Mid-range phones are not always easy to predict when it comes to camera performance. The DTEK50 provided plenty of clues because the Idol 4 has the same image sensor and lens, and etui Huawei Mate 8 so, results are not all that surprising.

The respective interfaces present some variation in how to shoot, except results can only truly be skewed by turning HDR on or off, or using the manual mode. Much like the DTEK50, daylight images come out best, albeit with more muted colours because of lower shutter speeds and ISO that housse Huawei Honor V8 appears to default to 400.

Adjusting these in manual mode can produce far more dynamic and impressive results, as I did with the palm tree images. It’s also the best way to shoot in low-light or at night because of the noise Auto mode brings out. Even if a night coque Huawei Honor 8 shot comes out a little dark when shot in manual, brightening it afterward can bring out more light detail without making it such a grainy image.

Wrap up

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Despite its obvious limits, the Idol 4 is a noticeable improvement from its predecessor. It’s also not all that different from the DTEK50, which BlackBerry touts as a highly secure Android handset. Is the Idol 4 any less secure? No, not really, it’s just that Alcatel doesn’t offer a software suite that is as deep and productive as BlackBerry does. It’s a matter of different strokes.

The Idol 4 is a $300 phone outright, making it cheaper than others in this category. The two lingering issues are longevity from battery life and Android updates. Motorola’s G4 Plus is available now for $350-$400, depending on the Coque wiko vendor, and is being sold unlocked at Costco now for $349.99. The DTEK50 is available unlocked from BlackBerry directly for $429.99.

Both of those devices are likely to get updates, especially BlackBerry and how it has stuck to a monthly security schedule, whereas the software upgrade process may be murky for Alcatel. Whatever the case, Alcatel put together a decent phone at a price and performance level made for budget-conscious users who are looking for the basics.