Back at CES, we were able to meet with Alcatel OneTouch and see what they had new for us this time around. The introduced us to the Idol 3. Which is a pretty amazing smartphone, that they are selling for $279 unlocked. It features a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage – microSD card slot is included, supporting up to 128GB – as well as a 13MP camera on the back, 8MP on the front, a 2910mAh battery inside and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop on board. The Idol 3 also has dual front-facing speakers which uses JBL’s audio. We got a chance to check them out in Barcelona, and they sound amazing. Sounds like a great value for that price right?
Well there’s more. Alcatel OneTouch is announcing today that pre-orders for the Idol 3 are starting on April 21st. They’ll begin shipping in May. However there’s a different price. Alcatel OneTouch is offering the Idol 3 for $249.99 for those that pre-order. How much better could that get?
“We’ve always differentiated ourselves by challenging the expectations of whatconsumers experience for their money,” said Steve Cistulli, Senior Vice President & General Manager of North America for ALCATEL ONETOUCH. “With IDOL 3, we’ve partnered with top brands like Qualcomm, JBL and Technicolor to bring a truly flagship experience at an accessibly affordable price. Where others try to justify outrageous prices for their top devices, we’re focused on ensuring our customers get a device with the high-end features they want, at a price that won’t empty their wallet.”
Alcatel OneTouch also has a 4.7-inch version of the Idol 3, but that doesn’t have any pre-order dates just yet. And obviously it’ll be cheaper. Alcatel OneTouch is actually the fifth largest OEM in the US and they are looking to move even further up that ladder. Most of you in the US probably don’t know about Alcatel OneTouch because they aren’t super popular like Samsung, or HTC or LG. But they have been around for quite a while making some really great smartphones. In fact, they are partnering up with Cyanogen on a 6-inch smartphone soon that uses a stylus.
The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 is going to be available unlocked. Which means it’ll work on T-Mobile and AT&T here in the States. As well as MVNO’s like Cricket, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile and others. It’s arguably a better value than what OnePlus One has put out, and there’s no invite system in place for the Idol 3.