In this review we are going to test an odd mobile phone that is designed exclusively for women. The Alcatel OT-808 looks rather like a make-up compact than a handset. However, this device has a rich portfolio of specifications: 2 screens, a QWERTY keyboard and a camera.

We got the Alcatel OT-808 in a white and pink box in which we also found a battery charger, a USD cable and a headset (Pic. 1, 2). The phone sports an external monochrome OLED display that serves as a clock and shows you all incoming calls and the bars of the battery charging rate. By the way, the battery capacity is not very large – only 850 mAh. The build quality of the mobile is pretty fine. The gadget feels solid in the hand. We opened and closed the clamshell many times and didn’t notice any disadvantages.

Below you can read about the results of the two Alcatel OT-808 cell phones that passed different tests. We marked the handsets in order to distinguish between them (#1 and #2). Check out pictures 3 and 5.

Results

The Alcatel OT-808 (#1) stress tests

1. Reception quality test

The first test shows how fine a mobile phone is able to receive incoming calls being located in an area with a poor signal. We placed the Alcatel OT-808 in the box covered in tin foil that served as an obstruction for the signal. We also cut a 50 mm by 50 mm slot (1.97-inch by 1.97-inch) into the top of the lid in order to give the phone a chance to receive incoming calls. And the results were quite fine. During this test the phone’s screen showed all the bars of signal strength.

But then we reduced the slot in the lid to 20 mm by 20 mm (0.787-inch by 0.787-inch) and even to 15 mm by 15 mm (0.59-inch by 0.59-inch) and saw only 1 bar. It meant that the signal strength of the phone was poor. Nevertheless, the Alcatel OT-808 received all incoming calls with no problem (video 1, 3).

Video 1. Reception quality test (part 1)

Video 2. Reception quality test (part 2)

Video 3. Reception quality test (part 3)

Grade (part 1): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (part 2): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (part 3): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

2. Freeze test

It’s not a secret that mobile phones show poor performance in cold weather. Battery capacity goes down much faster in comparison with warm temperatures. Rubber keys usually become stiff and uncomfortable to use. Display may malfunction greatly or not respond at all.

In order to check how fine the Alcatel OT-808 performs in cold weather, we placed it in a freezer in speaking mode for 2 hours. Then we turned the phone to the standby mode and left it there for 30 minutes more.

The temperature was -15 °C (5 °F) but the handset performed with no problem after the test. The keys provided us with a good tactile response. The display worked as fine as in moderate temperatures (video 4). The device was covered in hoar frost and when it got warm we saw the condensate on the casing.

But the phone sustained no damage and performed perfectly after a 30 minute drying.

Video 4. Check out the state of the Alcatel OT-808 after the freeze test

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

3. Short circuit of the battery charger

In this test we connected the terminals (+ and -) of the charger together for 1 second (video 5). Despite the short circuit, the charger stayed absolutely functional and worked with no problem.

Video 5. Short circuit of the battery charger

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

4. Short circuit of the battery

We tested the battery the same way: connected its terminals (+ and -) for 1 second (video 6). The battery protection system worked immediately and the battery not only stayed fine but it didn’t even deplete.

Video 6. Short circuit of the battery

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

5. Voltage increase by charging up

Sometimes there is no possibility to use an original charger. But a mobile phone is a kind of thing that is constantly needed. So you may have to charge your handset with a non-original charger which can provide too much voltage to the phone.

We simulated this situation with the Alcatel OT-808. Actually we plugged the phone into a power supply via the charger cable and tried to raise the voltage from 5 to 8 V. When we reached 7.6 V the charging was stopped by the phone. The message “wrong battery charger” appeared on the screen. However, the handset continued to consume a lot of current. So we should admit that the Alcatel can’t cope with this problem. Charge this mobile only with its original charger!

Video 7. Voltage increase by charging up

Grade: 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

6. Providing the phone with extremely high power

This is the last test in which we used electricity to damage the Alcatel OT-808 and particularly its circuit board. We lifted the battery out of its compartment and plugged the phone directly into the power supply unit. Then we tried to raise the voltage from 4.2 to 7 V (video 8).

