Almost five months ago, Alcatel announced the IDOL 4 Pro, a 'new' Windows 10 Mobile flagship. In fact, the device isn't new at all - it's the same handset that Alcatel launched in the US last November as the IDOL 4S with Windows 10.
The US model was initially available exclusively on T-Mobile, priced at $469 - but nine weeks after its launch, the carrier cut its price by 8%. A month after that, T-Mo slashed a further 33% off its price, reducing it to $288; and two months later, it ditched the device from its range.
In February, Alcatel said that the 'new' IDOL 4 Pro would launch in Europe in June, priced at €599 ($680). Considering that TCL, Alcatel's parent company, has been selling the IDOL 4S with Windows 10 for less than $275 - including a virtual reality headset - the European price seemed unusually high.
It seems that Alcatel has had a slight change of heart, as the IDOL 4 Pro has now made its way to the Microsoft Store in Germany with a lower price tag. The device is available to pre-order there for €479.99 (around $550), 20% less than the company previously said it would cost. Another German retailer recently began selling the IDOL 4 Pro, at the far higher price of €607 ($690).
Oddly, while the Microsoft Store is now accepting pre-orders for the handset, its release date remains rather unclear - the product page appears to state that the IDOL 4 Pro will be released in Germany on the 76th of July.
Another curiosity: the Store listing in Germany says that it includes a 'head strap', but makes no mention at all of the VR headset that comes with the device in the United States. An Alcatel representative confirmed to Neowin earlier this year that the IDOL 4 Pro would not include the headset in Europe, as the phone is being positioned there as a 'pro' device. Unless Alcatel expects 'pro' buyers to simply strap the device directly onto their faces, it's not clear what purpose the head strap serves without the VR goggles.
The IDOL 4 Pro's specs are identical to those of the IDOL 4S with Windows 10, including:
- 5.5-inch AMOLED display with Full HD (1920x1080px) resolution and Asahi Dragontrail Glass
- Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB storage (plus microSD card support up to 128GB)
- 21MP rear camera with Sony IMX230 sensor, HDR support, 4K video recording at 30fps, and dual-LED flash
- 8MP front-facing camera with wide angle lens, 1080p video at 30fps, and LED flash
- 4G LTE connectivity
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 4.1
- USB Type-C connector with Quick Charge support
- Windows 10 Mobile Continuum support
- Fingerprint sensor
- 3000mAh battery
- 6.9mm thick
If you're thinking of buying the IDOL 4 Pro, make sure you read our review of the IDOL 4S with Windows 10 before you do so.
Source: Microsoft Store (Germany) via Windows Latest
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