Skip to main content

Alcatel OneTouch is going up against the Moto G 2015 with this $180, 4.7-inch smartphone

Alcatel OneTouch announced the Idol 3 a few months back, but only the 5.5-inch version has been available. Those of you waiting for the more affordable 4.7-inch version will finally have a chance to purchase it starting Friday, August 14 for $180. That’s $70 less than the 5.5-inch version, and crucially, the same price as the new Motorola Moto G 2015.

Other than its size, the 4.7-inch version is slightly less powerful than the 5.5-inch bigger brother. The phone sports a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 along with 1.5GB of RAM, while the big-screen version makes use of the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 along with 2GB of RAM.

Recommended Videos

The display resolution has been cut to 720p, down from 1080p on the larger model. That might sound like a lot, but it won’t be that noticeable due to the smaller display size. The Idol 3 has a 2000mAh battery, which is much smaller than the 2900mAh battery found in the 5.5-inch phone, but the drop in display resolution should keep the battery life at a similar level.

The rest of the specs are mostly the same. You will get a 13-megapixel shooter on the rear along with 5 megapixels at the front. The front-facing stereo speakers, featuring JBL Audio, promise to sound good too. A total of 16GB internal storage is included, which is higher than many of its competitors, plus you can add another 32GB of additional storage using the microSD slot.

Android 5.0.2 is installed as standard, and it features an unusual rotating user interface, meaning you can use it whatever way round you’re holding the phone, upside down or right side up. More importantly, Alcatel OneTouch says the Idol 3 will receive an update shortly after turning on the phone that will fix the scary Stagefright security flaw.

Lastly, the new Idol 3 has 4G LTE connectivity and is compatible with all GSM carriers in North America, a list that includes both AT&T and T-Mobile. At $180 unlocked and contract free, the Idol 3 4.7 is competing directly with the Moto G 2015. Spec-wise, both phones are very similar, but the Moto G can be customized through Moto Maker and has water resistance, all for the same price.

You can grab the Idol 3 4.7 from alcatelonetouch.us or alcatelonetouch.ca, in addition to Amazon starting this Friday, August 14.

Robert Nazarian
Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…
Baseus power banks are the best way to charge your phone after these discounts
A woman holding a phone with a Baseus Am41 Magnetic Power Bank attached to it.

One of the worst things about being a doomscroller isn't the information you're getting, it's the fear that your battery will die and the scrolling will have to end. This is especially true if you're stuck without power, waiting for the doctor or dentist to finally call your name, or have any other sort of emergency. But, Baseus has you covered with their excellent selection of on-the-go power banks made for your iPhone. Since they're small and fit directly to your phone's magnet charging area, you can think of them more as battery extenders than anything. Plus, if your phone's internal battery is starting to have battery trouble, a Baseus charger is a great way to avoid an annoying battery change session. The best news, however, is that they're all on sale. Here's what you can expect to see coming up:

Baseus Am31 Mini Power Bank — Was $70, Now $50

Read more
Nothing Phone 3: A unique phone that’s not a true flagship
The Nothing Phone 3 in white

As smartphones have become extremely homogenous, companies must find unique ways to stand out from the crowd. For London-based Nothing, this has meant a singular company focus on blending smartphone features with unique designs that allow their phones to stand out in a sea of sameness.

The Nothing Phone 3 is the latest addition to a line of Nothing phones that are unique and polarizing in their design. Earlier this year, Nothing launched the Phone 3a Pro with a unique camera array, and the Phone 3 builds on this while also evolving the Nothing design language.

Read more
Plaud Note, the professional-tier AI notetaker, is 20% off for Prime Day
Four colleagues have a conversation around a Plaud Note AI notetaker.

Lately, as I've been working through stressful hospital visits with family, I've encountered something I haven't in quite awhile. As I hear doctors, nurses, and family say things, I'll be completely unable to remember them moments later. There's just too much going on all at once. Early in my career I encountered the same issue. There were just so many new facets of what I was doing entering my head all at once, from many sources, that it was impossible to keep track of it all. If only there were AI notetaking tools that have helped me through this. AI notetaking tools like Plaud Note and Plaud NotePin, which are both 20% off for Prime Day (from $159 to $127 for either device, saving you $32) and available by tapping the button below.

PLAUD Note Voice Recorder

Read more