As a result the handset started to consume 5 times more current than it does in normal conditions. It means that the phone had serious problems with its supply circuits. However, our device stayed absolutely safe. This test was passed.

Video 8

Grade: 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

7. Leaving the phone out in the rain

The next 6 chapters are devoted to water tests. Actually, we are going to damage the Alcatel OT-808 by throwing it in water and in beer. But at first, we tried to ruin this gadget by putting it under a steam from a shower (video 9). This experiment lasted for 1 minute.

It’s no wonder that water easily penetrated between the sections of the clamshell. But the keyboard stayed functional. The battery also got wet (Pic. 7). The USB port was filled with water despite the rubber cap that should protect it from such threats.

We dried the phone carefully after the test and checked its state again. Everything worked fine.

Video 9. Leaving the phone out in the rain

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

8. Immersion in water at a shallow depth

In this test we submerged the Alcatel OT-808 for 20 seconds (video 10). The phone sustained no damage although the battery and the USB port got wet again. We dried our handset and it was ready for the next experiments.

Video 10. Immersion in water at a shallow depth

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

9. Immersion in water at one meter (3.28 feet) for 20 seconds

This test is tougher than the previous one. We dunked the Alcatel OT-808 under water at a one meter depth (3.28 feet) for 20 seconds (video 11, 12). During this test the phone switched itself off. We took it out and tried to turn it on but in vain. It didn’t respond at all. Evidently the circuit board was damaged by water.

After the test we dried our gadget with warm air for 6 hours. Fortunately it got better and started to work as fine as usually.

Video 11. This is the pipe that was filled with water. We threw the phone there.

Video 12. Check out how we dunked the phone under water at a 100 cm depth

Grade: 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

10. Immersion in water at a one meter depth for 30 minutes

Only IPx1-IPx6 waterproof cell phones are eligible for this test.
Grade: –

11. Immersion in water at a two meter depth

Only IPx7 waterproof cell phones are eligible for this test.
Grade: –

12. Immersion in beer

Sometimes people accidentally spill some drinks on their mobile phones. But we went further. We dropped the Alcatel OT-808 in beer, the most popular alcoholic drink in the world.

This test lasted for 10 seconds (video 13). The handset sustained no damage and stayed functional. The battery got wet only a little. The USB port was filled with beer but it worked with no problem. The device didn’t need any special cleaning. We just washed and dried it out. The phone was all right.

Video 12. Immersion in beer

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

13. Disassembling. Build quality

At that moment all the tests with the Alcatel OT-808 (#1) had been finished. We disassembled the phone in order to have a look at its innards and build quality (Pic. 9). By the way, disassembling is not an easy task with this gadget. You need some special instruments and a lot of patience to take it apart.

Inside, this handset doesn’t differ from any other flip phone. The circuit board is protected with non-removable shields (Pic. 10). All the microchips are compounded which means that they are better protected from water and accidental knocks and bumps. But at the same time this construction makes their replacement much more difficult. Almost all the area of the front side of the circuit board is occupied by the keyboard (Pic. 11).

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

14. Test of the headphone cable (bend test)

Sooner or later your headphones may short out because of a tear in the wire which is bended all the time when you listen to music and move. In this test we tried to check reliability of the headphones that comes with the Alcatel OT-808. Actually we locked the cable in a special device which bended different areas of the wire many times (video 14). All in all, we made 4500 bends. We also checked the state of the headset after 1000, 1500 and 2000 bends. The headphones worked fine after this experiment.

Video 14. Test of the headphone cable (bend test)

Grade (1000 bends): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (1500 bends): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (2000 bends): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

15. Test of the headphone cable (strain of the wire)

In the 2nd test we pulled the headphones cable like a string and hung three loads on it (video 15). Every load weighed 1 kg (2.2 lbs).

The headset sustained no damage and we could enjoy a high quality sound of music that was played through it.

