Alcatel touch idol 3 mobile phone

2 years ago

Doesn't slow down + USB OTG + 4G, NFC ... + price + two speakers! + build + design + sound! + screen dimensions

2 years ago

Design, camera, price!

2 years ago

Size, appearance, coup, speakerphone sound (music, video), screen, camera, no glitches or brakes.

2 years ago

Excellent cameras, HD screen, good battery (though 2000 mAh), 2 loudspeakers of excellent quality, and even on the front side of the phone. Oleophobic coating, thickness - 7.5 mm, weight - 110 grams, 4g, android 5.0.2, 1.5 GB of RAM, 8 GB of built-in (about 4 available), notification light, gyroscope (yes, I was also surprised), pleasant vibration, not bad design.

2 years ago

lightweight, fits perfectly in the hand, juicy display and good sound, cool design

2 years ago

Very comfortable smartphone

2 years ago

Design (size + weight), no glitches or failures.

2 years ago

Ergonomics - display - camera - smart - sound (I'm not chasing something like that, but it's really good)

2 years ago

thin light fast good camera go all toys great sound good in the hand good screen does not heat up during the game not very high price speakers on both sides create volumetric sound you can talk from both sides but in everyday life it is not used

2 years ago

1. Convenient transition from lock screen to camera / calls / unlock 2. Excellent sound from speakers, clear and beautiful, stereo. It is also convenient when watching movies or just listening to music. 3. Great appearance, the phone has its own face and does not try to be like any iPhones. 4. Good cameras. I will not say that they are excellent, but they shoot clearly, with a contrast. The algorithms have not been improved a little, but overall they are good. 5. Oleophobic coating on the screen. Prints do not collect, the finger glides very softly and smoothly. The sensor sensitivity is average.

2 years ago

White spots on display
- Mobile Upgrade
- 8 Gb memory / preinstalled software

2 years ago

Didn't find it. While the lock button on the left side seems inconvenient.

2 years ago

Battery!!! Talking sound !!!

2 years ago

The power button is on the top left, not usual, and not very convenient.
Even at the minimum volume, the speakers do not sound so sickly, sometimes annoying.
The quality of the speakers during a call is tolerable, but not gorgeous ..

2 years ago

didn't notice

2 years ago

On the disadvantages ... This can be discussed if there is a specific criterion. Battery capacity? If it's not enough for you, take another, thick and heavy smartphone, if you like to carry a brick in your pocket. By the way, I noticed complaints about the quality of voice communication in the reviews. Be smarter. 4G mode is not intended for this. For everyday use as a "dialer" just switch to 2G or GSM mode. And the battery will last for a long time and there will be no need to turn off the data transfer - let the weather on your widgets be updated. Slowly but surely.

2 years ago

2 years ago

Many pre-installed apps

2 years ago

bad headphones included
body material cheap plastic
little memory (4 GB available)
AWESOME PLAYER
i charge every 2 days
big frames at the top and bottom
often gets sick while watching a video even at minimum brightness

2 years ago

1. Useless icons on the lock screen
2. When the speaker transmits the caller's speech, the quality is disgusting, processing is required, otherwise nothing can be understood
3. It heats up noticeably under the camera when playing with toys.
4. Frankly weak battery. In the best case, 1 day, with normal (not fanatically Instagram, contact) use (all data transfer technologies and coordinates determination are turned on. Only Bluetooth is turned off). The power saving mode does not change anything.

With the current development of the mobile industry, it has become difficult for all manufacturers to surprise and stand out. Large companies stall in fruitless attempts to impose fake innovations on users, and those brands that are smaller, on the contrary, catch up with the leaders at turbo speed along the way, without disdaining to experiment (after all, they want to catch up not only A-brands, but also to beat competitors of their level). The Alcatel OneTouch brand decided to make the Idol 3 family chip not the iron component or materials, but the ability to work upside down, tied to design and software. We have at our disposal a small Idol 3 4.7 and a large Idol 5.5. If you are ready to learn their features and differences, then start reading and watching the video!

