We tell you everything the Alcatel 3L (2020) offers after trying it for a week

We tell you everything the Alcatel 3L (2020) offers after trying it for a week

If you are looking for a mobile with Android 10 that is cheap, you should take a look at the Alcatel devices. The well-known manufacturer has in its catalog some really interesting options, with a value for money that few manufacturers offer. One of them is the Alcatel 3L (2020), a device with a 6.22-inch screen, triple rear camera, 4 GB of RAM and a 4,000 mAh battery . And the best thing is that all this is offered at a price of 160 euros.

Sounds good right? But since we can't always trust a spec sheet, we wanted to test it out for ourselves. So we have spent a week using the Alcatel 3L (2020) as the primary mobile. After this test, we are going to tell you what it offers and what we think about the Alcatel 3L 2020.

Alcatel 3L (2020) datasheet

Alcatel 3L (2020)
screen6.22 inches, HD + resolution of 720 × 1,520 pixels
Main chamberTriple sensor:

48 MP main sensor, f / 1.8 aperture, 1.6 µm pixels

5 MP ultra wide angle, f / 2.2 aperture, 1.12 µm pixels

2 MP macro, f / 2.4 aperture, 1.65 µm pixels

1080p 30fps video

Scene detection with AI

HDR

Night mode

Portrait mode

Frontal camera8 MP sensor with f / 2.0 aperture, 1.12 μm pixels, 1080p 30fps video, Portrait mode, Face beautification
Storage64 GB
ExtensionMicro SD up to 128GB
Processor and RAMMT6762 (Eight-core, 4 x A53 2.0 GHz + 4 x A53 1.5 GHz), 4 GB RAM
Battery4,000 mAh
Operating systemAndroid 10
Connectivity4G LTE, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 5.0, Micro USB 2.0
SIMDual Nano SIM
DesignPaint with gradient finish, colors: Chameleon Blue and Dark Chrome
Dimensions158.7 × 74.6 × 8.45mm, 165 grams
Featured FeaturesFingerprint reader

Google Assistant shortcut button

Release dateAvailable
Price160 euros

Current design

Alcatel 3L (2020) screen review

Many times when we choose a mobile with a low price, it is not possible to avoid making it look a bit old. And there are many manufacturers who prefer to reuse designs from a few years ago for their entry-level devices.

The Alcatel 3L (2020), however, has a very current design . It has a 6.22-inch screen with HD + resolution that performs really well.

Alcatel 3L (2020) review with video

Its maximum brightness allows you to use the mobile without problems in broad daylight. The reproduction of the colors is more than correct, the videos are seen with good definition and the viewing angles are quite good.

The screen has a 19: 9 aspect ratio, as the front camera is positioned in a drop-shaped notch located in the center. The side and top bezels of the screen are quite narrow, the bottom being somewhat thicker. This means that we can hold the mobile more comfortably without causing involuntary touches.

The 2020 Alcatel 3L features a new design on the rear called Aurora. The manufacturer has used micro-texture laser engraving technology so that the device displays a range of colors that change with the incidence of light.

Alcatel 3L (2020) rear review

In our case, the manufacturer has sent us the Dark Chrome finish, so we have not been able to appreciate these color changes. However, the Alcatel 3L (2020) is also sold in a nice Chamaleon Blue .

As is often the case with Alcatel devices, the rear has a rather striking radial finish . We have the triple camera located in the upper left corner and the fingerprint reader in the central area. A fingerprint reader that, by the way, is quite fast and works really well.

Alcatel 3L (2020) side review

We also quite liked the finish on the sides of the device. In the black model we have two shades of black, one glossy and the other matte . On the right side of the device (looking at the mobile from the front) there are the volume and power buttons.

And on the left we have a special button dedicated to launching the Google Assistant and the card tray. Finally, at the top we have the headphone jack, something that is already being lost even in mid-range mobiles.

Very good autonomy

One of the best features of the Alcatel 3L (2020) is its autonomy. It is equipped with a 4,000 mAh battery , with which we can use the mobile throughout the day without any problem.

Alcatel 3L (2020) review with charger

During the week that we have tested the device we have arrived every day at bedtime with, at least, 30% battery . This has been with normal use, intensively, taking several photos, taking the odd game and surfing a lot on the Internet and social networks.

With a more relaxed use, the 4,000 mAh and the management of the Android 10 battery will allow us to reach a day and a half of autonomy . Without a doubt, a very good figure for such an inexpensive terminal.