Video 15. Test of the headphone cable (strain of the wire)

Grade (part 1): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (part 2): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (part 3): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

The Alcatel OT-808 (#2) stress test

1. Reception quality test

Now we start our experiments with the Alcatel OT-808 (#2). All the conditions were the same as in the first part of our review. So we compared the results shown by the two phones. All the incoming calls were successfully received but the phone displayed only 1 bar of signal strength at the last part of the experiment. This is exactly the same what we saw before.

Grade (part 1): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (part 2): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (part 3): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

2. Talk time

The official website states that the Alcatel OT-808 provides you with 9 hours of talk time which seems too much for the 850 mAh battery that powers this phone. Moreover, the two displays increase its energy consumption. So we thought that this information might be a little bit exaggerated. In order to find the truth we performed our own experiment. At first we charged the battery up to 100 %. Next, we made a call and left the handset in speaking mode. Every hour the call was cut off by our mobile operator and we had to call again and again until the battery depleted.

To our surprise the phone showed 14 hours of talk time which is much longer than it is declared in its specs. But you should mind that the reception conditions were perfect during this test. The talk time will be shorter if you speak in the area with poor signal.

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

3. Drops on the carpet

The most often reason of a mobile phone damaging is a drop. We checked how the Alcatel OT-808 stands up to knocks and bumps by dropping it on the carpet with each face, edge and corner from 100 cm (3.28 ft), 150 cm (4.9 ft) and 200 cm (6.56 ft) (video 16 – 18).

During the drops the clamshell stayed closed. The cap of the USB port opened from tim to time but it caused no harm to the phone. Even the back cover didn’t fall off which often happens in such tests.

Video 16. Drops on the carpet from 100 cm (3.28 ft)

Video 17. Drops on the carpet from 150 cm (4.9 ft)

Video 18. Drops on the carpet from 200 cm (6.56 ft)

Grade (100 cm): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (150 cm): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (200 cm): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

4. Drops on a tile

In this test we dropped the handset on a tile. But the heights were shorter than in the previous experiment: 30 cm (11.8 inches), 50 cm (1.64 ft) and 100 cm (3.28 ft) (video 19, 21). All in all, the phone fell for 18 times.

The phone easily survived the drops from 30 and 50 cm. But after a 1 m fall the casing sustained some visible damage (Pic. 12). Nevertheless, the device stayed absolutely functional.

Video 19. Drops on the tile from 30 cm (11.8 inches)

Video 20. Drops on the tile from 50 cm (1.64 ft)

Video 21. Drops on the tile from 100 cm (3.28 ft)

Grade (stage 1): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (stage 2): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (stage 3): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

5. Squeeze test

Every mobile phone undergoes physical attacks very often . For example you may sit on a chair with your handset in your back pants pocket or you may even accidentally step on it. We decided to check how the Alcatel OT-808 can cope with such problems.

We placed a wooden bar on the phone and applied pressure from this bar above the casing. At first we applied 5 kg (11 lbs) and then 20 kg (44 lbs). The device showed no damage. Finally we applied 50 kg (110 lbs) and saw a little sag (Pic. 13). However, the phone sustained no visible harm and stayed functional.

Grade (5 kg): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (20 kg): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (50 kg): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

6. Bend test

We put the Alcatel OT-808 onto the two planks so that each edge of the phone lay on a single plank. Then we hitched a string with a load on top of the device. At first we used the load that weighed 3 kg (6.6 lbs), then we changed it for a 7 kg load (15.4 lbs) and at last we used a 15 kg load (33 lbs).

The handset showed fine results when we applied 3 and 7 kg load kg. But at the final stage of this test we saw a slight bend (Pic. 14). Nevertheless, the gadget sustained no damage and stayed functional.

Grade (3 kg): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (7 kg): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (15 kg): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

7. Keyboard

It’s very difficult to speak about the QWERTY keyboard of a mobile phone. The problem lies in the size of the keys. They usually have a protruding shape for more comfortable use. It provides you with a better tactile response and compensates for their small size. This is exactly how the Alcatel OT-808’s keyboard looks like. It is also made of a high quality material which means that the keys will hardly ever become loose.

