With its price dropped to $139.99 the Nuu G3 must be the best value smartphone on the market, and it is no slouch!

You might not have heard of Nuu but they have been aggressively expanding out from their Chinese base to gain a footing in the mid and low priced smartphone market. Slow but steady growth has led them to release the G3, a phone that earns its place alongside budget offerings from the bigger more recognised names in the market. Importantly the G3 has just seen a huge price drop from $199.99 to $139.99! An incredible deal for what you get, making it a real contender for best sub $200 smartphone.

First impressions are great and the bright, colourful design looks like that of a higher-end handset and it is very comfortable in the hand due to its rounded back edges
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First impressions are great and the bright, colourful design looks like that of a higher-end handset and it is very comfortable in the hand due to its rounded back edges. Turn it on and the screen also boosts this impression that the Nuu G3 is not a sub $200 phone. Colours are bright but not overly bold and the screen brightness wows enabling outdoor use on sunny days without issue. The graphics chip also pushes the G3 along very well and I had no lag issues and a very smooth and pleasant time scrolling through screens, photos and options.

The Nuu G3 has just seen a huge price drop from $199.99 to $139.99! An incredible deal for what you get and making it a real contender for best sub $200 smartphone
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Since my initial testing, the Nuu G3 has received an update to Android 8.0 Oreo with the Jan 2019 security patch and feels much better for it
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One drawback was that it only ran Android 7.1 out of the box, a three-year-old version of this hugely successful Google OS, but since my initial testing the G3 has received an update to Android 8.0 Oreo with the Jan 2019 security patch and feels much better for it. The Nuu interface design was also updated slightly and is not too over-the-top (like some) feeling quite close to a pure Android experience, something I favour. After initial testing, I always install Nova Launcher on devices and once that was up and running the G3’s interface was super quick and responsive, a real pleasure to use. Do note that the screen glass is not hardened and it quickly scratched when left in my bag for a few days walking about. However, this is a sub $200 phone so some compromises are to be expected but whack on a cheap screen protector and you are good to go.

There is no headphone jack but headphone or speaker connectivity over Bluetooth was quick and produced a fun if unremarkable sound. Onboard speakers, however, are bottom firing and are not much fun to listen to. I had no issues with its connectivity generally and using 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC presented no problems at all, it was quick to connect and faster than its price tag might indicate. The G3 is also equipped with Android Beam, which allows you to send contacts and files, share photos and videos, and even beam webpage links to another Android device by simply bringing the two phones together.

The Nuu G3 is also equipped with Android Beam, allowing you to send contacts and files, share photos and videos to another Android device by simply bringing the two phones together
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With Android 8.0 installed power management would have improved so I restarted my battery testing and was very pleased to find the 3,000mAh G3 battery lasted a full day of general use, an improvement over 7.1 when it faded at about 9 hours. I ran into no battery drain problems when using the G3 for work, video, social or just messing about.

You can choose between fingerprint or face unlock but not both together. Hating face unlock I went with fingerprint and was pleased to find the rear mounted detector was as fast as pretty much any other phone I have used, it really is quick! Face unlock was very frustrating to set up and I gave up trying it out after ten minutes of fiddling so take that into account.

Hating face unlock I went with fingerprint and was pleased to find the rear mounted detector was as fast as pretty much any other phone I have used, it really is quick!
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The G3 has a very nice 64GB of built-in storage (around 55GB left after the OS & preinstalled apps) and a respectable 4GB of RAM explaining why it speeds along so nicely. You can add a second sim card or up to 128GB via microSD giving you dual sim set up or a huge amount of room for all your media and files.

Maybe most importantly for some, the camera is pretty good. Not great, but definitely not bad. The dual-rear cameras consist of a 13MP PureCel Plus main camera, and 5 MP depth-sensing camera built with phase detection autofocus. The front camera is also 13MP and produces grainy but pleasing selfies. Video from the rear camera is only 1080p and lacks image stabilisation which really is a downer with my videos wobbling and juddering all over the place, even when I used two hands.

