As they demonstrated earlier this year with the Idol 4 and 4S, budget can be little more than a label when it comes to smartphones. Alcatel’s new DEX builds on this legacy nicely, even if it lacks the flagship prestige of the above.Exclusively available through Boost, the DEX features a hard
interchangable plastic shell on one side and a 5-inch display on the
other side. Marketing efforts for the DEX has seen Alcatel emphasize
the idea of the handset appealing to a fickle millennial market by
offering up customisable style and fantastic audio – and that shows
through in the design.
The back cover can be pulled off via a groove on the bottom right
edge and easily swapped out for one of several colors. The selection
here isn’t mind-blowing – but it is a nice touch, even if it is very
prone to scratches and markings. Hopefully Alcatel’s move to
distributing their own products online allows them to offer up greater
choice in the times ahead.
On the other side of things, the DEX’s 5-inch display comes off a
little ordinary. There are plenty of pixels – but in terms of the
fidelity of those pixels isn’t going to dazzle you like a higher-end
smartphone would. Everything is clearly displayed, but it’s neither
sharp nor shiny.
The DEX feels nice to hold in your hand, however, the touch buttons
don’t always feel as responsive as they ought to. The DEX touts a 1.0GHz
quad-core processor, and the relatively-small size of that processor is
definitely felt. Heavier apps are often subject to minor hitching and
the multitasking built into Android Marshmallow 6.0 often feels a little
out of reach for the DEX’s humble hardware.
That said, it’s hard to complain too much about these niggles this
considering the DEX’s pricetag. If you aren’t willing to make some
compromises in performance and responsiveness, the DEX may not be the
$99 handset for you.
Beyond that processor, the DEX features 8GB of internal memory
(expandable by up to 32GB via SD card) and a battery that offers up a
reasonable 11 hours of 3G talk-time (alongside up to 440 hours of
standby-time). These numbers aren’t exactly going to blow anyone away
but again, given the price, they remain noteworthy.
The DEX also promises high quality audio experiences, courtesy of
optimized Arkamys enhanced sound and DJ software. Unfortunately, the
implementation of these features isn’t particularly salient. While
audiophiles are the most likely to notice the difference, they’re also
pretty far out from the audience that Alcatel are aiming to capture
here.
Similarly, when it comes to the camera. The DEX features a 5-megapixel camera on the front and a 3-megapixel rear shooter.
 Click to enlarge |
You won’t see anything taken with these cameras on a bus stop anytime
soon but it’s probably safe to say that if you’re buying a $99
smartphone then a lack of support for high-quality digital photography
is unlikely to prove a deal-breaker. You get what you pay for.
Same goes for the pair of Alcatel headphones that are included with
the DEX. They sound nice – but you’re definitely not going to replace a
more dedicated set with them. That said, the headphones (and the
external speaker / power-pack unit that comes bundled with the handset)
do add a bit of additional value to the package that should be
considered..
Conclusion
The Boost DEX is dead-set on targeting the “budget conscious youth
market”, and if you fall into that category this may well be a great
boon for you. At $99, it’s got all the bases of an Android experience
covered. Those expecting the same level of polish and premium out of
more expensive handsets will likely find the DEX’s capabilities
insufficient but taken on it’s own merits, it’s a versatile proprosition
with a lot of value behind it.
Score: 3.0/5.0
The Boost DEX is available now for $99 at Boost.com.au and from retailers including Big W, Kmart and Target.