However, not everyone will love the design of the keyboard with its large Call/End buttons and a separate key for starting the camera. But so many men, so many minds.

Grade: 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

8. Dust and sand

If you use your handset for a long time without cleaning you may possibly notice some grains of dust that accumulated under the protective screen glass. It not only spoils the appearance of the phone and ruins the picture on the screen but it may also have a bad impact on the functionality of your mobile device.

We placed the Alcatel OT-808 in an enclosed tray containing dust and sand. Then we made it vibrate viciously for 1, 3 and 6 minutes. We examined the state of the phone after every part of the test (video 22).

Picture 15 shows how the phone looked like after the 1 minute test in the tray. Many small grains of dust penetrated under the back cover (Pic. 15). Some dust penetrated even in the hinge which started to make noise when we opened or closed the clamshell. The USB port was also dirty although it is protected by a plastic cap (Pic. 17). It happens very often in our dust tests and we can infer that there is no point in arming mobile phones with caps.

After the 3 minute experiment in the tray we became absolutely sure that a plastic cap won’t help your handset in really dirty environment. The USB port was filled with many large grains of dust (Pic. 18). There was an unpleasant noise every time when we opened or closed the clamshell. By the way, it was then impossible to make it 100 % open. Moreover we noticed some visible scratches on the hinge.

After the 6 minute test we could neither open nor close the clamshell up to the end. The hinge was filled with dust and it was quite difficult to fold the sections of the phone. We cleaned the device and saw many scratches on the hinge (Pic. 19).

Video 22. Dust test

Grade (1 minute): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (3 minutes): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (6 minutes): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

9. Durability test

We put the Alcatel OT-808 with its face on a tray and made it vibrate so that the phone’s front panel was viciosly rubbed against a rough surface (video 23). In 5 minutes we checked the state of the handset and didn’t notice any visible harm.

Then we put the device on the tray for 10 minutes more but the result was the same – no damage. Finally the phone was rubbed against the tray for 15 minutes and it produced a negative impact on its appearance. There were some tiny scratches, visible only in the bright lights.

Video 23. Durability test

Grade (5 minutes): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (10 minutes): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (15 minutes): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

10. Carrying the phone in a pants pocket

Some cell phone users tend to carry their handsets in a pocket together with keys and pennies. If you do the same you really don’t care about the appearance of your mobile device. Just see what might happen to your phone if you keep it in your pocket with other things for a long time.

We put the Alcatel OT-808 in the drum together with keys, pennies and some plastic balls. Then we rotated the drum viciously for 5 minutes. As a result the phone sustained a lot of damage (scuffs and scratches), especially on the corners and on the edges (Pic. 21). In such case any lady would rather like to have a new phone than to use this piece of plastic.

We put the Alcatel back in the drum and rotated it again. But that time the test lasted for 10 minutes. The phone became much uglier (Pic. 22, 24).

But that wasn’t all. We continued this experiment and in 20 minutes the phone sustained much more visible damage. The corners of the gadget lost their gloss and looked scratched. The flat paint on the front panel was also abraded (Pic. 25). The handset showed many scratches of different size and depth (Pic. 26). The back cover looked better. There were only some small dents.

You may think that the main screen stayed safe because the clamshell was closed during the test. Actually the display was scratched by the grains of dust and sand that stuck in the hinge and in the keyboard during the dust test (Pic. 27).

Video 24. Carrying the phone in a pants pocket

Grade (5 minutes): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (10 minutes): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (20 minutes): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

11. Scratch test (the screen)

In this test we checked scratch resistance of both screens. Actually we scratched each of them for three times at the force of 100, 300 and 600 g (0.22, 0.66 and 1.3 lbs) (video 25, 26). As a result, the secondary external monochrome OLED display sustained two visible scratches (Pic. 28). The main screen showed only 1 scratch (Pic. 29).

Video 25. Scratch test for the external screen

Video 26. Scratch test for the main screen

Grade (the 1st attempt): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (the 2nd attempt): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (the 3rd attempt): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

12. Scratch test for the back panel

We scratched the back panel with a nail at the same force as the screens (video 27). As a result there were 2 scratches. The one was very small and almost invisible. The other was bigger and clearly seen (Pic. 30).

