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The cheap smartphone with iPhone specs is good for the kids
Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY10:56 a.m. EDT May 18, 2015
LOS ANGELES — Could I interest you in a cellphone with virtually the same specs as the state-of-the art iPhone 6 Plus, but at a third of the price?
That's exactly the selling proposition of the Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 phone, which will be available for sale Thursday.
Like the Apple device, it's got a 5.5-inch LCD screen and 1080p display. There's no IOS operating system (only Apple phones have it) but it does have the latest version of Android, Lollipop.
You probably haven't heard of Alcatel. The company is a unit of Hong Kong based TCL, best known for making lower-end TV sets.
Most phones are sold at a price that's lowered when you enter into a long-term contract. You can pay $200 but you also need a two-year commitment. The real price is much more. The iPhone 6 Plus without subsidy starts at $749. The Idol 3 without the subsidy sells for $250, and it can be used with the carriers T-Mobile and AT&T.
Via their "bring your own phone," policies, you'll get a cheaper monthly rate because you won't be leasing the phone.
So we've established that the Idol 3 is bargain priced. Is the phone any good?
Yes. But it's not the iPhone 6 Plus. The screen is big, bright and beautiful. It has access to all the latest apps, and runs them well. It has a 13 megapixel camera and two JBL speakers.
In performance, it doesn't run quite as zippy as the iPhone. The camera is just fine in good daylight, but for nighttime shots and dark rooms, forget it. It's quite inferior.
As a parent who had to suffer through my son either losing a phone or destroying and trying to replace it, only to be told I didn't quality for an upgrade yet, and would have to pay $500 or $600 for a new one, I love this Idol 3 alternative.
The Idol 3 is a great replacement or starter smartphone for the kids, with the added bonus of the lower wireless bill.
With the money you'll be saving, you can afford to pop for a flashlight to add oomph to the camera app.
Follow Jefferson Graham on Twitter and Facebook
Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY10:56 a.m. EDT May 18, 2015
LOS ANGELES — Could I interest you in a cellphone with virtually the same specs as the state-of-the art iPhone 6 Plus, but at a third of the price?
That's exactly the selling proposition of the Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 phone, which will be available for sale Thursday.
Like the Apple device, it's got a 5.5-inch LCD screen and 1080p display. There's no IOS operating system (only Apple phones have it) but it does have the latest version of Android, Lollipop.
You probably haven't heard of Alcatel. The company is a unit of Hong Kong based TCL, best known for making lower-end TV sets.
Most phones are sold at a price that's lowered when you enter into a long-term contract. You can pay $200 but you also need a two-year commitment. The real price is much more. The iPhone 6 Plus without subsidy starts at $749. The Idol 3 without the subsidy sells for $250, and it can be used with the carriers T-Mobile and AT&T.
Via their "bring your own phone," policies, you'll get a cheaper monthly rate because you won't be leasing the phone.
So we've established that the Idol 3 is bargain priced. Is the phone any good?
Yes. But it's not the iPhone 6 Plus. The screen is big, bright and beautiful. It has access to all the latest apps, and runs them well. It has a 13 megapixel camera and two JBL speakers.
In performance, it doesn't run quite as zippy as the iPhone. The camera is just fine in good daylight, but for nighttime shots and dark rooms, forget it. It's quite inferior.
As a parent who had to suffer through my son either losing a phone or destroying and trying to replace it, only to be told I didn't quality for an upgrade yet, and would have to pay $500 or $600 for a new one, I love this Idol 3 alternative.
The Idol 3 is a great replacement or starter smartphone for the kids, with the added bonus of the lower wireless bill.
With the money you'll be saving, you can afford to pop for a flashlight to add oomph to the camera app.
Follow Jefferson Graham on Twitter and Facebook
