alcatel A3 XL Specs and Review: A Detailed Look at Display

When alcatel announced a six-inch phone at CES 2017 on 5 January, the size alone made people stop and look. This alcatel A3 XL 6 inch display review looks at that big-screen idea in full, from the panel itself to the hardware behind it, the cameras, the battery and the software. The phone was released in July 2017, and this alcatel A3 XL full specifications and review treats it as a 2017 budget phablet, not as a modern flagship. In this alcatel A3 XL review, the display is the main attraction, yet the rest of the package decides whether the large screen is pleasant to live with day after day. The alcatel A3 XL specs are modest by later standards, but they were chosen to keep the price low while giving buyers a screen that was unusually large for its class.

The alcatel A3 XL released July 2017 price and specs story is simple: a big IPS panel, a quad-core MediaTek chip, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage with room for a memory card, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, a 3000 mAh battery, Android 7.0 Nougat and a rear fingerprint sensor. That combination explains who this phone was made for. It was made for people who watch video, read long articles, browse the web and play casual games on a large screen, and who do not want to pay flagship money for the privilege. The alcatel A3 XL price at launch sat in budget territory, and the value case rested almost entirely on screen size. Readers who want the wider alcatel picture can start with The Complete alcatel A3 Review: Specs, Performance and Verdict, which covers the smaller sibling that this XL model was built to outgrow.

One point needs care from the start. This is the alcatel A3 XL from 2017, with a 6.0-inch screen and the MediaTek MT8735B chipset. It is not the regular alcatel A3, which has a 5-inch screen, the MT6737 chipset and Android 6.0. The alcatel A3 XL vs alcatel A3 screen size comparison makes the difference clear at once: one inch of extra diagonal changes how the phone feels in the hand, how much text fits on a page and how video looks. The XL also brings a fingerprint sensor and Android 7.0 Nougat, two things the smaller A3 did not offer in the same form. Keeping the two models apart matters, because their specifications, their software and their everyday feel are not the same.

Design and Build Quality

The alcatel A3 XL design is built around its screen. A six-inch phone cannot hide its size, so alcatel kept the body slim and gave the rear panel a textured finish that helps the grip. The alcatel A3 XL 2017 look is plain and practical: rounded corners, a dark front with slim side bezels for the time, a rear camera in the top corner and a circular fingerprint sensor in the centre of the back. There is no claim here of premium metal or glass. The body is plastic, light for its size, and easy to hold for short spells, though one-handed use of the top of the screen takes a stretch for most hands.

A Large Phone That Still Feels Manageable

The alcatel A3 XL dimensions 165 x 82.5 x 7.9 mm tell the story in numbers. At 165 mm tall and 82.5 mm wide, this is a wide phone, and the 7.9 mm thickness keeps it from feeling like a brick. The alcatel A3 XL weight 182 grams design and grip balance is sensible: heavy enough to feel solid, light enough to carry in a jacket pocket or a bag without complaint. The textured rear helps when the phone is held for a long video or a long reading session, and the curved edges stop the wide body from digging into the palm. The alcatel A3 XL screen dominates the front, with a screen-to-body ratio near 72.9 percent, so the front is mostly display and the bezels above and below hold the earpiece, the front camera and the usual sensors.

For buyers who liked the idea of a large alcatel but wanted a different balance of size and power, alcatel Shine Lite vs the Rest: Review and Specifications Compared shows how another alcatel model from the same era approached the same budget market with a smaller body and a different set of trade-offs.

Rear Fingerprint Sensor and Ports

The fingerprint sensor sits on the back, where the index finger rests when the phone is held. The alcatel A3 XL fingerprint sensor setup and use is straightforward: register a finger in settings, then touch the sensor to wake and unlock the phone. It is a simple capacitive reader, quick for its class, and it also gives the phone a modern touch that many budget phones of 2017 still lacked. The phone has a fingerprint sensor on the rear panel, a micro-USB port for charging and data, a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the top edge and a dedicated microSD slot beside the SIM tray. The power button and volume keys sit on the right edge, within reach of the thumb, and the loudspeaker sits on the lower edge, where it can be covered by a palm during landscape video unless the grip is adjusted.

Display in Detail

The display is the reason this phone exists, and it deserves the closest look. The alcatel A3 XL display is a 6.0-inch IPS panel, and the alcatel A3 XL 720p IPS display quality test in everyday use shows a panel that is bright, clear enough for video and reading, and weaker only when fine text is held very close to the eyes. The alcatel A3 XL screen is large enough that web pages show more content, maps show more of the road ahead, and video fills the view in a way a five-inch phone cannot match. The panel is the heart of this review, so the numbers and the lived experience both matter here.

