Since the last few months, octa-core chips have been getting benchmarked and leaked left, right and center. Whether it is the Samsung made Exynos 5420 or the LG Odin, the commonality is that these are not true octa-cores which means that not all eight cores work simultaneously. Instead these chips are based on a big.LITTLE architecture with two groups of four cores each, while one group handles the heavy graphics, the other focuses on the lighter housekeeping tasks.
The Idol X+ is the first device to be powered by a true octa-core processor and was first launched by TCL in China. The device will now be coming to Europe, as early as February this year, under the Alcatel OneTouch brand. The Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ would support dual micro-SIMs and is powered by the MediaTek MT6592 clocked at 2 GHz, which is the fastest true octa-core processor in the market today. The device boasts of a 5.0 inch full-HD 1080 p IPS display, a 13 mega pixels (MP) primary camera which is capable of 40 MP panorama shots and digital stabilization for video recording. A 2 MP front facing camera offers support for video calls.
The device is powered by a 2500 mAh battery and boasts of dedicated audio amplifier chips from the audio major ESS. 16 GB of Internal storage is available on the device, of which 12.3 GB is available to the user for app installation. The storage can be expanded thanks to the built in Micro-SD slot which supports expansion up to 32 GB via a micro-SD card. In China the device ships with JBL earbuds and a Bluetooth activity tracker bizarrely termed the BoomBand, however there is no indication whether our readers in the UK would get these goodies when the Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ gets launched.
The Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ also shows off its impressive build quality. The device sports a slim profile with a 7.9 mm thick waistline. The back of the phone features a brushed metallic finish (though it is plastic) and has a spin finish which is achieved by in-mould labelling. The phone is coated in a special oleophobic nano-treatment finish, which provides protection from fingerprints and smudges.
The best news so far is the price point for this device. The Idol X+ will be sold for an expected $300 unsubsidized. All in all, the device is tantalizing and we would definitely wait for it to hit US shores. Are you excited about this phone? Let us know in the comments below.