Budget smarphones don’t always have a great reputation – aesthetically they can be bulky and their operation clunky. I’m pleased to report the Alcatel 3V smartphone is nothing like the common perception of budget smartphones.
With its slim casing, large screen, clear display and slick operation, the Alcatel 3V is so much better than you’d expect a budget phone to be. It’s currently on sale on Tesco.com for £85.00 and comes with a free sim card if you buy before 2nd April 2019
Alcatel 3V – What’s in the Box?
The box contains the Alcatel 3V, a charger, a clear plastic case to protect the phone’s back, and ear buds.
The phone needs charging before first use, it was on about 27% when I turned it on, but charging is quick and it didn’t take long to get to 100%.
Alcatel 3V Screen & Display
The 18:9 screen ratio really sets this phone apart from other budget smartphones out there. The screen size and display make this phone feel expensive, it’s perfect for streaming videos or gaming. The screen is a big draw for me and although the phone feels big, it’s still pretty easy to hold.
The screen itself is sharp and clear. The colours are vibrant and the brightness adjusts automatically so it doesn’t end up dazzling you when you look at your phone in a dark room.
Usability
The phone is slimline and easy to hold, in spite of its large size. It’s really light for it’s size, weighing only 155g, I’ve owned smaller phones that were much heavier.
The Alcatel 3V runs on an Android operating system, which is easy to get on with even if you’re not familiar with using it.
The internal memory 16GB but if you like your gaming apps and taking lots of photos, there is a slot for an SD card to expand the memory, which is probably worth doing.
Alcatel 3V Camera
The camera on the Alcatel 3V is surprising good. The rear dual camera is 12MP while the front facing camera is 5MP – perfect for video chatting. The main camera records video in full HD (1080p).
Using the camera is as easy as you’d expect and if you take the time to experiment with the functions you can get some really cool photos.
Below is a photo taken with selective focus:
This photo of a daffodil was taken on the auto-setting.
This photo of my daughter was taken indoors in low light:
All photos have been left unedited so to give an accurate representation.
Overall Impression of the Alcatel 3V
I’ve owned budget phones in the past and none of them have compared to the look and feel of the Alcatel 3V Smartphone. It’s glossy and slick, making it look high-end and a million miles away from what you would expect from an £85 phone.
The camera is good and so is the display, meaning video chats are easy to conduct and both ends get a good picture. The camera also takes great photos, even in low lighting conditions which is always a bonus.
If you’re in the market for a budget phone, I’d definitely recommend the Alcatel 3V, I don’t think you can get anything anywhere near as slick and user-friendly for the price.
You might also like this review of a smartphone made specifically for kids.