Screen Size and Resolution

The alcatel A3 XL display resolution 720 x 1280 pixels is the verified GSMArena figure for this model, giving a 16:9 aspect ratio and about 245 pixels per inch. That is 720p, not 1080p, and the difference is visible if the phone is held close and small text is examined. At a normal viewing distance, text looks clean, icons look smooth, and photos look natural. The 6.0-inch size spreads those 720 by 1280 pixels over a large area, so the pixel density is lower than on a smaller 720p phone, yet the trade-off buys a far larger image. The alcatel A3 XL 6 inch phablet for media viewing case is built on that trade: size first, sharpness second, and a price that stays low.

Text Sharpness at 245 ppi

At 245 ppi, body text in articles and messages is easy to read, and the large screen lets the font size stay comfortable without constant scrolling. Headlines look bold and clear, and the extra width means fewer line breaks in web pages. Small print in menus can look a touch soft when the screen is held inches from the face, but at arm’s length the effect fades. For reading, the size advantage outweighs the resolution limit for most buyers, because the screen shows more words per page and the eyes work less hard to follow long passages.

Brightness Outdoors

The alcatel A3 XL screen brightness outdoors in sunlight is adequate rather than strong. In shade and indoors the panel is bright and easy to read, and the IPS technology keeps the image steady as the viewing angle changes. In direct sun the image washes out a little and the brightness needs to be raised to the top of its range. That is normal for a budget IPS panel of 2017, and it does not spoil the phone for everyday use, though it is worth knowing before the phone is used as a map or a camera viewfinder on a bright day.

Colour and Viewing Angles

The alcatel A3 XL IPS LCD viewing angles and colours are one of the panel’s strengths. IPS keeps colours stable when the phone is tilted, shared with a friend, or propped on a table for video. Colours look natural rather than oversaturated, skin tones look believable, and white backgrounds stay white instead of shifting blue or yellow at an angle. The panel shows 16 million colours, and the contrast is good for the class, with dark scenes in video holding enough detail to follow the action. The alcatel A3 XL IPS panel does not offer the deep blacks of an OLED screen, yet for a budget 2017 phone its colour balance and viewing angles are a genuine plus.

Display in Daily Use

The alcatel A3 XL video playback on large 6 inch screen is where the phone earns its keep. Films, clips and streaming video fill the six-inch panel, subtitles stay readable, and the wide screen makes split-screen multitasking in Android 7.0 Nougat usable rather than cramped. Reading is just as comfortable: e-books, news apps and long web pages show more text, and the large touch targets make tapping links easier. The touch layer registers five points of contact, which is enough for pinch zoom, casual games and normal gestures, though it is a reminder that this is a budget panel rather than a high-end one. The alcatel A3 XL phablet size also suits maps, photo browsing and video calls, where the extra screen area turns a small window into a usable view.

Performance and Software

Performance is modest, honest and well matched to the price. The alcatel A3 XL performance is not about speed records; it is about smooth-enough everyday use on a large screen. The alcatel A3 XL chipset is the MediaTek MT8735B, a quad-core chip running at 1.1 GHz with Cortex-A53 cores and a Mali graphics unit. The alcatel A3 XL MediaTek MT8735B performance review in daily use shows a chip that opens apps, browses the web, plays video and handles messaging without drama, and that slows down when many heavy apps are open at once or when a demanding game is loaded. The alcatel A3 XL quad core 1.1 GHz processor speed is low by later standards, so expectations need to stay in line with the hardware.

Processor and Memory

The alcatel A3 XL 2GB RAM 16GB storage review starts with the memory. Two gigabytes of RAM is enough for the basics: a browser with a few tabs, a messaging app, email and a music player can run together, though switching between many apps will reload some of them. Sixteen gigabytes of storage holds the system, a set of apps and some photos, and the alcatel A3 XL storage fills up fast if large games or long offline video are added, so the memory card slot matters. The alcatel A3 XL microSD card expansion for extra storage lets the phone hold more photos, music and offline files without replacing the phone, and the dedicated slot means the second SIM does not have to be sacrificed for the card in the dual SIM version. The alcatel A3 XL RAM and the alcatel A3 XL MediaTek chip together define the ceiling: fine for daily tasks, limited for heavy multitasking and for the newest large games.

The alcatel A3 XL gaming performance on Mali T720MP2 is best described as casual. Light games, puzzles, card games and older titles run well on the large screen, and the Mali T720MP2 graphics unit handles 720p rendering without strain in that class. Demanding 3D games run at low settings, with longer load times and occasional frame drops, so this is a phone for relaxed play rather than competitive gaming. The large screen is still a joy for casual games, because the controls are bigger and the view is wider, and the 720p resolution keeps the graphics workload low enough for the modest chip to cope.

