Chances are you've probably never heard of Alcatel, and you didn't know they make smartphones.
When shopping for an Android smartphone, consumers see offerings from companies such as Samsung, Motorola and LG. What's this Alcatel I speak of?
Well, let me introduce you to the OneTouch Idol 3. Available flat-out for $349, it's a relatively affordable Android device that packs above-average performance.
In the palm of my hand it feels as sturdy as a high school calculator, which isn't saying much. The plasticky construction is something I haven't felt in several years. By comparison, Motorola's Moto G starts at $199 and feels sturdier and more upscale.
That Moto, however, can't compare in the performance section and would be beat out by the Alcatel handset.
Behind the Idol 3's screen sits competent hardware. It's quarterbacked by a quad-core 1.5 Ghz processor mated to 2 GB of RAM. While there's only 16 GB of internal memory, it can be expanded up to 128 GB with a microSD card.
Users with more than just a few apps - and an appetite for listening to more than just a few dozen songs - will be best suited to taking advantage of the phone's expandable storage option.
The phone spurs to life smoothly and behaves with seemingly no lag. Apps like Instagram scroll without hesitation and games like Need For Speed perform with ease.
The full HD 1920x1080 HD screen reproduces colourful images, perhaps with not as much contrast as competitors - but it's definitely sharp at 401 ppi.
Users will find the volume rocker on the right and the power rocker on the left edge, different than the configuration of most other phones. This layout may take some time to get used to.
Speaking of audio, the Idol 3 has stereo speakers above and below the 5.5-inch screen. This arrangement, not often found on smartphones, is a pleasant surprise. It helps music videos come to life and provides for a more immersive gaming experience.
It's also a feature that makes the Idol 3 "reversible" - in a way, it's never upside down.
As is the case with other inexpensive Android phones, the rear-facing camera isn't spectacular, but it is above average.
With the Idol 3, Alcatel is using a 13-megapixel image sensor coupled to a fast f2.0 lens system. It produces adequate images when the lighting is good. In dimly lit situations, images may appear grainy and sometimes blurry unless shooting in HDR with perfectly still subjects. The 8-megapixel front-facing camera works well for taking sharp selfies, helped by a wide-angle lens.
Battery life appears to be above average and I was able to get more than a day of moderate usage out of the handset. Two days would've been possible, if I pushed it.
Overall, the Alcatel One Touch Idol 3 packs a lot of performance for a phone in the mid-level price range. If a great camera isn't a priority, grab a good quality case and the Idol 3 is good to go.