Specifications Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 4.7 (6039Y single SIM and 6039K dual SIM):

• Display: 4.7 ", 1280 x 720 pixels, IPS, 312 ppi
• Front camera: 5 MP, f / 2.5, 1080p video recording
• Processor: 4 cores, 1.2 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
• Graphics chip: Adreno 306
• RAM: 1.5 GB
• ROM: 8 or 16 GB (for one-symbol and two-symbol)
• Memory card: microSD (up to 64 GB, only for the monosymbol)
• GPS and GLONASS
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n)
• microUSB 2.0
• FM radio with RDS
• Hi-Fi sound
• Battery: non-removable, 2000 mAh
• Dimensions: 134.6 x 65.9 x 7.5mm
• Weight: 110 g

Specifications Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 5.5 (6045Y single SIM and 6045K dual SIM):

• Network: GSM / GPRS / EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), UMTS / HSDPA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), LTE (1/3/7/8/20)
• Platform (at the time of announcement): Android Lollipop
• Display: 5.5 ", 1920 x 1080 pixels, IPS, 401 ppi
• Camera: 13 MP, f / 2.0, flash, autofocus, video recording [email protected]
• Front camera: 8 MP, f / 2.3, 1080p video recording
• Processor: 8 cores (4 x 1.5 GHz + 4 x 1 GHz), Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
• Graphics chip: Adreno 405
• RAM: 2 GB
• ROM: 16 or 32 GB (for one-symbol and two-symbol)
• Memory card: microSD (up to 128 GB, only for the monosymbol)
• GPS and GLONASS
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n)
• microUSB 2.0
• FM radio with RDS
• Two stereo speakers with JBL Clari-Fi technology, 2 x 1.2 W
• Hi-Fi sound
• Dual SIM support (not all models)
• Battery: non-removable, 2910 mAh
• Dimensions: 152.7 x 75.14 x 7.4mm
• Weight: 141g

Video review and unpacking

Design and equipment

Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 4.7 came in a sealed box, which made it possible to evaluate the official Russian configuration. It assumes the device itself, documentation, a needle for a SIM / microSD tray, a microUSB cable, charging (1 A) and JBL headphones. Most likely, the set of accessories for Idol 3 5.5 is no different.

I expected a lot more from the JBL headphones included in the box. The flat cable and good design are attractive, but the extremely inexpressive sound without bass and details does not allow using the product for its intended purpose (if you respect your own ears, of course). Even Xiaomi Piston 2 or 3 (review) for $ 15 plays better. So give the complete solution to the cat, let it play. Looking ahead, I will say that loud statements like "the sound of Idol 3 was brought by JBL itself, so get ready for pleasant goosebumps from incredible quality" are partly also zilch, but more on that below.

In terms of design, Idol 3 4.7 and Idol 3 5.5 are like twin brothers. One, however, ate little in childhood, and the second ate carrots. Obviously, the small model was taken as the basis for the large model. Otherwise, I cannot explain why the keys on the ends of the Idol 3 5.5 are at the same distance from the top edge as the Idol 3 4.7 - it is very inconvenient to reach them. Even the 5.5 ”Apple iPhone 6 Plus (review), which only the lazy did not kick for the ill-conceived button placement, the controls are below. Borders and margins are not large, but not small either - normal in general. The younger Idol 3, which came in a new box, did not creak during the study. And the big Idol 3, which turned out to be a prototype from a pre-release batch, creaked with a lid and sides. I think commercial Idol 3 5.5 should be built as well as Idol 3 4.7.

The arrangement of the elements on the case is slightly different. On the front panel, you can see light and proximity sensors, a front camera (5 MP for Idol 3 4.7 and 8 MP for Idol 3 5.5), an LED indicator and two stereo speakers. On the left is the power button and the SIM / microSD tray. On the right is the volume rocker. The bottom end has a microUSB port and a microphone, while the top has an audio jack and a second microphone. At the back is a 13MP camera with flash and logos. It is curious that the phones, being made in one color, differ in the shade and texture of non-removable covers. Idol 3 4.7 has a grayer lid, it is more matte and rough and, as a result, less easily soiled and slippery.

The manufacturer claims the same power for the stereo speakers through the NXP 9890 amplifier (two 1.2W speakers). In fact, Idol 3 4.7 is louder, and Idol 3 5.5 plays a little deeper, but there is also a negative point - the back cover, having a large area, vibrates unpleasantly from the sound of Idol 3 5.5. Both Idol 3s are louder than the Sony Xperia Z3 + (the model's moisture protection is harmful) and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. However, the Alcatel One Touch is quieter and weaker than the Motorola Nexus 6. The official Idol 3 web page says the speakers "deliver surround Hi-Fi sound thanks to JBL's advanced Clari-Fi technology." This technology supposedly restores the original sound quality of compressed music files. I'd like to look into the eyes of the audio experts at JBL who are able to distinguish MP3 (at least 128kbps) from FLAC by ear from microscopic smartphone speakers. I'm afraid it's due to the good sound, mostly in the number of speakers. As for the Hi-Fi quality from the built-in speakers, this is not even funny.

