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Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ gets an eight-core workout (hands-on)

Nothing says 'overachiever' quite like this Android smartphone's octa-core CPU. We check out the phone here at CES.

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Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
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LAS VEGAS-- On Monday, lesser-known smartphone maker Alcatel used CES to officially introduce the Alcatel One Touch Idol X+, its very first eight-core smartphone, and one of the world's first in this category as well.

If the name sounds tongue-twistingly familiar, it's for good reason. The Idol X+ upgrades 2013's One Touch Idol X with the octa-core chipset made by MediaTek.

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Unlike Samsung's Exynos 5 processor, which the company unveiled at last year's CES, MediaTek's chipset runs all cores at once, a very different approach to battery management, but one that MediaTek promises will result in longer intervals between charges on its 2,500mAh battery.

In addition to the 2GHz octa-core processor, Alcatel has a full complement of other high-end specs on hand for its marquee smartphone, which will sell in basic black, bright white, and grey. There's the 5-inch 1080p HD display, the 13.1-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash, plus a 2-megapixel front-facing camera; interestingly, both capture 1080p HD video.

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Unfortunately, the Idol X+ stops short of its OS potential with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, rather than 4.4 KitKat or even 4.3 Jelly Bean, though this could change by the time the phone comes to market.

You're looking at 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage, plus 2GB RAM. The GSM quad-band device (850/900/1800/1900) also supports UMTS 900/2100 bands. It weighs in at 4.6 ounces.

Overall, the Idol X+'s design was adequate, but not very exciting. The real cause for a quickened pulse is the potential performance of its eight-core MediaTek processor, and that's something we'll need to keep an eye on as the phone gets closer to launch.