Android 7.0 Nougat Experience

The alcatel A3 XL Android 7 Nougat software experience is clean and close to stock Android, with little added clutter. The alcatel A3 XL software ships with Android 7.0 Nougat, which brought split-screen multitasking, better notifications with quick replies, and improved battery saving through Doze. On a six-inch screen, split-screen is genuinely useful: a video can play beside a browser, or a map can sit beside a message thread. The alcatel A3 XL Nougat interface feels light, the app drawer is simple, and there are few duplicate apps to remove. The phone has a clean Android 7.0 Nougat software feel that suits buyers who want the phone to stay out of the way. The alcatel A3 XL Android version is from 2017, so it does not have later Android features or security updates, and that age is part of the honest verdict on this phone as a used buy now.

Readers comparing alcatel models of the same period may also like How Good Is the alcatel A5 LED? Full Review and Specifications, which looks at a sibling that traded screen size for a light-up rear cover and a different kind of appeal.

Camera Capabilities

The cameras are simple, daylight-friendly tools. The alcatel A3 XL camera is an 8MP rear unit with autofocus and an LED flash, plus a 5MP front camera with its own flash. The alcatel A3 XL photos from the rear camera are best in good light, where colours look natural and detail is enough for social sharing and small prints. The camera app is simple, with photo, video, panorama and basic modes, and it opens quickly enough for a quick shot. There is no optical stabilisation, no large sensor and no advanced night mode, so the results follow the light that is available.

Rear Camera

The alcatel A3 XL 8MP rear camera sample quality in daylight is pleasant: landscapes keep their colour, food and street shots look sharp at screen size, and the autofocus locks on without much hunting. The alcatel A3 XL camera low light photo quality review is less kind, as indoor and evening shots lose detail, gain noise and can blur if the hand moves. The LED flash helps at close range for people and small subjects, though it can wash out skin at very close distance. The alcatel A3 XL 1080p video recording rear camera test shows video at 1080p and 30 frames per second that is usable for family clips and short records, with sound that is clear in quiet places and thinner in wind or traffic. The large screen makes framing easy, and the six-inch viewfinder is one of the nicest parts of using this camera.

Front Camera and Selfies

The alcatel A3 XL front camera 5MP selfie quality is good for video calls and casual selfies in daylight. The alcatel A3 XL selfie camera has a front flash, which helps in dim rooms and at night, and the wide screen makes it easy to check the frame before shooting. The alcatel A3 XL video from the front camera records at 720p, which is enough for calls and short clips. Skin tones look natural in good light, and the simple beautification and timer options cover the basics without complicating the app. For a 2017 budget phone, a 5MP front camera with a flash was a real selling point, and it still works for the video calls that many buyers use every day.

Battery Life and Connectivity

The battery and the radios complete the everyday picture. The alcatel A3 XL battery is a 3000 mAh unit, which is modest for a six-inch phone, yet the 720p screen and the low-power quad-core chip keep the drain in check. The alcatel A3 XL 3000 mAh battery life test in normal use points to a full day for light and moderate users: browsing, messaging, some video and a few calls, with charge left in the evening. Heavy video, long gaming sessions or constant maps use will bring the evening charge forward, and the phone charges over micro-USB at a standard rate rather than a fast one.

Battery Life in Daily Use

The alcatel A3 XL battery charging time and daily use pattern is simple to plan around. A full charge from empty takes a few hours on the supplied charger, so overnight charging or a top-up during the day suits this phone best. Standby drain is low, and Android Nougat’s Doze helps the phone sip power when it is left idle. The large screen is the biggest drain, so lowering brightness and shortening the screen timeout stretches the day, while video playback at full brightness shortens it. The 3000 mAh capacity is not large, but the efficient screen and chip mean the phone rarely dies before the day ends for a typical user.

Connectivity, Sound and Extras

The alcatel A3 XL connectivity covers the essentials for 2017 and for basic use now: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and FM radio. The alcatel A3 XL dual SIM Nano SIM connectivity options let the phone hold two Nano-SIM cards, so work and personal numbers, or a home SIM and a travel SIM, can live in one device. The alcatel A3 XL Bluetooth 4.2 WiFi and GPS features work as expected for headphones, file sharing, maps and wireless audio, and the Wi-Fi radio handles home networks and hotspots without fuss. The alcatel A3 XL headphone jack and FM radio features are practical extras that many later phones removed: wired headphones plug straight in, and FM radio plays without mobile data when a wired headset is used as the aerial.

The alcatel A3 XL speaker quality and call sound review is fair. The alcatel A3 XL speakers produce clear sound for calls, alerts and casual video, though the single loudspeaker is thin at high volume and lacks bass. The alcatel A3 XL sound through headphones is better, with clean stereo and enough volume for music and podcasts. Call sound is clear on both ends in good signal, and the microphones pick up speech well in quiet rooms. The alcatel A3 XL SIM tray, the microSD slot and the headphone jack together make this a flexible phone for buyers who still value removable storage and wired audio.