The dual-rear cameras consist of a 13MP PureCel Plus main camera, and 5 MP depth-sensing camera built with phase detection autofocus
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All in all, the cameras on the Nuu G3 are good but just don't expect wonders, the real wonder of this phone from Nuu is the $139.99 price
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All in all, the cameras on the G3 are good but just don’t expect wonders, the real wonder of this new phone from Nuu is the price! I doubt you can get a better smartphone for $139.99 anywhere right now. Buy now and you also get $60 worth of 4G data via a free Mint Mobile sim card. This is really very unexpected at the price, check it out here.

Specs

Operating System
Android 8.0 Oreo

Processor
Helio P25 Octa-Core 2.39GHz

Display
5.7” HD+ 1440 x 720 (18:9)

Camera
Rear camera: 13MPx + 5MPx
Front camera: 13MPx

Video
HD Recording and Playback
Recording Resolution: 1080p
Playing Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Video Playing Format
– H.264/H.263, MPEG4/2, 3GPP

Battery
3,000 mAh

Storage
Built-in: 64 GB
RAM: 4GB
microSD (supports up to 128GB)

Networks
Dual SIM Dual Standby
LTE B2/4/5/7/12/17
WCDMA B1/2/4/5
GSM B2/3/5/8

Connectivity
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Dual-SIM
Bluetooth® 4.2
USB Type-C
NFC

Dimensions
153 x 70 x 9 (mm)

Included Items
G3 Smartphone
TPU Case
Type C to 3.5mm Audio Cable
USB Type-C charging cable
USB Power Adapter
Quick Start Guide

Tom Atkinson is Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends.

The post Review: Nuu G3 Smartphone appeared first on Tech Trends.

Another incredible bargain smartphone from Alcatel that ticks all the boxes.

Dare I say that full-featured smartphones are nearing the status of stocking fillers or ‘burners’ for those fond of The Wire? If your wallet is light but you like to keep connected & watch content on the go the Spectrum Blue Alcatel 3V is a low budget masterpiece. It costs under £130 but has most of the same features as a £1000 premium phone. Great for those who don’t have a bank balance that would stretch to a premium handset but demand the latest features.

Dare I say that full-featured smartphones are nearing the status of stocking fillers or 'burners' for those fond of The Wire?
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For those who watch the smartphone market, it is clear that innovation has shifted to the lower end of the market. In fact, at the very top, the big boys such as Apple and Samsung are not really innovating at all, relying on bigger bevel-less screens and slightly better cameras to differentiate from each other. In fact, you might say smartphones have hit a similar plateau as Desktop CPUs, with max power levelling off and the design focus shifting to cheaper production methods and power-saving features rather than more grunt.

Alcatel, rather cleverly, only target the lower section of the smartphone market and have just released four new sub £130 handsets with the 3V at the upper end of the scale, where you get Face Unlock and a Fingerprint Scanner. The camera is as good as anyone really needs, producing pleasing photos and with an intuitive interface. The battery lasted a good day’s worth of use and when left idle three days! It is not a quick phone and it takes a split second longer to load apps and change screens but it is not too slow, it is, after all, running Android Oreo 8.0. The fingerprint & face unlock both worked but again are just a bit slower than more expensive devices.

Technical Details:

• 6-inch 18:9 2K display
• 1.45GHz
• Quad Core
• CPU
• Android Oreo 8.0 OS
• Fingerprint scanner
• Face Unlock
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• 5MP front/dual 12MP and 2MP rear cameras
• 3,000mAh battery
• 4G

“There continues to be a need and strong demand for compelling sub-$200 alternatives, with customers craving affordable yet well-made, attractive options. We work closely with our parent company TCL to ensure we leverage its manufacturing capabilities that means we can bring immersive entertainment experiences and attractive devices to our smartphone customers through 18:9 displays, improved battery life and enhanced camera quality, all at an affordable price,” said Sam Skontos, VP and Regional Managing Director, Alcatel Mobile.