The models have different displays. The youngest got a 4.7 "HD panel with 312 ppi, while the older one sports a 5.5" Full HD screen with a density of 401 ppi. Idol 3 4.7 exhibits color inversion and bleaching when tilted, while Idol 3 5.5 behaves excellently when tilted. The screen of Idol 3 4.7 is cold and Idol 3 5.5 is warm. Since we are dealing with IPS, other specimens may have a different temperature. Unfortunately, there is no way to adjust it in the settings. For their classes, the devices have very good displays.

The slogan reads that "Idol 3 is ready for any turn." The point is that you can take the phone out of your pocket or bag upside down and the interface of any application will be oriented correctly (you don't even have to turn the device in your hands when there is an incoming call). There are no complaints about the software implementation, as well as the implementation of the speakers, as well as the symmetrical shape of the models in general - they correspond to the idea. But there are a couple of key points with which the Idol 3 can be taken by surprise when cornering and that prevent it from being considered 100% reversible. First, I'm wondering at what stage engineers and designers disobeyed programmers by placing buttons on the side edges to a great height. When turning, as you understand, changing the volume with your little finger, as well as pressing the lock key with your thumb muscles, is not very comfortable. I think the buttons needed to be centered. Secondly, by pulling the device “upside down” out of jeans in order to quickly take a picture of something cool, you block the peephole with your hand (in vertical or horizontal orientations) and you still have to take the Idol 3 correctly. And even holding the phone upside down not for a photo, but for other purposes, you will constantly blurt out the camera - you will have to wipe it regularly. You will not be able to reach the gadget in the traditional position without looking because of the symmetry. After all, tactilely it is not clear where there is in front, where is the back. The audio jack on the top, by the way, also does not contribute to "proper storage in pants" - but the interface adapts to the player, which is a plus in comparison with asymmetrical models, where the jack is also at the top. In my opinion, the concept itself is cool, but there are certain inconveniences behind it, so I would not consider it a competitive advantage. Apparently, they are the reason why reversible smartphones have not yet gained popularity - they are not worth the trouble.

Software

The software base is Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with a proprietary launcher. Since there is no difference in the software, and it is more convenient to work with a large screen, Idol 3 5.5 was taken as the basis of the material. The company abandoned attempts at large-scale customization of the interface and only slightly modified the vanilla shell. It turned out pretty.

In addition to the traditional tables with folders, icons and widgets, there is a OneTouch Stream screen. It displays weather, news, popular programs and wallpapers. Some branded applications, once on the desktop, turn into widgets. You press, for example, a radio or a proprietary audio player, and instead of a full-screen program, your gaze is presented to a menu with control keys, opened in a third of the display. To switch to full screen mode, you need to click on the icon in the upper right corner.

A notification shade with shortcut keys is standard. In the menu of active programs there is a broom with which you can close all applications at once. Five buttons can be displayed on the lock screen for quick access to some functions (calculator, player, selfie camera, writing SMS, voice recorder and others). The buttons are small and if you have a lot of notifications on the lock screen, you may have difficulty activating the desired function quickly. Especially on Idol 3 4.7.

Now about the settings. There are few options in the Gestures section, but there is a much needed double tap to turn the display on and off. In the "Screen" animation is selected when rotated 180 degrees (two of the four lag). If you take out a cover-book for Idol 3 5.5, you can customize it in the corresponding item. If you use a memory card, you can install applications on it. There is support for OTA updates, I received something on both phones.

There are a lot of pre-installed applications: antivirus, audio services, demo versions of games, some proprietary software, social network clients, and more. There is no point in talking about everything (screenshots are enough), although I will focus on the Mix program.

"Mix" is a proprietary audio player (in vertical orientation) with the ability to create mixes on virtual turntables (in horizontal orientation). I don't understand much about DJing, but something tells me that it is unlikely that it will be possible to create something sane on the phone. I would be glad to be wrong. At your service are sliders of track playback speed, volume balance, equalizer, sound samples, rhythmic drums. As a player, "Mix" can be used, but its interface will take a little getting used to, so as not to make random scratches on the record. As a DAC in Idol 3 (in both models), the AKM AK4375 chip is used, familiar from the ZTE Nubia Z9 family.

They say that JBL specialists were involved in fine tuning the sound. But it is not clear what sound exactly. The fact is that in the settings in the section "Melodies and notifications" there is a JBL item with effects from JBL, which simply disfigures the original performance. If you turn off this deterioration, then the sound from Idol 3 is at the level of the top-end LG G4, Samsung Galaxy S6 - good enough to satisfy the vast majority of mobile listeners. In conjunction with the Denon D600 headphones, we can note quite sharp highs, good mids and balanced bass. And if you turn on the JBL gadgets, then the high ones go away, boom appears, the middle begins to cut on the ears, mixing the guitar parts into a sickening gash, and the basses loosen up and appear where they are not needed. It seems that he was not wearing Japanese headphones for 25 thousand rubles on his head, but a fake Beats from the subway crossing.

