What is it?
A budget smartphone with premium features.
The Alcatel brand has gone through multiple ownership transitions since the days of their dial-up modems, but quality products have remained throughout. The latest device from the communications range is the 3V smartphone which aims to corner the value for money market.
Good Points?
Costing significantly less than an iPhone, the slick looking curved Alcatel 3V offers plenty of bang for your buck including the latest Android OS and a sharp six-inch FHD+ screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio that is replicated in most premium manufacturer's flagship models.
Both a fingerprint scanner and facial recognition allow you to unlock the device in quick time and with no fuss. These technologies were once the sole domain of handsets costing over seven times that of the Alcatel 3V and are still their main selling points.
Dual 12MP and 2MP rear cameras are a great touch for capturing dedicated selfies and landscape images. A 3,000mAh battery provides around a day of moderate usage without having to recharge.
Bad points?
The only real let-down is the 2GB RAM which impacts the performance of the smartphone and will leave you frustrated when moving from one app to another, particularly when multimedia is being utilised.
Best for ...
Those who want to experience all the great aspects of expensive smartphone but want to outlay a fraction of the price.
Avoid if ...
Your main daily tasks revolve around gaming and multimedia file editing as the device can lag under heavy usage.
Score: 8/10.
Alcatel 3V Spectrum Blue, £99.99 (carphonewarehouse.com)
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