If you are on the fence or considering an Idol 3 (5.5"), thought I'd give you my perspective on the phone after using it as my daily driver for just over a month.
Just a brief rundown of what type of phone user I am:
Since 09/2014 I've owned as a daily driver the following phones: Moto X (2013), Moto X (2014), Droid Turbo, Note 4, HTC One M7, Xperia Z3 Compact, LG G3, (I've also used my wife's Oneplus One, LG G4, and S6 Active)
I use my phone primarily for media consumption (spotify, google tv & movies, netflix), chrome browser, social media, text, talk, alarm, and camera.
Cost is a factor in my decision on phones, but I usually will get a mint condition phone a few weeks after release via craigslist or swappa for a slightly lower price than brand new retail. I also sell old phones to help offset the costs of new phones.
I left Verizon with unlimited data and a family plan to switch to Cricket Wireless when they were offer 20GB for $60. With my family discount on Cricket my monthly bill went from $267 5 lines to $160 for 4 lines and I am now on a GSM carrier so I can use unlocked phones like the Idol 3.
Hardware review:
Without spewing specs, the screen on the I3 is fantastic. It is bright and crisp and most importantly to me, it's visible in the brightest sunlight without even washing out the colors like Samsung does with it's autobrighness. The only negative relating to the screen is that it does not dim enough for low light conditions (ie. theater or bedroom).
The second standout feature is the quality of the front facing speakers. For me these speakers are the best by far of all the phones I've previously owned. Sound is clear at the highest levels with a good range (doesn't hit the lowest of lows).
I have been surprised at how much I don't mind the plastic build of the I3. While the heft that a metal/glass phone offers is a great reminder of how sturdy a phone with premium materials is, the added weight is actually noticeable especially when making the switch to the I3. The plastic material makes this phone very lightweight. So even though I'm carrying a 5.5" screen phone, the weight in pocket seems much lighter. The phone is very easy to hold for long periods due to its lighter weight. The laminated screen which rests on top of the phone's frame is unique enough to make the I3 stand out as its own design. My only question is how well the plastic will hold up in the long run. Currently, I have a slickwrap skin on the back and I will occasionally tuck it into a slim tpu case, but for the most part I prefer the phone naked. Buttons are clicky and provide a satisfying response. I echo the questioning of the power button on the upper left side of the phone, but it didn't take long to adjust. Take note: If you must have a premium build phone, I would suggest you not buy this phone!
One month experience:
With the Oneplus 2 and the Samsung S6 Active, Note 5 and 6 Edge +, just released I find myself amazed that I am perfectly happy sticking to my $250 Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3. (Which by the way, I got for $200 on Amazon Prime Day.) In the month prior to owning the Idol, I was using a combination of the S6 Active, LG G4 and Note 4 all of which were great, but nothing I was simply content with. Until the Idol 3. For my usage needs, the Idol has been great. I didn't mention the camera earlier, because as most reviews say, it's just average. In sufficient light it's great in low light it's bearable. BUT since using the I3, I surprisingly find that the camera wasn't as important as I thought (or was told to think by manufactures and reviewers). Instead, what I find myself most pleased about the I3 is the clean simplicity of near stock android. I love that the phone isn't bogged down with the mismatched themes of LG, Sony and Samsung. Again this is just personal preference, but for me I want my phone to be a practical tool for everyday use. Guess I should throw in a quick comment on battery life. Battery life is super for my use. A few episodes from netflix, maybe a movie, a couple of hours of streaming, social media checks throughout the day and I'm still getting to bed with 20% battery life. No quick charge though so you have to be patient on the charging front. BUT, for me I'm willing to make that trade for the use of my microSD card since I do most of my charging at night.
Lag:
Clearing the recent apps and loading Youtube are the two area where there is a little lag. Once youtube is up and running its fine, but the loading splash screen takes a couple of seconds to clear. Switching between apps doesn't lag, just the clearing of the recent apps; its a strange phenomena but it is what it is.
Wrap-up: If you are on a limited budget, there is no question that this is the phone to get. If budget doesn't matter and you're willing to try something different, I think you might be pleasantly pleased with the I3. While I can't speak to heavy gaming, I can say that Ducktales, Tomb Raider, Goat Simulator, One More Dash, Follow the Line and Commute all work without a stutter on the I3. I have been very satisfied with my first foray into the world of the budget phone, and I just want to share my thoughts in case someone is debating whether or not the Idol 3 is worth a consideration.
