Fully official then, the Alcatel IDOL 4S with Windows 10, a new flagship

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We had the unintentional leak from T-Mobile in the USA a few days ago about the new Windows 10 Mobile flagship, the Alcatel IDOL 4S with Windows 10, and now it's fully official, with a post on the Windows blog and a promo video, embedded below. It's a very decent specification, supports wired Continuum (Lumia 950/Elite X3-style) and comes with VR applications and a VR viewer. OK, now we really need a worldwide release for this, on other carriers in other countries.

From the Windows blog post:

Today, Alcatel announced the IDOL 4S with Windows 10 smartphone, featuring powerhouse flagship mobile specs, an in-box VR experience and innovative Windows 10 capabilities including Continuum*, Cortana and Windows Hello. The IDOL 4S will be available at T-Mobile stores starting next week.

The flexible IDOL 4S with Windows 10 is built for professionals, gamers and general tech enthusiasts alike. It comes with a premium dual-glass and metal-framed design and all the productivity features you need, such as Continuum, which puts PC-like productivity right in your pocket. With Continuum, you can connect your IDOL 4S with Windows 10 to a second screen, keyboard and mouse for a seamless desktop experience. A fingerprint reader below the camera allows you to login easily and more securely with Windows Hello.

Each IDOL 4S with Windows 10 comes packaged with virtual reality goggles included as part of the in-box bundle. The headset is designed so that the phone snaps into the goggles for an user-friendly virtual reality experience where you can play three dimensional games or watch 360 degree videos. When you buy an IDOL 4S, you’ll also receive a free 45-day trial for Hulu Plus, an additional 30-day trial for Groove Music and a free copy of the Windows 10 Mobile game Halo: Spartan Assault.

  • Windows 10 Mobile, including access to Continuum and Microsoft Office apps
  • A fingerprint sensor that enables Windows Hello for added convenience and security
  • In-box virtual reality bundle included
  • Brilliant 5.5-inch Full-HD (1920×1080) AMOLED display that delivers a great viewing experience, even in direct sunlight
  • Powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor (2×2.15GHz + 2×1.6GHz) with Adreno 530 GPU for smooth multitasking and video processing
  • 21MP main camera with Sony IMX230 sensor + 8MP front camera with 84-degree wide angle lens
  • 3000mAh Battery for up to 20 hours of talk time and USB-C charging featuring Quick Charge
  • 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM (with MicroSD support up to 128GB)
  • Dual 1.2W multi-directional speaker featuring Hi-Fi audio for a more immersive sound experience

The IDOL 4S with Windows 10 will be available at T-Mobile stores across the USA for $469.99, beginning November 10 2016.

See also Alcatel’s website for more information and full product specifications. This looks very decent indeed, competitively specced and priced. It's slightly odd that the screen is 1080p and not QHD, given the VR pretensions, but I'll reserve judgement until I've tried it (when it makes it across the pond).