Camera

The main cameras of the Idol 3 models are the same: a 13 megapixel sensor, f / 2.0 aperture, single flash, autofocus. The camera app offers several modes, including manual mode with awkward choices for white balance, focus, shutter speed, and ISO. There are settings, but apart from the resolution and exposure, there is not much to change. The pictures come out almost identical. Sometimes, depending on the specific conditions, case, firmware, the white balance may slightly float - it's hard to notice. However, in general, that Idol 3 4.7, that Idol 3 5.5 can be praised for detail and color reproduction. Phones shoot especially well in good light. Classmates tensed, yes.

Idol 3 4.7 and Idol 3 5.5:

Idol 3 4.7 and Idol 3 5.5

The front cameras are different. The Idol 3 4.7 has a 5-megapixel module with f / 2.5 aperture, and the Idol 3 5.5 has an 8-megapixel module with an aperture of f / 2.3. Strange, but selfies for the younger model come out better in clarity and are often not inferior in colors. Perhaps the programmers have not finished the Idol 3 5.5 front-end software yet and after some time it will still show itself. But for now, like this:

Idol 3 4.7 and Idol 3 5.5

Idol 3 4.7 and Idol 3 5.5

After good photo opportunities, I mentally prepared for a pretty good video, but, alas, oh. The maximum resolution for videos from the front and rear cameras is capped at 1080p. At the same time, Idol 3 4.7 writes video at 23 fps from the main camera and 30 fps from the front camera, and Idol 3 5.5 produces 30 fps when recording from the main camera and 15 fps from the front camera. The detail from the main cameras could be higher for Full HD, and the AF tracking is in no hurry to aim when changing the plan. Electronic stabilization does not shine with efficiency, but it is still better with it than without it. The sound is written poorly on both models, but the Idol 3 4.7 is still worse. The color rendition from the front camera of the Idol 3 5.5 seemed nicer, but the laggy picture shakes a lot in motion. In general, the Alcatel OneTouch has a sadness with the video, but the photos are good.

Benchmarks and performance

In nature, there are several versions of phones. Modifications 6039Y (Idol 3 4.7) and 6045Y (Idol 3 5.5) are single-SIM, have a microSD slot, and 6039K (Idol 3 4.7) and 6045K (Idol 3 5.5) without microSD, but they have support for two SIM-cards. The amount of internal memory also varies. The one-symbol Idol 3 4.7 has 8 GB, the two-symbol has 16 GB. Single-SIM Idol 3 5.5 offers 16 GB, dual-SIM - 32 GB. However, these are all volumes declared by the company. It turned out that Idol 3 4.7 with the number 6039Y does not have an 8 GB chip, but a 16 GB one! The manufacturer programmatically cut the memory in half to separate the 6039Y and 6039K, as well as 6039Y and 6045Y, but users have the opportunity to completely unlock the drive. Read instructions

Contents of delivery

• Telephone
• Charger with USB cable
• JBL Wired Stereo Headset
• A clip for removing the SIM card
• Instructions

Specifications

• Android 5.0.2
• Screen 4.7 inches, IPS, 720x1280 pixels
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset, 4 cores up to 1.2 GHz, Adreno 306 graphics coprocessor
• 1.5 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal, microSD memory card
• microSIM
• 13MP Sony EXMOR camera, LED flash, 5MP front camera
• Li-Ion 2000 mAh battery
• FM radio
• NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, LTE
• Dimensions - 134.6 x 65.9 x 7.55 mm, weight - 110 grams

Positioning

In 2015, Alcatel decided to completely change the positioning of its devices, abandon the countless number of models with the Idol name and make only two devices in this line - one with a 4.7-inch diagonal, the second with a 5.5-inch screen. The analogy with Apple suggests itself, the company also simultaneously brought to the market two devices with different diagonals (they are the same in Alcatel, which strengthens this association). Such devices as Idol Mini, Idol X and so on are leaving the past. This is a must for Alcatel to focus on the best deals, make them understandable to consumers, and not be overwhelmed by many similar devices.

The Idol 3 model should be the optimal solution in terms of price / quality ratio: good characteristics, there is an additional feature in the form of high-quality JBL speakers, a good screen inside Android 5. The last few years, Alcatel devices have been good in terms of both functionality and design. The manufacturer creates them for a mass consumer who is not greedy for brands, and wants to use the phone as long as possible until it breaks. But at the same time, Alcatel is beginning to equip its devices with loud "technologies", the company wants to match the level of first-tier manufacturers. For example, we see JBL speakers and software in this device, Technicolor Color Enchance settings for the screen. These are the first steps in the direction where the company creates additional value through partnerships with other brands. This will only play a role if Alcatel starts to instill this approach from generation to generation.

