Alcatel OneTouch Hero 2+ officially launched

From svelte smartphones to elegantly-designed smartwatches, we’ve already got to see a slew of fantastic devices from the big hitters in the Android world. That said, the official commencement of MWC 2015 was today, and the biggest week of the year when it comes to mobile technology is only just get started.

At a press event earlier today, Alcatel OneTouch took the opportunity to officially take the wraps off the OneTouch Hero 2+, which isn’t exactly a successor to the Hero 2, but as the plus signifies, adds something beyond what its namesake offers, with the aim to have it ready for a launch in the US market. That addition is with regards to the software experience, in the form of Cyanogen OS 11, making the Hero 2+ only the third, following the OnePlus One and the Micromax Yureka, to offer have Cyanogen OS available natively on the device.

Cyanogen OS 11 delivers a fast operating system with advanced features, allowing users to customize their UI through the powerful Themes app, including wallpapers, fonts, icons, settings, and boot animations. The camera comes with multiple filters and features for taking pictures and videos. Features like Cyanogen’s Privacy Guard also gives users granular control of personal data, along with there being a host of security features like data encryption, find and wipe device, pin scramble password protection, and protected apps features.

With regards to the device itself, the Hero 2+ is identical to its older sibling, featuring the same beautiful 6-inch display, a powerful octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, expandable storage, a solid camera experience with its 13 MP rear camera and 5 MP front-facing unit, as well as a built-in stylus and the associated applications to take advantage of it. You can find more details about the specifications of this device in the press release below. With its 6-inch display, there’s no denying that the Hero 2+ is a big phone, but the almost edge-to-edge display makes a big difference in keeping the size manageable, and the bezels above and below the screen aren’t particularly thick either. With its aluminium frame, the Hero 2+ looks sleek and elegant, even if its size may not be for everybody.

Over the past year, we’ve seen the rise of a new category in the Android smartphone world, that can only be classified as “premium mid-range.” Smartphones that offers specifications and the price point of mid-range smartphones, but without the compromise in design, build quality, and performance. While the Alcatel OneTouch Hero 2+ definitely pushes towards high-end in terms of specifications and features, its price point is anything but, with the device set to launch in Q2 2015 for just $299, available directly from the online Alcatel Store in the US.

Stay tuned with Android Authority as we work towards bringing you a hands-on experience with the Alcatel OneTouch Hero 2+, along with more fantastic coverage from the floor here at MWC 2015!

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INTRODUCING THE HERO 2+. THE FIRST UNLOCKED PHABLET FOR NORTH AMERICA FROM ALCATEL ONETOUCH FEATURING CYANOGEN OS.

As part of a new partnership between ALCATEL ONETOUCH and Cyanogen, Inc., the HERO 2+ will be available unlocked in the U.S. and Canada with Cyanogen OS pre-loaded MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS – BARCELONA, SPAIN – 2 MARCH, 2015 – ALCATEL ONETOUCH today announced an exciting new software partnership with Cyanogen, Inc., which includes an unlocked phablet for North America featuring Cyanogen OS – the HERO 2+. The HERO 2+ LTE phablet will be available unlocked via the ALCATEL ONETOUCH store powered by Amazon for $299 beginning in Q2 2015.

“We promised big things for ALCATEL ONETOUCH in North America for 2015, and with our partnership with Cyanogen and the launch of the HERO 2+, we’re delivering on our promise,” said Steve Cistulli, Senior Vice President of North America for ALCATEL ONETOUCH. “We will continue to invest in strategic partnerships – like we have with Cyanogen – which not only helps build our brand here in North America, but also helps us challenge expectations when it comes to the devices we bring to market here.”

The HERO 2+ is a refreshed concept of the 2015 iF Design Award winning HERO 2 phablet, featuring Cyanogen OS, with enhanced customization, security, and photo and video capture features. The HERO 2+ with Cyanogen has a 6-inch Full HD edge-to-edge display and LTE octa-core processor, designed for an unprecedented user experience for speed, graphics and data processing. This is also the first phablet with an octa-core processor with Cyanogen OS natively available on the device, brought exclusively to the North American market by ALCATEL ONETOUCH.

ABOUT HERO 2+:

• Display: 6-inch Full HD (1080 x 1920) TFT 16M color display + built in stylus
• Processor: MT6592 2.0 GHz octa-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor
• Camera: 13MP main camera + 5MP front camera for the perfect selfie
• Video Capture: Full HD 1080p 30 frame per second video capture so you never miss any of life’s moments
• Memory/Storage: 2GB RAM / 16GB of storage (Expandable to 32GB via MicroSD)
• Operating System: Cyanogen OS 11 on Android KitKat 4.4.4
• Dimensions: 160.5mm x 81.6mm x 7.9mm

“We’ve joined forces with ALCATEL ONETOUCH to push the limits of what a great user experience looks like, beginning with their latest phablet for North America – HERO 2+,” said Vikram Natarajan, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships and Distribution for Cyanogen. “Our partnership is reflective of our deep commitment to driving innovation and meaningful differentiation for users; with enhanced privacy and security features.

Cyanogen OS 11 delivers a fast operating system with advanced features, allowing users to customize their UI through the powerful Themes app, including wallpapers, fonts, icons, settings, and boot animations. The camera comes with multiple filters and features for ease of taking selfies, pictures and videos. Cyanogen’s Privacy Guard gives users granular control of personal data, and there is a host of security features – data encryption, find and wipe device, pin scramble password protection, and protected apps features.

The launch of the HERO 2+ is the first device brought to North America as part of the strategic partnership between ALCATEL ONETOUCH and Cyanogen, with plans to bring more devices to market in 2015 and beyond.

For more information on ALCATEL ONETOUCH and the HERO 2+, please visit http://hero2plus.alcatelonetouch.us.

About ALCATEL ONETOUCH

ALCATEL ONETOUCH is simple, unexpected, down to earth, irreverent and colorful. We believe that what makes technology smart is what you can do with it rather than what it can do. ALCATEL ONETOUCH is a brand within TCL Communication, an international multicultural company which designs, develops, and markets globally a growing range of mobile and Internet devices. TCL Communication is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (2618.HK) and part of TCL Corporation, one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world. For more information, please visit www.alcatelonetouch.us.

About Cyanogen Inc.

Cyanogen is reimagining mobile computing, giving power to the people to customize their mobile device and content experiences. The CYANOGEN® operating system is built on Android and known for its revolutionary personalization features, intuitive interface, speed, improved battery life, and enhanced security. With a rapidly growing global user base and a vibrant community of developers, we’re intelligently connecting smartphone and tablet consumers to people, apps, and things they love. For more information, visit Cyanogen’s website, Google+, Twitter, and Facebook. 

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