For a different take on a large alcatel battery-first phone, alcatel Pixi 4 Plus Power First Impressions, Review and Full Specs covers a model that put battery capacity ahead of screen size, which is a useful contrast to the display-first approach of the A3 XL.

Full Specifications

The table below gathers the alcatel A3 XL specs in one place, using the verified GSMArena figures for the 2017 model. The alcatel A3 XL specs in this table are the ones to use when comparing this phone with the regular A3 or with any other 2017 budget phablet, because the chipset, the screen size, the Android version and the release date are the points where confusion most often happens.

The alcatel A3 XL dimensions and the alcatel A3 XL weight in the table match the design section above, and the screen, chipset and battery rows match the review sections. The table is the quick reference; the sections above explain what those numbers feel like in use. Anyone checking a used unit should match the model number, the 6.0-inch screen and the MT8735B chipset against this table before buying, because the regular A3 shares the name family but not the hardware.

Pros and Cons

A short verdict helps after the detail. The phone’s strengths all flow from its size and its simplicity, while its limits all flow from its age and its modest chip and memory. The alcatel A3 XL review verdict is that this was a good budget phablet in 2017, and a usable basic phone now only for buyers who accept its limits and its old software.

Pros

The large 6.0-inch IPS screen is the clearest plus, giving video, reading and maps room to breathe. The clean Android 7.0 Nougat software keeps the phone simple, and the rear fingerprint sensor adds quick unlocking. The 8MP rear camera and 5MP front camera with flashes cover daylight photos and video calls, and the headphone jack, FM radio, dual SIM support and microSD expansion keep the phone flexible. The slim 7.9 mm body and textured rear make a wide phone easier to hold than its size suggests.

Cons

The 720p resolution looks soft at close range on a six-inch panel, and the quad-core 1.1 GHz chip with 2GB of RAM slows under heavy multitasking. The 16GB of built-in storage fills quickly, the 3000 mAh battery is modest for the screen size, and charging is slow by later standards. Low-light photos are noisy, demanding games need low settings, and Android 7.0 Nougat is old software with no later updates on this model. The phone is a big screen at a modest price compromise, and the compromise is visible in every one of those limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions cover the points buyers ask most often about this 2017 phablet, with short answers drawn from the specifications and the review above.

When was the alcatel A3 XL released?

The alcatel A3 XL was announced in January 2017 at CES 2017 on 5 January, and it was released in July 2017. The alcatel A3 XL 2017 release date is July 2017, which places it firmly in the 2017 budget phablet group. The phone went on sale first in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, followed by Europe.

What is the alcatel A3 XL display resolution?

The alcatel A3 XL display resolution is 720 x 1280 pixels on a 6.0-inch IPS LCD, with a 16:9 ratio and about 245 ppi. That is 720p, and it is the GSMArena figure for this model. Some other listings mention 1080p, but the verified GSMArena specification is 720 x 1280 pixels, and that is the figure used in this review and in the specification table above.

How much RAM and storage does the alcatel A3 XL have?

The phone has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage, with a microSD card slot for extra storage. The 2GB of RAM handles everyday apps, and the 16GB of storage holds the system and a modest set of apps, with the memory card taking photos, music and offline files. Buyers should check the free space on a used unit, because the system takes a share of the 16GB.

Does the alcatel A3 XL have a fingerprint sensor?

Yes, the alcatel A3 XL has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, set in the centre of the back panel where the index finger rests. It unlocks the phone and works with the lock screen, and it is one of the features that sets the XL apart from the regular alcatel A3. The sensor is simple to set up in settings and quick to use once a finger is registered.

Is the alcatel A3 XL still worth buying today?

The alcatel A3 XL 2017 budget phablet worth buying today question depends on the price and the job. As a cheap spare phone, a media viewer, a reading device or a first simple smartphone, it can still work, because the large screen, the headphone jack, the FM radio and the dual SIM support remain useful. As a main phone for heavy apps, demanding games or current software, it is not a good choice, because the chip, the 2GB of RAM, the 16GB of storage and the old Android 7.0 software limit it. A low used price and a clear, light workload are the conditions that make it worth considering now. For a smaller and lighter alcatel option from the same era, alcatel U5 Full Specifications: Software, Storage and More gives the full specification picture for a model that chose compact size over the XL screen.

The final word is simple. The alcatel A3 XL is a display-first budget phablet from 2017: a six-inch 720p IPS screen, a MediaTek MT8735B chip, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 8MP and 5MP cameras, a 3000 mAh battery, Android 7.0 Nougat and a rear fingerprint sensor, released in July 2017. Its large screen still makes video, reading and maps pleasant, and its clean software keeps daily use simple. Its modest resolution, chip, memory and old software set a firm limit on what it can do now. Buy it for the big screen and the simple daily job, at a low price, and it will serve that job well.