Alcatel Idol 4s with Windows 10 officially announced. Available in the US starting November 10 exclusively on T-Mobile

Earlier this year, Alcatel launched its flagship device the Idol 4s that went into the market with Android operating system running through. Now, Alcatel made an update on the device with Windows 10 running at its core this time around.

The new Idol 4s with Windows 10 may look similar to its Android counterpart but the newly updated handset didn’t just changed the OS for the device and sell the, they also update some of the key specs inside the device supporting what Windows 10 has in store for us. Microsoft recently unveiled that the mobile version of Windows 10 now natively supports Virtual Reality (VR) with promising features but despite Microsoft having its own hardware for Windows 10 Mobile, Alcatel went ahead to bring a first for Windows 10 mobile device with VR support with its own VR headset included in the package.

With Windows 10 onboard, the Alcatel Idol 4s will also support Windows Continuum, a feature that lets a compatible Windows 10 mobile device to attached to a specifically designed dock that hooks desktop monitors, keyboard, mouse and other peripherals that turns a Windows 10 smartphone into a workable Windows 10 desktop PC complete with its own desktop environment, Start Menu and run apps like one would run on a full Desktop setup. It will also feature Windows 10 improved notification center, business and office apps, wide range of improved Windows app from the Microsoft App Store and much more.

While the Alcatel Idol 4s with Windows 10 have been updated in many aspects, there were also a few things that has been toned-down for whatever reason that Alcatel has in mind, one significant in this context is that the Windows 10 variant of the Idol 4s has included a 1080p resolution screen compared to what has been with its Android counterpart at QHD resolution. Having VR in its arsinal might have offer a better user experience that on a full-HD resolution but Alcatel still went on the latter. Though that do not suggests that its bad, however opting for a higher resolution for a VR environment could have been better.

When there’s drawback, Alcatel compensated with other things that looks much more better with an upgraded chipset by going up with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset that’s just capable of handling VR natively and with that processing power, Alcatel also added 1GB more to the Idol 4s’es existing 3GB RAM. Storage is still at 32GB in capacity but that can be expanded through a microSD card.

An Idol 4s with Windows 10 also means it has an upgrade in its multimedia features. The new handset now features a 21 Megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash. On the front, an 8 Megapixel shooter stays at the top of the handset with also features a front-facing LED flash making it a better Selfie-device that most other Windows 10 smartphones in the market today. Music lovers will also enjoy the Idol 4s dual front-firing speaker for a rich audio experience.

The new Alcatel Idol 4s with Windows 10 will launch on T-Mobile in the US for $499 beginning November 10 and will come with a dedicated VR headset in the package. Other accessories such as the dock for Windows Continuum will be sold separately.