Alcatel OneTouch is known for its persistent presence in the entry-level and affordable segments of the smartphone world, and the announcement of the Pixi 4 family and the Pixi 3 Windows 10 Mobile tablet prove the company shows no sign of slowing down.
The Pixi 4 family will include 3.5-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch smartphones, while also including a 7-inch tablet — a wide range of sizes that are sure to fit just about any hand out there. The latter three are powered by quad-core processors, and all four include Polaroid software that lets users create collages and add effects to pictures. The 4-inch and 6-inch Pixi 4 include a front-facing flash that should come in handy when taking selfies in the dark.
Due to its sheer size, the 6-inch Pixi 4 includes software meant to make it easier to use one-handed, though Alcatel didn’t specify what those features are. In addition, the handset, along with the 7-inch Pixi 4 tablet, includes the ability to view multiple windows, similar to Samsung’s Multi-Window.
Alcatel also highlighted the 7-inch Pixi 4 tablet, which is both splash-proof and dust-proof, thanks to its IP52 rating. The tablet comes with Here Maps pre-installed, though we presume you can disable it if you so desire.
Alcatel didn’t mention when its Pixi 4 line will be available for purchase, or for how much — we hope that sort of information will arrive in due time.
Meanwhile, the 8-inch Pixi 3 is the first tablet from Alcatel to come with Windows 10 Mobile, an interesting choice of operating system given the availability of Windows 10 and its included tablet mode. Alcatel did not indicate whether the tablet will support Continuum, but the quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor paired with 1GB of RAM doesn’t exactly hint at a positive response to that question.
Continuing our tour under the hood reveals 8GB of internal storage, which can thankfully be expanded up to 32GB through the MicroSD card slot. In addition, the 3,240mAh battery should be enough to power the Pixi 3 (8) for several hours. Surprisingly, you can actually make calls with the tablet, though we’d advise sticking to a Bluetooth accessory unless you don’t mind looking absolutely ridiculous.
Looking at the surface reveals an 8-inch, 1,280 × 800 IPS screen, with a 2-megapixel camera sitting right above it. Turning the Pixi 3 (8) around reveals a 5-megapixel camera sans flash.
When initially available in Europe and Latin America in April, the Pixi 3 (8) will come in white, gold, and volcanic black. If those colors are too boring for your taste, the optional Color Skin covers come in blue, pink, and yellow. Also optional and removable, the Stand Flip Case lets you prop up the Pixi 3 (8) if you’re watching a movie, for example.
Finally, if Windows 10 Mobile doesn’t quite cut it for your needs, a separate version of the Pixi 3 (8) will come with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Much like its Windows 10 Mobile-powered sibling, the Android-based Pixi 3 (8) will be available in Europe and Latin America in April, with no mention of North American availability and pricing for either variant.