Video 27. Scratch test for the back panel

Grade (the 1st attempt): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (the 2nd attempt): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (the 3rd attempt): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

13. External screen attack

We dropped a steel ball on the secondary external screen for 3 times from 10, 20 and 30 cm (3.9, 5.9 and 9.8 inches) (video 28). The diameter of the ball was 22 mm (0.866 inches). The screen sustained no visible damage.

Video 28. External screen attack

Grade (the 1st attempt): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (the 2nd attempt): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (the 3rd attempt): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

14. Heat test

If you remember we tested the Alcatel OT-808 (#1) in the freezer. As for the 2nd phone, we prepared quite an opposite experiment. We placed it in a can together with a 40 Watt light bulb. The distance between the bulb and the phone was approximately 5 cm (1.968 inches). The bulb heated the handset for 3 and 5 minutes. During this test the temperature of the phone didn’t rise more than 100 °C (212 °F). We found no visible harm and the device worked pretty fine.

But we decided to heat the gadget for 10 minutes more. As a result the temperature of the phone rose to 130 °C (266 °F) and it melted a little bit (Pic. 31). The main screen became dim. But in some minutes the brightness was restored. This experiment spoiled the appearance of the Alcatel but didn’t influence its functionality. Check out how it was (video 29, 31).

Video 29. 3 minute heating

Video 30. 5 minute heating

Video 31. 10 minute heating

Grade (3 minute heating): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (5 minute heating): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (10 minute heating): 2 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

15. The Alcatel OT-808 (#2) smash

It’s time to finish it off. We dropped the phone on the tile from 150, 200 and 240 cm (4.9, 6.56 and 7.87 ft). The back cover fell off only when we dropped the handset from 240 cm. We put it back with no problem.

It’s clear that the Alcatel got many scuffs and dents during this test. But we couldn’t find them because by that time the phone had already been scratched very much. Besides, we still couldn’t get rid of the dust that penetrated under the protective screen glass during the dust test (Pic. 32). As for the functionality, the handset worked fine.

Video 32. Drops on the tile from 150 cm (4.9 ft)

Video 33. Drops on the tile from 200 cm (6.56 ft)

Video 34. Drops on the tile from 240 cm (7.87 ft)

Grade (150 cm): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (200 cm): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)
Grade (240 cm): 3 (with 3 being the highest possible grade)

16. Disassembling. Build quality

We disassembled the Alcatel OT-808 (#2) after all the stress tests (Pic. 33). The build quality of the second phone is as fine as that of the first one. The innards were covered with dust but nothing was damaged. At picture 34 you can see a circuit board with two removable displays. So you can replace them with no problem in case of a breakage. As you can see, the vibrator and the loudspeaker are soldered to the board with the help of the cords. Samsung cell phones are designed the same way. The other companies have other techniques.

Final words

The two Alcatel OT-808 cell phones passed our stress tests and stayed functional. This is a good result indeed.

Now some words about their advantages and disadvantages (as usual). Let’s start with the minuses. This device is not scratch and dust resistant at all (like the majority of flip phones). If you want your handset to look attractive you’ll have to care about the Alcatel very much. It’s better to buy a case as soon as possible. Finally we should mention a hot temperature. If you leave this phone in the sun for a long time it will likely be melted.

Among the strong points of the Alcatel OT-808 we can underline water resistance. It’s strange but true. Although water penetrated under the back cover and in the USB port it didn’t cause any serious damage. The phone survived even the immersion at a 1 m depth. If you live in a region with a cold climate you shouldnt worry about the Alcatels functionality. The phone successfully passed our freeze test.

Now we’d like to wander from the point of stress tests and speak about its design. Youll probably smile if you have a look at this handset for the 1st time. Be attentive when you try to open the clamshell. You may be easily fooled by its shape and the design of the camera which is situated near the corner.

Video 35. Here’s how both phones looks like after the stress tests

Alcatel OT-808 stress test, 9.3 out of 10 based on 12 ratings