Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 unboxing and first impressions

Back at MWC 2015, we took a look at the 5.5-inch Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 – the budget-friendly, reversible smartphone that packs a punch in both hardware and software. While our full review is on it’s way, we thought we’d give you a look at the unboxing experience you’ll get if you order one of these devices. Without any further ado, let’s jump right in!

Read more: Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 hands-on and first look

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Unboxing

The main reason we wanted to do this unboxing is because of the beautiful retail packaging Alcatel Onetouch included with this smartphone. The box is big, and gives us a very good feeling that what’s inside is nothing short of a premium device. After we ‘unlock’ the box, a number of flaps open up, revealing a few of the device’s specifications.

Included in the box are all of the normal add-ons we see with just about every smartphone – a Micro USB cable, wall adaptor and SIM card removal tool. Alcatel has even included a nice pair of JBL earbuds and a USB thumb drive as an added bonus.

First impressions

At first glance, the 5.5-inch device reminds us of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus or the LG Nexus 4. Overall, the design is very minimalistic and feels great in the hand. The entire chassis is made of plastic and features a nice metallic trim that surrounds the outer edges. You’ll find two front-facing speakers flanking the 5.5-inch Full HD LCD display, and you’ll soon see that the device has minimal bezel surrounding the screen.

The button layout on the Idol 3 is mirrored from what we’re used to on most other smartphones, so the power button can be found on the left side, while the volume rocker sits on the right edge. Moving down to the bottom, the Micro USB port can be found on the right-most side of the bottom edge.

The back of the device has a nice brushed aluminum look and feel, similar to what the LG G3 brought to the table. The Idol and Alcatel Onetouch logos are also found on the back side, with the 13MP camera module up on the top left corner.

Though it’s easy to see that while the Idol 3 is running a customized version of Android, the user interface still takes a ton of cues from Lollipop. The application drawer, notification shade and settings menus all closely resemble a device running vanilla Android, while the rest of the software experience is bestrewn with Alcatel’s flat and bright design enhancements.

One other little feature unique to this device is the ability to flip it upside down and still be able to use it. It’s possible to turn this feature off in the notification panel, but we’d wager that most users will find it extremely convenient.

Overall, this phone is making a great first impression on us. And when we take into account that the device is launching for only $250 unlocked, that makes it an even greater value.

Our full review of the Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 is coming soon, so be sure to stay tuned with Android Authority for more coverage in the coming weeks!