Alcatel 3L (2021) Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Alcatel 3L (2021) is the latest entry-level smartphone that packs a surprising punch. With its sleek design and impressive features, it's hard to believe this device falls into the budget-friendly category. Sporting a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display, it offers vibrant visuals and a generous screen-to-body ratio. Powered by an octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM, it delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks. The standout feature is its triple camera setup, including a 48MP main lens, allowing you to capture stunning photos. Additionally, the device offers a large 4000mAh battery for extended usage. With its affordable price tag, the Alcatel 3L (2021) is a compelling choice for those seeking a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank.

Design and Build Quality

The Alcatel 3L (2021) boasts a sleek and modern design that is both visually appealing and comfortable to hold. With dimensions of 165.6 x 75.6 x 8.7 mm (6.52 x 2.98 x 0.34 in) and weighing 194g (6.84 oz), this device strikes a balance between being compact and substantial in the hand. Its glass front, plastic back, and plastic frame construction give it a premium look without compromising on durability. The phone is available in two elegant color options: Jewelry Blue and Jewelry Black.

The 6.52-inch IPS LCD display dominates the front of the Alcatel 3L (2021), offering an immersive viewing experience. With a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 82%, users can enjoy a wide and immersive display for their multimedia needs. The display has a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of around 269 ppi. While this may not be the highest resolution available in the market, it still delivers satisfactory sharpness and clarity for everyday usage.

The Alcatel 3L (2021) is designed to be ergonomic, ensuring a comfortable grip and ease of use. The placement of buttons and ports is intuitive, allowing for easy access and navigation. The phone features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, conveniently positioned for quick and secure unlocking. It also includes other essential sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing the overall user experience.

In terms of durability, the Alcatel 3L (2021) is built to withstand daily wear and tear. The materials used in its construction are sturdy and resilient, ensuring longevity. Although it lacks any official IP rating for water or dust resistance, it can still withstand occasional splashes or light rain.

Overall, the Alcatel 3L (2021) excels in its physical appearance, offering a modern and stylish design. Its compact size, comfortable grip, and durable construction make it a reliable choice for everyday use. Whether it's for casual browsing, multimedia consumption, or communication, this device strikes a good balance between aesthetics and functionality.

Display

The Alcatel 3L (2021) features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display with a screen resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. With its 82.0% screen-to-body ratio, the display offers an immersive viewing experience. Though it may not boast the highest pixel density at around 269 ppi, the screen still delivers decent clarity for everyday use.

In terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, the Alcatel 3L (2021) provides satisfactory results. While it may not rival the vibrant colors of OLED technology, the LCD display offers good color reproduction. Additionally, the device offers adjustable brightness levels and adaptive brightness, allowing for comfortable viewing in various lighting conditions. It also features a blue light filter to reduce eye strain during prolonged usage.

When it comes to outdoor visibility, the Alcatel 3L (2021) performs adequately. Its brightness levels are sufficient for decent visibility under direct sunlight, although it may not be as bright as some higher-end smartphones. The viewing angles are quite good, ensuring that content can be viewed clearly from different perspectives.

In terms of display protection, the Alcatel 3L (2021) does not explicitly mention the use of Gorilla Glass or any specific protective coating. However, it is advisable to use a screen protector to safeguard the display from scratches and accidental damage.

The device does not mention any advanced display features such as a high refresh rate or HDR support, which is expected in this price range. However, it offers a notch design with relatively slim bezels, enhancing the screen-to-body ratio and providing a modern look.

Overall, the display of the Alcatel 3L (2021) offers a satisfactory visual experience for everyday use, with decent color reproduction, adjustable brightness, and good viewing angles. While it may not offer the most advanced display technologies or high pixel density, it provides a functional and immersive viewing experience for its price range.

Performance

The Alcatel 3L (2021) is powered by the Mediatek MT6762D Helio P22 chipset, which offers decent performance for an entry-level smartphone. The octa-core CPU, consisting of four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.5 GHz, ensures smooth multitasking and app loading speeds. In terms of CPU benchmarks, the device performs adequately, delivering a satisfactory level of performance for day-to-day usage.