For Idol 3, we can also say that this is an atypical device for the company, since for the first time Alcatel singles out key and secondary markets, making the cost of these devices different for each of them. For example, in the US, the price of Idol 3 5.5 inches is $ 249 in the company's online store, this price can be perceived as a promo, however, it exists and affects the perception of the device in other markets. So, in Russia, the younger and more reduced functionally version costs 15,000 rubles, that is, about $ 300. What looks too high a cost, especially against the background of competitors, which we will talk about in the conclusions. It should be understood that Alcatel is at a crossroads - on the one hand, the company wants to keep up with the success of Chinese manufacturers in the world, on the other hand, it is difficult for it to refuse to position itself in the segment of affordable products in terms of price / quality ratio. It turns out a multidirectional movement, some models remain in the old paradigm, something in the new, and sometimes the same model in different markets acts in a different capacity. This creates a lot of confusion, which will negatively affect Alcatel's sales to some extent.

Design, dimensions, controls

Outwardly, this is a common and familiar Alcatel, the trick is that the screen protrudes slightly, and on both sides of it there are speakers from JBL. They are small, average in volume (the declared power is 1.2 W for both), they play quite cleanly. Interestingly, this is one of the few devices in which two microphones are combined with speakers, you can take the phone as you like, even upside down, it doesn't matter. The only element that is not paired is the front camera (5 megapixels).

The case was made non-separable, which may seem like a drawback to someone. On the other hand, there are no complaints about the build quality. In total, there will be three color solutions available, in Russia initially the phone appears in a classic dark gray case.

On the back you can see the main camera - 13 megapixels (EXMOR from Sony of the latest generation). There is also an LED flash. On the top there is a 3.5 headphone jack, on the bottom there is a microUSB connector. On the left side there is a tray that can be removed with a special "paper clip". Depending on which model you have (two SIM cards or one), the tray is different - in the case of one microSIM card, the second place is given to the microSD memory card. Or it could be two microSIM cards. On the right side there is a paired volume rocker.

I like the way this phone fits in the hand, it is optimal in size, it can be compared well with other devices of this class. The dimensions of the device are 134.6 x 65.9 x 7.55 mm, the weight is 110 grams.

Compared to Lumia 830

Display

Diagonal - 4.7 inches, HD-screen resolution (312 ppi) and Technocolor Enchance settings as a color profile, this has almost no effect on the perception of an IPS screen. There is no air gap, the screen is made using OSG technology. The backlight adjustment settings are typical, no problem. Nice, high-quality, but not distinguishing display from others. For an inexpensive device, this is a typical solution.

The screen fades a lot in the sun. The effect is that in order to save energy, the brightness of the backlight was abandoned, it is insufficient outdoors, and we can say that indoors for those who are used to other, brighter devices, it will also not be enough.

For a budget device, such a screen is typical, but for a middle-class device it is no longer enough, it just falls short of the generally accepted level. It is not so noticeable yet, but with the release of new models the difference becomes noticeable.

Battery

The device is capable of working one full day under normal load. The capacity of the Li-Ion battery is 2000 mAh, which is not much, but a day of operation is quite a good time under load. The device can provide two days of operation only with a minimum of calls.

The device has a built-in utility for limiting power consumption (disables certain functions), it turns on by default when the charge reaches 30%. The downside is that it is not natively integrated into Android, de facto it is an add-on program that is no different from those that you can download in the Play Store. There is no particular benefit from using it.

The full charging time of the battery is about 1.5 hours.

Memory, RAM, hardware platform

The device has 1.5 GB of RAM, built-in 16 GB (7.2 GB is available to the user for their files, plus a small piece of system memory), plus you can install memory cards up to 128 GB.

Inside there is a quad-core Snapdragon 410 chipset, the choice is clear based on the cost of the device, not a record holder in performance, but a good solution with LTE support. Most models in this price segment (in Russia) already have 8-core chipsets.

In the interface, the device almost does not slow down, although slowdowns are sometimes encountered. It is not very clear what is to blame, the slowness of the chipset or the add-on from Alcatel. But there is obviously a lot of work for optimization, the device is not slow, but it cannot be called super-sensitive. Again I have to say that this is a budget solution.

Camera

Conventional 13-megapixel camera (Sony Exmor module). In addition to the already standard HDR mode, it became possible to adjust retouching for both the main and front cameras in real time, so you can hide skin imperfections. Of the interesting things, I note the presence of a manual mode - a choice of white balance, ISO value (from 100 to 2400 plus auto mode), focus is selected with a slider, shutter speed (from 1/2 to 1/2000). The presence of such settings allows you to pull out images that the automation cannot handle.

