I've been long looking to upgrade my 3 year-old phone because there are so many new features on these new smartphones that have been coming out. Shopping around for a phone gets quite frustrating though, especially because they can get really expensive. It's hard to make an investment like that when you know that a new release is just around the corner. That's really mainly why I've never pushed through with buying a new phone. Frankly, I felt stuck. I'm sure many of you feel the same way!
Well, we have found the answer to this dilemma: the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3.
With phones claiming to be the next big thing one after the next, people are expecting more from their smartphones especially with the rising prices that come with the upgrade. This phone is, believe it, BOTH affordable and powerful. Retailing at $249 you'd think it won't stand a chance against its $700 counterparts in the market. Well, think again. This phone has exceeded my expectations and it is, dare I say the best budget phone out there right now. Let me tell you why.
The freedom to #LiveUnlocked
I used to think that the only way I can own a really good phone is by going on a contract. It is hard to commit to one more bill to pay that you won't be able to back out of in 12 or 24 months. Alcatel One Touch Idol 3 is priced at $249, an affordable price tag that allows you to live contract free and gives you the freedom to be with any cell phone carrier, with no contracts or hidden phone costs. In addition to the freedom of choice, you can travel internationally with your phone and avoid roaming fees by simply changing you SIM card. This is a real life saver because I travel quite a bit, and this saves me from outrageous international data and call charges or having to use a crappy spare phone while traveling. It really is quite liberating to be contract free! I am all for this #LiveUnlocked concept! Power to the people!
Specs and Features: Power Packed for the Price!
I'm no techie, but looking at the specs of this phone, you can tell that it is no chump.
- DISPLAY 5.5-inch Full-HD IPS Display (1920x1080), with Technicolor Color Enhance for greater viewing angles - even in direct sunlight + Fully Reversible UI
- PROCESSOR Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 615 MSM8939 Octa-Core 1.7GHz (64-bit), Adreno 405 @ 550MHz
- CONNECTIVITY LTE FDD: B2/4/5/7/12/17, 150Mbps Downlink, 50Mbps Uplink + VoLTE
- CAMERA 13MP Main Camera with Sony IMX214 Sensor + 8MP Wide- Angle Front Camera
- SOUND Dual 1.2 Watt Front-Facing JBL Stereo Speakers
- MEMORY 16GB ROM + 2GB RAM (LP- DDR3); Expandable Memory Via MicroSD (up to 128GB)
- BATTERY 2910mAh With Up To 13 Hours Talk Time and Up to 600 Hours Standby Time
- OPERATING SYSTEM Android Lollipop 5.0.2
Design: It looks and feels great.
For a budget phone, it is sleek and has a refined look to it. I love the 5.5-inch display, but if you have tiny hands I will admit this may take some getting used to. It feels solid and has a good weight to it despite being made of plastic.
The 1080p resolution display is clear and vibrant and does well in different environments, including being out and about on very sunny days. One thing you'll notice immediately when you first hold it is that it is very symmetrical in design and I realized it is because it has dual-front speakers on the top and bottom of the phone! That means two great things. That means no more turning your phone over when trying to play music out loud, and get this - you can use this phone right-side up or upside down! No more clumsily trying to figure out where the speaker and the microphone are when frantically answering a phone call. I've dropped my old phone too many times doing this.
Does the Job... and More!
As a phone, the Idol 3 did the job well. The audio quality in calls was clear, and the speakers are impressively loud for a smartphone, perfect for multitasking when you're on a call or just for rocking out when you feel like having one during lunch breaks. I had no issues with losing connectivity, the network connection seemed strong.
You would think that a phone this cheap must be slow and laggy, but you'll be surprised. The Idol 3 performed so well with its octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor. It was fast and didn't experience any lagging even with the abuse that it took from an app hoarder like me. Thank god, cause I really need a phone that can keep up with the constant barrage of notifications from my 3 email inboxes, 10 health and fitness apps, 5 news apps, 3 photo editing apps, 4 chat apps, 5 media apps and this tarot reading app. Among the many others. Yes, I have a problem. I'm so relieved that I have a phone that finally gets me!
This being said, I thought the battery life on this phone would definitely be its downfall, and this is one of the rare instances that I am so happy to be wrong. With all the usage I put in on this phone it managed to remain unplugged for about 12 hours. Insert hallelujah chorus here.
You can also expect to get your selfie game on a whole new level with the Idol 3 actually leading the industry standard with its 13-megapixel camera and 5 megapixel wide front camera. The pictures come out crisp and with great color. It takes pictures quickly and automatically fixes the focus on the object you're taking a picture of. My boyfriend keeps telling me that I take too many pictures. He will have a whole lot more complaining to do because I am so happy with this phone's cameras that I think I'll just be taking pictures of everything. EVERYTHING!
Perfect Pairing: The Alcatel OneTouch Watch
If you want to step up this phone even more, Alcatel has made it possible through the Alcatel OneTouch Watch. For only $149 you can own a stylish accessory that can help you boost the Idol 3's features even more. You can get your notifications, messages, and calls straight from your watch, saving you from having to dig up your phone from that giant bag of yours just to check who just sent you a message.
It is available in a sporty dark red/volcano black design that looks great on both men and women. It looks classic enough to be worn with a power outfit that goes day to night. It also allows you to change the watch face so you can color coordinate with your outfits. Fabulous!
Apart from its killer good looks, this watch also has won me over as a fitness enthusiast. It is packed with sensors and apps that allow users to monitor daily activity and health. The watch monitors heart- rate, sleep cycle, distance covered, steps taken and calories burned, a watch after my own heart! This is all done within the settings control of the ONETOUCH Move app. You can also shake it to activate camera control, making it possible to get the perfect selfie without having to press a button. With all this, it is hard to believe that this watch can run for 5 days without charging! What a gadget.
If you're not an Idol 3 user, but you're loving this watch, don't worry. It actually runs on an agnostic OS, which means that you can pair it to any Android and iOS powered smartphone running Android 4.3 or newer / iOS 7 or newer.
The Verdict
Alcatel has really broken ground with the OneTouch Idol 3 Phone and One Touch Watch. I am such a proud owner of this pair, and I am so happy to have finally upgraded my phone like I've been wanting to! I know many of you out there are feeling quite apprehensive to buy a new smartphone because of the cost and contracts - that was exactly how I felt. Alcatel has made it possible to own a phone that is powerful and affordable at the same time, and this is amazing.
If you are a business owner you won't have to buy your employees outdated and cheap phones. You can boost productivity and morale by giving them a top of the line phone without spending a fortune! This makes for a great gift too without breaking the bank. They really are calling out for everyone to #LiveUnlocked!
All in all, the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 Phone and One Touch watch has been a delight to use, and I highly recommend it!
Where to buy the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 Phone and One Touch Watch: http://alcatelonetouch.us/Guess what? We are giving away the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 Phone and One Touch Watch to one lucky reader! Contest runs only until July 13 so get to it. Click here to join our giveaway!
Abbi Gabasa is the Managing Editor of MsCareerGirl.com and owner of UpraisedLiving.com. Having the background of a Marketing and Public Relations Manager with years of professional experience in various industries has given her an insightful perspective on careers, lifestyles, relationships, and attitudes which she humorously applies in helping people through her writing. Abbi is a training life coach, and an advocate of children's charities, women empowerment, optimistic thinking, and slow Sundays. A self-confessed Jane of all trades, she hopes to help girls all over the world find their calling and pursue their passions.