More than decent technical set

Under the hood of the Alcatel 3L (2020) we find an MT6762 processor . It is a chip with eight cores, four A53s running at 2 GHz and another four A53s running at 1.5 GHz.

Alcatel 3L (2020) review with game

Accompanying the processor we have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage . The latter we can expand it by using a Micro SD card of up to 128 GB.

With this technical set we have not had any problems in the execution of applications and games. We have even been able to play games as demanding as Call of Duty, although in low graphic quality.

The system moves smoothly and we have not had any kind of lag when running various applications or working with multitasking.

Triple rear camera with 48 MP sensor

Alcatel 3L (2020) photographic set review

Despite being an inexpensive terminal, the Alcatel 3L (2020) is equipped with a triple camera system on its back.

On the one hand we have a main sensor with 48 megapixels of resolution and aperture f / 1.8 . It is accompanied by a 5-megapixel ultra-wide angle with f / 2.2 aperture and a 2-megapixel macro sensor with f / 2.4 aperture .

Alcatel 3L (2020) analysis photo with main sensor

Photo with main sensor

In good light the main sensor does a very good job. The photos have a good level of detail and slightly saturated colors , although nothing exaggerated. By default the camera is set to 12 MP, but we can change it in settings.

Or we can activate the 48 MP mode from the carousel of modes offered by the Camera application. If we do, we will get a little more definition, being able to appreciate greater detail if we enlarge the image. Here you can see an image very similar to the previous one but shot in 48 MP mode.

analysis Alcatel 3L (2020) photo 48 MP

Photo in 48 MP Mode

The super wide angle is a sensor that we have always liked a lot. Offers a different point of view of photography by widening the angle of view.

In the Alcatel 3L (2020) the change between sensors is quite noticeable, having the super wide angle much lower resolution, but if we shoot in good light we can get very interesting photos.

Alcatel 3L (2020) wide-angle photo review

Super wide angle photo

And finally we have the macro sensor, which has pleasantly surprised us. According to the mobile camera application itself, the ideal focus distance for this sensor is 4 cm. Thanks to this sensor we can capture details of objects and animals that we will not be able to achieve with the other two sensors.

Of course, we must bear in mind that it is a 2 MP sensor and f / 2.4 aperture, so we will have to shoot in good light conditions. Still, as we said, the results have surprised us for good .

Alcatel 3L (2020) analysis macro photo

Macro sensor photo

In addition to what the included sensors offer us, the Alcatel 3L camera has some very interesting functions. We have a Portrait Mode that works quite well, with a successful crop in most cases. We also have the usual scene recognition system, which tends to saturate the photos a bit but offers very striking results.

And we do not forget HDR and Night Mode , two indispensable in any terminal. To this we must add filters in real time and video recording with 1080p resolution at 30fps with electronic stabilization .

Alcatel 3L (2020) analysis camera captures

On the other hand, the Alcatel 3L (2020) offers us some camera modes that will allow us to display our creativity. For example we have the Light Trail mode , to create original photos with lights. Also the well-known Panoramic Mode and Time Interval . We even have the option to create AR Emoji using the device's camera.

In the Settings section we have the option to activate Video Stabilization and Scene Detection. Also enable or disable the usual grid and change the function that the volume button will do. So, as you can see, it is a fairly complete Camera application.

analysis Alcatel 3L (2020) front camera photo

Photo with front camera

As for the front camera, the Alcatel 3L (2020) has an 8 megapixel sensor with f / 2.0 aperture and 1.12 μm pixels . This offers more than decent results, especially if the lighting is good.

It also has Portrait Mode, facial beautification and video recording with 1080p resolution at 30fps.

Android 10 with a price for all budgets

Another possible disadvantage that we can have when buying an entry-level terminal is that it comes to us with an older version of the Android operating system.

Alcatel 3L (2020) analysis system screenshots

This does not happen with the Alcatel 3L (2020), since it includes Android 10 . At the moment it is the latest version of Google's operating system, so we can be sure that we will have the latest features available. For example, we have the new bar to share content, the dark mode and the latest security updates, among other improvements.

In short, the Alcatel 3L (2020) offers us the possibility of having a mobile with a comfortable size screen, a beautiful design, triple rear camera that behaves quite well, a more than decent technical set, a very good autonomy and an Android operating system. 10.

And all this is done at a surprising price. And is that the Alcatel 3L (2020) we can get it in two colors (Chameleon Blue and Dark Chrome) with an official price of 160 euros .