When it comes to gaming performance, the Alcatel 3L (2021) demonstrates its gaming capabilities with its PowerVR GE8320 GPU. While not being a high-end graphics processor, it still manages to handle casual and less demanding games with ease. The GPU benchmarks and gaming benchmarks indicate that the device can run popular games smoothly, providing an enjoyable gaming experience for casual gamers.

In terms of graphics scores, the Alcatel 3L (2021) achieves decent results in synthetic benchmarks. Although it may not be able to handle graphically intensive games at high settings, it performs admirably for its price range. The GPU efficiency of the PowerVR GE8320 allows for a satisfactory gaming experience without significant lag or frame rate drops.

The overall performance of the Alcatel 3L (2021) can be attributed to its system optimization and thermal management. The device efficiently utilizes its hardware resources, ensuring a smooth user experience. While it may not be the most powerful smartphone on the market, it offers a lag-free performance for everyday tasks and light gaming.

Benchmark tests and performance analysis reveal that the Alcatel 3L (2021) strikes a balance between processor efficiency and performance. Its Helio P22 chipset, coupled with 4GB of RAM, provides sufficient power to handle multitasking with ease. Users can switch between apps smoothly, without experiencing significant slowdowns or delays.

Despite being an entry-level smartphone, the Alcatel 3L (2021) offers a commendable level of performance. Its processor efficiency and GPU capabilities allow for a satisfactory gaming experience, especially for casual gamers. The device's smooth user experience, lag-free performance, and system optimization make it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers looking for a reliable smartphone that can handle everyday tasks without breaking the bank.

Software and User Interface

The Alcatel 3L (2021) runs on the Android 11 operating system, providing users with the latest features and security updates. The device offers a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and customize according to individual preferences. With the Mediatek MT6762D Helio P22 chipset and an octa-core processor, the phone delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks and multitasking.

One notable aspect of the software is its minimal bloatware, ensuring a clutter-free experience for users. Alcatel has kept pre-installed apps to a minimum, allowing users to have more control over the apps they want on their device. This approach enhances the user experience by reducing unnecessary clutter and maximizing storage space.

The Android 11 operating system brings a range of features and improvements, including enhanced privacy settings, improved app permissions, and better control over notifications. Users can enjoy a more personalized experience by customizing their device with themes, wallpapers, and widgets available in the Android ecosystem.

Additionally, the Alcatel 3L (2021) supports quick access to Google services, making it convenient for users who rely on Google apps and services for their daily activities. The device also features NFC connectivity, enabling seamless contactless payments and easy pairing with compatible devices.

Overall, the software of the Alcatel 3L (2021) offers a user-friendly and customizable experience with the latest Android 11 operating system. With minimal bloatware and access to a wide range of apps and services, users can tailor their device to suit their needs while enjoying the benefits of a smooth and efficient interface.

Camera

The camera setup on the Alcatel 3L (2021) offers impressive features for a budget smartphone. The main camera boasts a 48-megapixel lens with an aperture of f/1.8 and a focal length of 26mm, ensuring sharp and detailed images. The camera's sensor size of 1/2.0" allows for excellent image quality and good low-light performance. During daylight photography, the camera captures natural colors with good dynamic range. Indoors and outdoors, the Alcatel 3L (2021) produces images with adequate sharpness and low noise levels, thanks to its noise reduction capabilities. For night photography, the phone offers a dedicated night mode that enhances low-light sensitivity and reduces noise, ensuring better results in low-light conditions.

In terms of camera features, the Alcatel 3L (2021) includes portrait mode, HDR, and panorama mode, allowing users to capture stunning portraits with background blur, vibrant HDR images, and wide-angle scenic shots. The phone also offers a pro mode for manual control over settings like ISO and shutter speed. Additionally, AI scene recognition automatically optimizes camera settings based on the detected scene, ensuring optimal results in various shooting conditions.