Let me know if there's something that I didn't cover that you have a question about and I'll try my best to provide an answer.
Just a brief rundown of what type of phone user I am:
Since 09/2014 I've owned as a daily driver the following phones: Moto X (2013), Moto X (2014), Droid Turbo, Note 4, HTC One M7, Xperia Z3 Compact, LG G3, (I've also used my wife's Oneplus One, LG G4, and S6 Active)
I use my phone primarily for media consumption (spotify, google tv & movies, netflix), chrome browser, social media, text, talk, alarm, and camera.
Cost is a factor in my decision on phones, but I usually will get a mint condition phone a few weeks after release via craigslist or swappa for a slightly lower price than brand new retail. I also sell old phones to help offset the costs of new phones.
I left Verizon with unlimited data and a family plan to switch to Cricket Wireless when they were offer 20GB for $60. With my family discount on Cricket my monthly bill went from $267 5 lines to $160 for 4 lines and I am now on a GSM carrier so I can use unlocked phones like the Idol 3.
Hardware review:
Without spewing specs, the screen on the I3 is fantastic. It is bright and crisp and most importantly to me, it's visible in the brightest sunlight without even washing out the colors like Samsung does with it's autobrighness. The only negative relating to the screen is that it does not dim enough for low light conditions (ie. theater or bedroom).
The second standout feature is the quality of the front facing speakers. For me these speakers are the best by far of all the phones I've previously owned. Sound is clear at the highest levels with a good range (doesn't hit the lowest of lows).
I have been surprised at how much I don't mind the plastic build of the I3. While the heft that a metal/glass phone offers is a great reminder of how sturdy a phone with premium materials is, the added weight is actually noticeable especially when making the switch to the I3. The plastic material makes this phone very lightweight. So even though I'm carrying a 5.5" screen phone, the weight in pocket seems much lighter. The phone is very easy to hold for long periods due to its lighter weight. The laminated screen which rests on top of the phone's frame is unique enough to make the I3 stand out as its own design. My only question is how well the plastic will hold up in the long run. Currently, I have a slickwrap skin on the back and I will occasionally tuck it into a slim tpu case, but for the most part I prefer the phone naked. Buttons are clicky and provide a satisfying response. I echo the questioning of the power button on the upper left side of the phone, but it didn't take long to adjust. Take note: If you must have a premium build phone, I would suggest you not buy this phone!
One month experience:
With the Oneplus 2 and the Samsung S6 Active, Note 5 and 6 Edge +, just released I find myself amazed that I am perfectly happy sticking to my $250 Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3. (Which by the way, I got for $200 on Amazon Prime Day.) In the month prior to owning the Idol, I was using a combination of the S6 Active, LG G4 and Note 4 all of which were great, but nothing I was simply content with. Until the Idol 3. For my usage needs, the Idol has been great. I didn't mention the camera earlier, because as most reviews say, it's just average. In sufficient light it's great in low light it's bearable. BUT since using the I3, I surprisingly find that the camera wasn't as important as I thought (or was told to think by manufactures and reviewers). Instead, what I find myself most pleased about the I3 is the clean simplicity of near stock android. I love that the phone isn't bogged down with the mismatched themes of LG, Sony and Samsung. Again this is just personal preference, but for me I want my phone to be a practical tool for everyday use. Guess I should throw in a quick comment on battery life. Battery life is super for my use. A few episodes from netflix, maybe a movie, a couple of hours of streaming, social media checks throughout the day and I'm still getting to bed with 20% battery life. No quick charge though so you have to be patient on the charging front. BUT, for me I'm willing to make that trade for the use of my microSD card since I do most of my charging at night.
Lag:
Clearing the recent apps and loading Youtube are the two area where there is a little lag. Once youtube is up and running its fine, but the loading splash screen takes a couple of seconds to clear. Switching between apps doesn't lag, just the clearing of the recent apps; its a strange phenomena but it is what it is.
Wrap-up: If you are on a limited budget, there is no question that this is the phone to get. If budget doesn't matter and you're willing to try something different, I think you might be pleasantly pleased with the I3. While I can't speak to heavy gaming, I can say that Ducktales, Tomb Raider, Goat Simulator, One More Dash, Follow the Line and Commute all work without a stutter on the I3. I have been very satisfied with my first foray into the world of the budget phone, and I just want to share my thoughts in case someone is debating whether or not the Idol 3 is worth a consideration.
Let me know if there's something that I didn't cover that you have a question about and I'll try my best to provide an answer.