Fellow Brit, Zac Bowden at Windows Central, has also been reviewing the Alcatel IDOL 4 Pro, having bought one at the same time as me. And, while he hasn't the luxury of anywhere near as many column inches as me (since WC concentrates more on desktop and XBox these days), I was still interested in his verdict on this new device.

From Zac's review:

This is a great Windows 10 Mobile device. But, that's where the problem lies. As with most Windows 10 Mobile devices, these phones are not recommendable to anyone who isn't already using a Windows phone. If you're an Android or iOS user, don't buy this phone. That's not because the phone itself is bad, but because Windows 10 Mobile itself is not up to par next to iOS and Android, with missing apps and rocky support from Alcatel and Microsoft.

However, if you are a Windows phone user today, and are interested in sticking with the platform, this is the best Windows phone you can buy right now.

Support for the IDOL 4 Pro is still something that is lacking. Alcatel hasn't released any firmware updates for the IDOL 4S with Windows 10 in the U.S., so I think it'd be silly to assume it will for the IDOL 4 Pro. What's more worrying is that Alcatel hasn't provided Microsoft with recovery images for the IDOL 4 Pro, and as such Microsoft doesn't yet officially support this phone.

I just wish this device had shown up earlier in Windows 10 Mobile's lifecycle. This is the kind of device I wish Microsoft itself had built as the Lumia 950, instead of the plastic phones we got instead. This is the first real Windows 10 Mobile flagship for consumers to launch with Windows 10 Mobile in Europe since the Lumia 950. That's a long time. And with that, it's probably going to be the last Windows 10 Mobile device altogether, as Microsoft is planning to reposition its mobile efforts sometime next year.

I am enjoying the IDOL 4 Pro far more than I enjoyed my Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL and HP Elite x3. While the Elite x3 is the best Windows phone out there on paper, the IDOL 4 Pro is the best Windows phone for consumers, and as a result is the best Windows phone for me.

A good summary and it reflects how I feel about the phone too. If you're not dead set on the best imaging in the world and if you can afford to be patient while Microsoft and Alcatel fanny about sourcing recovery images and updates, then this is probably THE smartphone for Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile fans to end up on. I'm loving the media playback and general performance, but am saving my own disappointments list for another review part in the next few days. Watch this space!