the hood is a MediaTek Helio P20 chipset, instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon — seen on both the Idol 4S and Idol 5S. In terms of the operating system, it’s running Android Nougat 7.0 with NFC support and Google Assistant. You will have 2GB of RAM, up to 32GB of internal memory, and it expands to 256GB with a microSD card. As for the camera, there’s a 12-megapixel rear camera with dual-tone flash, and an 8-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera with LED flash. The Idol 5 also packs a 2,850 mAh battery with fast-charging capabilities.

Uni360 VR goggles

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Along with the new device, is the release of the Alcatel Uni360 VR goggles. Even without the Idol 5, the headset is compatible with smartphones that feature 5- to 6-inch displays. It includes a 120-degree field of view, an adjustable head strap, along with a dial to adjust your focus depending on your eyesight. On the bottom, there are “Back” and “Select” buttons.

You are able to download apps from both the Google Play Store and iTunes, but the Idol 5 offers a few more exclusive features such as the VR Launcher. Using the Launcher, you are able to keep all your applications and interactive games organized in one place. The Idol 5’s camera also comes with a passthrough feature to help you see when you’re trying to navigate physical space. You can view text messages, notifications, and accept or reject calls as well.

Pricing and availability

The Idol 5 and Uni360 VR goggles will be available starting October 27 for $200 and $50, respectively. Both devices are only available for purchase at Cricket-branded stores or through Cricket’s website.

Update: Added Alcatel Idol 5 official specs, release date, and Uni360 VR.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Brenda Stolyar
Brenda Stolyar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brenda became obsessed with technology after receiving her first Dell computer from her grandpa in the second grade. While…
When is my phone getting Android 14? Here’s everything we know
Android 14 logo on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Android 14 is out now, and as usual, the first to get it was Google's own Pixel phone family. Not to be undone, Samsung pushed out its version of Android 14 — One UI 6 — after a relatively short beta period and has seemingly now completed its Android 14 rollout. Nothing, the new phone company on the block, has done the same. Now, we're just waiting for more news from Motorola, who has become the stick in the mud holding everyone up.

If you're rocking an Android phone that is still stuck on an old build, here's everything we know about official Android 14 rollout plans for all major brands available in the U.S. market. We recommend using your device's Find on page function to pinpoint your device on this list.

Read more
How fast is 5G? What you need to know about 5G speeds
OnePlus Nord N300 5G speed test.

Cellular carriers around the country are doing everything they can to expand their 5G coverage networks. Millions of people are already covered by a 5G tower in their area, and more are scheduled to arrive throughout 2024 -- bringing increased speeds to folks everywhere from the biggest city to the most remote mountain town. Nearly all modern smartphones now support 5G, making it the new standard for wireless devices.

That means anyone with an iPhone 15 or Galaxy S24 has a phone capable of accessing 5G networks -- but how fast is 5G? And is it noticeably faster than 4G speeds? There are a lot of benefits to 5G networks, but they're not without their growing pains. And like its predecessor, your mileage may vary based on how many people are using the same towers as you or how far away you are from the nearest access point.

Read more
What is an eSIM? Here’s everything you need to know
eSIM page on the iPhone 14.

If you've purchased a new cell phone in the past decade or so, you're probably already familiar with the SIM—the little thumbnail-sized card that's used to connect to your your carrier's cellular network —but in recent years smartphone manufacturers and carriers have started replacing them with something called an eSIM.
The "e" in eSIM stands for "embedded," which makes sense as this is a SIM card that stays inside your phone and can't be removed. It performs the same function as a traditional SIM card but has the potential to make things a lot simpler for most smartphone users. Almost any new phone you buy nowadays features eSIM technology, including the new iPhone 15. In fact, the iPhone 15 doesn't even have a physical SIM card slot available, and all iPhone 15 users need to transfer to eSIM -- giving a hint at where the technology is going. Pretty soon eSIMs could become the standard, with physical SIM cards gradually fading out of use.

But if you're confused by the concept of an eSIM, don't worry -- we've got you covered. Read on as we get more specific about what eSIM technology truly is, and how it differs from its predecessor, the physical SIM card. 

Read more