The Moto G's Biggest Competition

But sometimes, bigger isn’t always better: which is why Alcatel’s newest handset has a 4.7-inch screen (hence the name), that also fits in your pockets for only $180. 

The third generation Moto G came out with a bang this month - in fact, I was calling it the real flagship killer. 

Almost as if in direct response, Alcatel launched its latest budget handset: the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4.7).

For those that have forgotten, the OneTouch Idol 3 is a steal - at $250, this Android handset offers incredibly decent specs, on a 5.5-inch screen. Frankly, though, it’s no flagship killer.

For those that demand the 5.5-inch screen, though, this device has you covered at a low-cost. But sometimes, bigger isn’t always better: which is why Alcatel’s newest handset has a 4.7-inch screen (hence the name), that also fits in your pockets for only $180.

Obviously related to the Idol 3, the Idol 3 4.7 has the same slim yet sophisticated plastic design that somehow manages to feel and appear like metal in some places. It even has the same power button on the upper left-hand side, which is pretty stupidly placed, in my opinion.

As a surprisingly pleasant bonus, there are two front-facing stereo speakers above and below the screen, which have excellent audio quality. 

While it’s true that a plastic body will never give a premium feel (and just one of the reasons why this phone is no flagship killer), it still has some great specs for its price.

The 4.7-inch screen comes with a 1,280 x 720 resolution (so it’s technically HD). Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor that has a decent run of 1.2GhZ, it has 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, expandable by microSD. It runs Android 5.0.2. Lollipop out of the box, and has 4G LTE capacity. Sadly, the 2,000mAh battery is not removable and leaves a lot to be desired.

As for the camera, it has an entirely acceptable 13-megapixel snapper on the back and a 5-megapixel shooter on the front. The shutter is surprisingly fast.

As a surprisingly pleasant bonus, there are two front-facing stereo speakers above and below the screen, which have excellent audio quality.

It’s like I said - it’s no flagship killer, but really, Alcatel has a solid fan base with the Idol 3 and it would be absolutely no surprise if the Idol 3 4.7 kicked off just as much good reviews. Sadly, though, the third generation Moto G is similarly priced at $180 and has much better specs overall.

Still, the Idol 3 4.7 will be available in the US and Canada on August 14.