Of the other modes, I will note the QR-scanner built into the phone, you get a picture of the code and a link, if it was, of course, encoded in the code.

Now about the cons. At the moment, the camera software, despite the availability of devices on sale, is far from final in terms of quality. There was a flaw in the prototypes with focusing speed, they fought with it and eventually won. The camera is focused almost instantly, and there are no problems. But in conditions when you have a light source in the field of the frame, the camera aims at it. In my case, in a hotel corridor lamp - the feeling that the picture was taken in complete darkness, although it is a bright day and everything is flooded with light. The same is true when shooting outdoors, if there is a lot of sky or sun in the frame, then the picture becomes indigestible, it is dark. This is clearly a flaw in the image processing algorithm, which they promise to improve in the next firmware for the camera, which will become available in early summer.

You can see examples of photos below. The quality is typical for this kind of products, if you forget about the above.

And this is how the video is recorded, the device does not have any special achievements or shortcomings in this aspect.

Communication capabilities

The model supports 4G (LTE FDD: 1/3/7/8/20), it also has NFC, Wi-Fi, BT 4.0, USB & BT Modem Tethering - in a word, a standard set of technologies, without any features.

Software features

Alcatel is trying not to change the standard Android much, but still they bring their own changes, including on Android 5. If in Hero 2 icons with a small square had a mini-cat, then the icons have a circle and a larger window. If you want to open the entire application, press the button again.

This unit has Android 5.0.2. Alcatel has redesigned the standard interface, but not much. Some people may not like this. The curtain remained from Android 5, in the scrolling mode of the screens on the left there is always Alcatel Stream, in which you can see new applications, weather, news. A completely useless thing that HTC has clearly spied on. But here it makes no sense, since you cannot even edit news sources, which makes the whole venture pointless.

The phone has an FM radio, the range of functions is typical. Voice recorder, calculator, compass, and built-in memory manager plus AVG antivirus.

Mix has been taken over as a music application, in it you can not only listen to music, but also mix it, apply different effects, all you have to do is turn the device over to a horizontal orientation. Is it necessary? For young people, such entertainment may be suitable, but this is a toy that should not be overestimated, it will not work to turn into a DJ with it, although an idea of \u200b\u200bit can be formed.

Among the unlocking methods, there is Eye-D, which reads a drawing of the retina of your eyes. The method is slow, not very reliable, and we added it to expand the number of those same chips.

In the settings, you can also enable screen unlock by tapping, gestures to mute the sound (you need to turn the phone over).

There is no point in talking about pre-installed games or other applications, they are of no particular value.

In general, most modern smartphones are similar to each other. And manufacturers are trying to add something new to their new products, completely different from everything that was before. Alcatel has created two smartphones - with a large screen Alcatel idol 3 5.5 so called "shovel" and smaller version Alcatel idol 3 4.7 miniwith a reversible interface. What is a reverse interface and what else is in these gadgets follows next.

Design and interface

As mentioned above, both smartphones are reversible - speakers and microphones are located on both sides - top and bottom, and the software ensures the correct orientation of applications in any position of the smartphone. Thanks to this, in order to, for example, answer a call, you can even take the phone upside down. In other words, when you rotate the phone 180 degrees, the camera will be covered by your hand, and the control buttons are inconvenient to press.
Of the useful functions, we can note the ability to enable the lock / unlock function with a double tap on the screen, which will come in handy when the smartphone is upside down. The design of both Alcatel idol 3 is quite nice, the smartphones are thin and light.

Screen and sound

The first smartphone - Alcatel idol 3 5.5 has a wide screen of 5 and a half inches, Alcatel idol 4.7 has a smaller screen - 4.7 inches. The screen resolution in version 5.5 is slightly better. Both smartphones have screens with wide viewing angles and high resolution. The brightness of both is sufficient to preserve the legibility of the image in sunny weather.
Dual speakers and Clari-Fi software are responsible for sound for a loud and rich sound.

Camera

The main cameras have 13 mega pixels for each of the smartphones, which allows you to take high-resolution pictures. To create high-quality photos, there are a number of functions, such as electronic stabilization when shooting in motion, fast auto focus with automatic face detection. Also, thanks to software processing, it is possible to take high-quality photos in low light.
Front cameras differ - 8 mega pixels for Alcatel idol 3 5.5 and 5 mega pixels for Alcatel idol 4.7, both options have wide viewing angles, both options allow you to take high quality selfies.

