This smartphone packaging turns into a VR headset!

Alcatel has been synonymous with economical and somewhat cheerful Android phones for years now, but its latest play could be surprisingly interesting: not only does the handset sound good, but even the box it comes in could be useful.

According to a press photo obtained by serial leaker Evan Blass, the Alcatel Idol 4S will come packaged in a certified Google Cardboard viewer — the plastic packaging is hiding lenses and a headband inside, so you can start VRing out of the box.



Although it’s just a leak, it does make sense: earlier this month, Alcatel leaked a few specs and the teaser line ‘Your World Augmented’ on its own site. According to those specs, and others added by Blass, we could be in for a treat: 5.5-inch screen powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 652, 3GB of RAM and 16GB storage (expandable via microSD). The main camera — which can be summoned even from standby with a dedicated ‘Boom Key’ — is composed of a 16-megapixel sensor and f2.0 aperture lens, while the flashassisted, front-facing selfie cam is capable of 8-megapixel stills.

If that comes in at under $400, it could be one of the cheapest all-in-one VR solutions to hit the market, not to mention one hell of a midrange Android phone. It’s only two weeks unti l MWC, so not long to wait and see the truth.