Alcatel prepares two smartphones, one phablet for US release
updated 10:56 am EST, Mon January 7, 2013
One Touch Scribe HD first to use quad-core MediaTek processor
Alcatel introduced three new Android-based smartphones to its One Touch range at CES today, ahead of the show's opening day. Two of the Jelly Bean mobile phones, the One Touch Idol Ultra and the One Touch Idol, sport a 4.7-inch display, while the company's first "phablet" model, the One Touch Scribe HD, makes use of a larger 5-inch HD IPS display.
The One Touch Idol Ultra is claimed to be the world's slimmest smartphone, measuring in at 6.45mm (0.25-inches) thick. The Ultra also has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor supported by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of built-in storage, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera that can record 1080p video 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 720p AMOLED display.
The entry-level One Touch Idol is slightly thicker than the Ultra at 8.15mm (0.32-inches), and has a lower 960x540 resolution for its screen. Though the processor is similar, it only has 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, but it equals its Ultra sibling by having an 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front-facing equivalent.
With a five-inch 1280x720 display, the One Touch Scribe HD firmly fits into phone-tablet territory. Using the 1.2GHz quad-core MT6589 SoC from MediaTek with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage, the Scribe HD offers an optional capacitive stylus and apps designed for stylus-use. It also has an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 720p HD front-facing camera, according to BGR.
All three phones will be launched in China before the end of this month, with the One Touch Scribe HD reaching the US by the second quarter at a cost of $400. Both the One Touch Idol and One Touch Idol Ultra will launch in the US after the Scribe HD, though a specific timeframe is unknown. When it is released, the One Touch Idol Ultra will cost $450, while the lower-specification One Touch Idol will be slightly cheaper.