When it comes to video recording, the Alcatel 3L (2021) supports 1080p videos at 30fps. Although it does not offer 4K video recording, the phone includes video stabilization for smoother footage and slow-motion video capability for creative effects. The time-lapse feature allows users to capture stunning time-lapse videos, adding a dynamic element to their content. Overall, the camera on the Alcatel 3L (2021) offers a range of features and capabilities that deliver good image and video quality, making it a respectable option for budget-conscious users.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Alcatel 3L (2021) offers a wide range of connectivity options to keep users connected wherever they go. It supports 4G LTE network compatibility, providing fast and reliable data speeds for browsing, streaming, and downloading. With its dual SIM capability, users have the flexibility to use two different SIM cards simultaneously, making it convenient for those who travel frequently or want to separate personal and work numbers.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Alcatel 3L (2021) features Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, which allows for seamless internet access and supports Wi-Fi Direct for easy file sharing between devices. Bluetooth 5.0 ensures efficient and stable connections with compatible devices, enabling users to wirelessly connect to headphones, speakers, and other peripherals.

For navigation and location services, the Alcatel 3L (2021) includes GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS support, ensuring accurate positioning and reliable navigation. NFC technology is also present, enabling convenient contactless payments and data transfers.

When it comes to physical connectivity, the device is equipped with a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. However, it does not support USB-C, which is a more advanced and versatile connection standard.

Overall, the Alcatel 3L (2021) provides a decent range of connectivity options, including dual SIM support, 4G LTE compatibility, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and GPS. While it lacks some modern features like USB-C and wireless charging, it offers the essential connectivity features that most users would require.

Additional Features

The Alcatel 3L (2021) offers several additional features that enhance its functionality and user experience. Firstly, it comes with a microSD card slot, allowing for storage expansion and giving users the option to increase the device's memory capacity. This is particularly useful for those who require additional space for apps, photos, videos, and other files.

In terms of connectivity, the Alcatel 3L (2021) supports dual SIM functionality, enabling users to use two SIM cards simultaneously. This is advantageous for individuals who need to separate personal and work contacts or for those who frequently travel internationally and need to use local SIM cards.

The device also includes a set of advanced sensors, such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, and proximity sensor. These sensors enhance the overall user experience by providing accurate motion detection, screen orientation adjustment, and proximity detection for automatic screen wake-up and sleep.

It is worth noting that the Alcatel 3L (2021) does not come with water resistance or wireless charging capabilities. However, it offers a range of practical features and functionalities that cater to the needs of budget-conscious consumers.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Alcatel 3L (2021) is an entry-level smartphone that offers some impressive features at an affordable price. When comparing it to related gadgets in the market, it stands out for its value for money and competitive specifications.

One of its main competitors is the Nokia 3.4, which also falls into the budget smartphone category. The Alcatel 3L (2021) offers a larger display with a higher screen-to-body ratio compared to the Nokia 3.4. It also has a higher resolution main camera at 48 MP, compared to the Nokia 3.4's 13 MP camera.

Another competitor is the Realme C15, which is known for its long battery life. While the Alcatel 3L (2021) also boasts a decent battery capacity of 4000 mAh, the Realme C15 comes with a massive 6000 mAh battery. However, the Alcatel 3L (2021) compensates with its higher resolution display and better camera capabilities.

In terms of market positioning, the Alcatel 3L (2021) is positioned as an affordable option for users who want decent performance and features without breaking the bank. It competes with other budget-friendly smartphones from brands like Nokia, Realme, and Xiaomi.

When comparing specifications, the Alcatel 3L (2021) stands out with its 6.52-inch IPS LCD display and octa-core processor. It runs on Android 11 and offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. While it may not have the most powerful chipset in the market, it delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks.

In terms of pricing, the Alcatel 3L (2021) is priced around 330 EUR, making it an affordable option for budget-conscious consumers. It offers a good balance of features and performance for its price range.

Overall, the Alcatel 3L (2021) competes well in the entry-level smartphone segment with its decent specifications, affordable pricing, and value for money. While it may not have the most powerful hardware or premium features, it offers a reliable option for users on a budget.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Alcatel 3L (2021) is an entry-level smartphone that packs a punch in terms of features and affordability. With its 48 MP camera, long battery life, and ample storage capacity, it offers a great value for its price. The device's sleek design, large display, and decent performance make it a suitable choice for everyday use. However, it is important to note that the Alcatel 3L (2021) may not be suitable for power users or those seeking high-end specifications. Nevertheless, for budget-conscious buyers looking for a reliable and functional smartphone, the Alcatel 3L (2021) is definitely worth considering.