Alcatel 3v hand-on review: Big, sharp and shiny budget phone

It was back in 2015, at that year’s Mobile World Congress that Alcatel started to catch the eye. In the Idol 3, it created a device that promised close-to flagship performance and specifications at a fraction of the cost. In the following years it failed to excite as much with the follow-up Idol generations, but that could all be about to change.

Alcatel has refreshed its model names to make them simpler. There are no more Idols or Pops anywhere to be seen, just numbers. Alcatel 1, 3 and 5, with variations on those themes. The standout among the budget models however is clearly the Alcatel 3v. It’s a big, glossy phone with a long aspect ratio screen at a high resolution. Will this be the sub-£200 phone to buy this year?