There continues to be a need and strong demand for compelling sub-$200 alternatives, with customers craving affordable yet well-made, attractive options
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Cinema-style viewing in pocket size

Get leading smartphone features for a fraction of the cost of premium devices – Want to watch content on the best smartphone display resolution on the market for below £150? Alcatel provides the latest Alcatel 3V handset – with a 12MP rear camera.

Widescreen viewing – perfect for Netflix on the go

Edge-to-edge viewing capabilities providing a 6-inch display in a super compact form factor. Due to a 2K Display. It will not only be bright and crisp but offers you the best viewing experience on the market for under £150.00.

Face Key: Unlock your phone with your face

Top-of-the-range Face Key technology in the Alcatel 3V means a simple glance at the screen of your smartphone can scan your face and unlock your device, ready for use.

Unlock and more with a touch of a finger

Along with the face-recognition technology, the Alcatel 3V also allows users to secure their smartphone with a fingerprint and launch multiple apps with a designated fingerprint, meaning all apps are only one touch away.

Along with the face-recognition technology, the Alcatel 3V also allows users to secure their smartphone with a Fingerprint, meaning all apps are only one touch away
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Connectivity is very good and includes NFC which makes this phone even better value to me as I am frustrated by cheap phones without this life-saving feature. Call quality is fine, nothing special but OK, music, however, via BT 4.2 is good and pairing a nice set of cans to the 3V is a solid experience all around. Get online and the 3V does seem a little slow but the budget components can’t be expected to pump huge amounts of data around effortlessly, this is a £130 phone after all. The screen is very bright indeed but the blacks are very grey until you turn it down a bit. Colours are bright and pleasant.

Connectivity:

• UMTS: B1/2/5/8
• LTE: B1/3/7/8/20/28A/B38
• GPRS, EDGE, HSPA+: 42 Mbps downlink, 11 Mbps uplink
• NFC
• 4G LTE Cat 4: 150 Mbps downlink, 50 Mbps uplink
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz & 5GHz)
• Wi-Fi direct
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth 4.2
• GPS with A-GPS
• Nano SIM

Get online and the 3V does seem a little slow but the budget components can't be expected to pump huge amounts of data around effortlessly, this is a £130 phone after all
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Maybe most importantly for some, it looks good! Yes, it is a standard smartphone design but it is good looking and the shiny blue back and chrome trim is really nice. Like Samsung, it has a plastic back which some hate but it comes with a transparent case so you get the nice back with a sturdier feel from the case.

Alcatel has done a great job delivering an attractive low-cost smartphone that impresses with its very capable range of features
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The whole package does feel a bit light and flimsy, the lack of weight giving the impression of lower quality but it is lower quality, that is precisely the point. Alcatel has done a great job delivering an attractive low-cost smartphone that impresses with its very capable range of features. Oh, and it comes in white for those who want it to look a bit more like an iPhone

The best way to describe the difference in performance between the Alcatel 3V and a £400 mid-range handset such as the Honor 10 is rough vs smooth but this still might sound too harsh as the actual difference is not huge. The 3V does everything the more expensive phone does but just feels less smooth. Scrolling in Chrome connected via superfast Wi-Fi is a little stiff and stuttery. Jumping between apps or the home and app drawer is slower, swiping through screens or apps is a bit jittery and jumpy and opening the Play store and installing an app takes a little bit longer. However, I emphasise the difference is small.

I could find nothing this phone couldn't do that anyone except a power user would want, in fact, it offers much more than most people will expect or need and performance for the price is very usable
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Going back to my Galaxy S9+ after this however was a big jump, the S9+ felt quick as a whippet, lag free and smooth as ice compared to the 3V but then it does cost about six times as much. To conclude, I could find nothing this phone couldn’t do that anyone except a power user would want, in fact, I think this phone offers much more than most people will expect or need and performance for the price is very very usable.

It is incredible value!

The Alcatel 3V is now available in spectrum blue for £129.99 SIM-free from Carphone Warehouse

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post Review: Alcatel 3V appeared first on Tech Trends.