
The front-facing JBL stereo speakers nestled above and below the raised lip of the display are a pleasant surprise. The viewing angle is a full 180 degrees, and the Idol 3 gets bright enough to be viewed in direct sunlight. The Idol 3 benefits from its compact size, as the smaller display packs in 312 pixels per inch (ppi)-higher than the 294ppi on the Moto G. The 4.7-inch IPS LCD panel looks nice for a 720p display, with great color reproduction, depth, and contrast. (Opens in a new window)Īt a weight of 3.88 ounces and dimensions of 5.3 by 2.59 by 0.3 inches (HWD), the Idol 3 4.7 is light and pocket-friendly-making one-handed use easy. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.

The soft-touch, gunmetal gray back with brushed finish is subtle and the metallic accents are slim-avoiding the gaudiness trap that plastic devices often fall into. Unlike last year's Samsung Galaxy S5, with its giant chrome accents and dimpled back, the Idol 3 4.7 doesn't go overboard in trying to fake a premium look. Plastic and faux-metal accents aren't popular among most manufacturers these days, but the Idol 3 manages to pull it off.

The Idol 3 4.7 has a classy look for a budget phone. But that's not enough to stand up against the Editors' Choice Moto G, which boasts better benchmark scores, an almost-stock Android experience, and a waterproof design-all for the same price. The Idol 3 distinguishes itself with its premium-looking design and more compact build. Both are budget-friendly unlocked smartphones with good displays and similar overall performance. The $179.99 Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 4.7 is the smaller cousin to the OneTouch Idol 3 5.5, and the closest direct competitor to Motorola's latest Moto G.

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