Performance

Alcatel idol 3 5.5 has an 8-core processor and 2 gigabytes of RAM. These characteristics allow you to handle even demanding applications. Built-in memory 16 gigabytes. The mini version - Alcatel idol 3 4.7 already has a 4-core processor and a slightly smaller amount of RAM of 1.5 gigabytes, which is also very good. The built-in memory is half less - 8 gigabytes.
The battery is about 2000 mA for the smaller smartphone and 2900 mA for the 5.5 version.
The smartphone in both versions supports operation in 4G networks (LTE), there is a GPS module for satellite navigation.

Share on social networks

Find out more

1. The purpose of the Sellers Review publications is somewhat different from other similar reviews. The truth is that few ...

ALCATEL ONETOUCH Idol 3 was announced in March at MWC 2015. Unfortunately, we only got it now. Of course, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since the announcement, but still the device has its own chips, which we will get acquainted with in the review.

Inside the dark blue box is a smartphone, a 2A charger, a USB cable, paper documentation and a JBL headset. It is unexpected and pleasant to see a headset from a renowned manufacturer in the kit. The flagship devices of the first tier manufacturers cannot boast of this.

Appearance and usability

First, it is worth noting that there are two outwardly identical devices with the name Idol 3. The differences lie in the diagonal of the screen and the filling. We got a smartphone with a 5.5-inch screen, but there is also a 4.7-inch one. There are also two versions of the Idol 3 5.5 itself - we are testing the 6045K version, which received a slot for two SIM cards and a built-in 32 GB drive. There is also a version 6045Y with one SIM card and 16 GB of internal memory, but expandable with microSD memory cards.

ALCATEL ONETOUCH smartphones have always been good with design. So the flagship model did not fall face down in the mud.

The front side has a complex shape. The display unit is located on a small step. In its upper part there is a light indicator, a front camera and proximity and lighting sensors. The top and bottom edges have stereo speakers. Power and volume keys are spaced on the left and right sides, respectively. The microSIM slot is on the left. Not the top end - 3.5 audio jack and an additional microphone. At the bottom is the main microphone and microUSB.

The body is non-separable. On the back is a 13 megapixel main camera and a single LED flash. In addition, here you can find the logos of the manufacturer and the Idol line. It is worth noting that the cover is made of plastic that perfectly imitates metal.

The side face has an interesting design - on the sides there are thin plastic inserts for metal, and in the center there is a plastic insert in the color of the case.

In terms of usability, the Idol 3 performed well, even with a 5.5 display. It has dimensions of 152.7 × 75.14 × 7.4 mm and a weight of 141 g. The latter gives the feeling of a weightless phone. Thanks to unlocking the screen by double tap, there is no need to reach for the power key. When gripping with the right hand, the index finger is below the power key, and under the thumb is the volume rocker.

Display

ALCATEL ONETOUCH Idol 3 is equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS screen made using OGS technology with Full HD resolution. There is an automatic brightness control sensor, which works correctly, as well as a good oleophobic coating.

Having measured the screen, we can say that the maximum brightness is 518 cd / m², and the minimum is 31.7 cd / m². Contrast is 1 to 831. It should be noted that the maximum brightness is very high. This makes it easier to operate your smartphone in direct sunlight. But the high value of the minimum brightness negates the desire to read from the device before going to bed.

The display color gamut is slightly wider than the sRGB triangle. The color temperature is at 6000K. This means that the colors on the screen will be slightly warmer than necessary. The gamma curve is far from the reference. As a result, the image will be brighter than necessary.

Subjectively, the screen is normal. Yes, the calibration is not the best, but overall the colors are pleasant, the screen has good contrast. A significant disadvantage will be the high value of the minimum brightness.

Hardware platform

ALCATEL ONETOUCH Idol 3 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor (MSM8939). It consists of four Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.5 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores @ 1 GHz. In the role of a video accelerator - Adreno 405.

The amount of RAM is 2 GB, and the built-in 32 GB. After switching on, about 800 MB of RAM is available.

The benchmark results are not impressive, we have a mid-range smartphone. In terms of performance, it competes with solutions based on the Mediatek MT6752 platform. Those who like to play demanding games at high graphics settings will be disappointed by the device, but for all other tasks it will do. The overall system performance is not very high. Here and there there are small interface jams. Although, the average user is unlikely to notice this.

Wi-Fi does not support AC standard. Bluetooth has version 4.1. There is support for FM radio, GPS and NFC. All wireless networks work well. Wi-Fi keeps the network confidently and does not lose signal. The speed of searching for satellites also raised no questions.

One of the main features of ALCATEL ONETOUCH Idol 3 is the presence of two stereo speakers with a power of 1.2 W each. They are made with JBL Clari-Fi technology. This makes it easy to turn your phone into a small multimedia center. The volume of the speakers is really high, and the fact that they are as far apart as possible along the edges of the rather big phone adds even more stereo effect. The proprietary ONETOUCH MIX application is used to play music. In portrait orientation, this is a normal music player. In the horizontal, everything changes. A mixing console appears before our eyes. These are not just visualizations. It allows you to change the tempo of music playback, insert effects and quickly combine songs.

If we talk about conversational dynamics, here it is made at a good average level. The microphone is also not bad. There were no complaints from interlocutors about the quality of speech transmission.

Operating system and shell

The operating system is Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. The manufacturer did not change the stock interface much. At first glance, cartoon labels of stock applications are thrown. Unfortunately, it is impossible to replace them with standard ones.

The smartphone unlocking interface has changed. Now, in addition to launching the call log and the camera, you can launch the calendar, music player, front camera, create a contact and scan the QR code.

On the far left desktop is the ONETOUCH Stream feed. This is a kind of analogue of what can be found on HTC smartphones. The big drawback is that it is impossible to add or customize the display of certain resources. Only the choice of the country and topics of interest to you is available.

An interesting feature will be the ability to fully work with the device upside down. This mode works not only in the menu, but also during a phone call. This is possible due to the use of stereo speakers and microphones at the ends of the case. In this case, the speaker used is the one that is at the top when receiving a call. During a conversation, a 180 degree flip does not work.

The "Gestures" item has appeared in the smartphone settings, in which you can turn off the call and snooze the alarm clock by flipping the screen, as well as wake up the device by double tap.

Camera

The smartphone is equipped with a 13 megapixel main camera and an 8 megapixel front camera. The rear camera is based on the Sony IMX 214 sensor. Both modules can record video in Full HD. The settings are very simple. In addition to the automatic mode, there is HDR, panorama, manual mode, single frame, scanner and auto retouch.

In short, the quality of the photographs is average. Despite using the very popular and good Sony IMX 214 sensor, the camera let us down. Yes, in good lighting conditions, the photos are not bad, but sometimes there are problems with focusing. In the evening, the device focuses reluctantly.

Sample photos taken with the main camera:

Sample photos taken with the front camera:

Video recording example

Autonomy

The built-in battery capacity is 2910 mAh. Thanks to this, as well as not the most voracious processor, you can count on 2 days of battery life in normal mode. In this case, the active screen time will be 3.5 hours, 1 hour of talking on the phone. During the night, when Wi-Fi is on, the battery loses from one to three percent of its charge. So in terms of autonomy, the smartphone is doing well.

Outcome

ALCATEL ONETOUCH Idol 3 5.5 is a beautiful phablet with high-quality stereo speakers, a decent screen and sufficient battery life. A smartphone will not work for those who like to play demanding games, but it should appeal to those who watch videos, listen to music not only through headphones, but also through speakers. In Ukraine, Idol 3 5.5 will start selling in December at a recommended price of 5555 hryvnia.

Liked:

Stereo speakers

Appearance

Battery life

Complete headset

Did not like:

- Main camera

- High minimum brightness

	ALCATEL 6045D Idol 3 5.5 (Gray) Notify when on sale
A type	Smartphone
SIM card type	Micro-SIM
Standard	GSM 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS 850/1700/1900/2100, LTE
High speed data transfer	GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE
Number of SIM-cards	1/2
operating system	Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
RAM, GB	2
Built-in memory, GB	16/32
Expansion slot	+/-
Dimensions, mm	152.7 × 75.14 × 7.4
Weight, g	140,7
Dust and moisture protection	—
Accumulator battery	Li-pol, 2910 mAh (non-removable)
Opening hours (manufacturer's data)	conversation - up to 13 hours, waiting - up to 600 hours
Diagonal, inches	5,5
Resolution	1920 × 1080
Matrix type	IPS
PPI	401
Brightness adjustment sensor	+
Touch screen (type)	touch (capacitive)
Other	OGS, oleophobic coating
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939 + GPU Adreno 405
Kernel type	Cortex-A53
Number of Cores	4+4
Frequency, GHz	1+1,5
Main camera, MP	13
Autofocus	+
Filming	1920х1080 (30 fps)
Flash	lED
Front camera, MP	8
Other	—
Wi-Fi	802.11 a / b / g / n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth	4.1 (A2DP, LE)
GPS	+
IrDA	—
NFC	+
Interface connector	USB 2.0 (micro-USB)
Audio jack	3.5mm
MP3 player	+
FM radio	+
Type of shell	monoblock (non-separable)
Body material	plastic
Keyboard type	screen input
More	accelerometer (G-sensor), proximity sensor, digital compass, A-GPS, Hi-Fi sound