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Review: Alcatel 7 for MetroPCS

Hardware Software Wrap-Up Comments 2

Alcatel has an opportunity to fill a certain gap in the U.S. market right now. If it can churn out respectable, affordable phones, it could become a reliable go-to manufacturer for prepaid carriers such as MetroPCS and Cricket Wireless. The Alcatel 7 doesn't quite go the distance.

I'm sold on the hardware design and promise. It's not the most unique phone in the market, but the screen is fine, the chassis is strong, and the all-black design works. It's great to see a fingerprint reader, USB-C, and a headphone jack.

The phone excels at battery life, outlasting many other devices in this market segment. At the same time, call quality is questionable and data speeds are average. The Android-based platform runs smoothly enough, but the camera simply isn't up to snuff.

MetroPCS sells the Alcatel 7 for $180. If you port-in a number and subscribe to Metro's top plan, you can snag the 7 for $30. At MetroPCS, the $50 Moto E5 or the $80 LG Stylo 4 are better options.

Our Ratings

Overall

Reception

Battery Life

Hardware Usability

Hardware Quality

Display

Interface Speed

Audio Volume

Camera

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Alcatel 7 / REVVL 2 Plus

6" display FHD+ resolution
MediaTek Helio P23 processor 3 GB RAM
4,000 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Headphone Jack (3.5mm), Fingerprint Reader, Water-Resistant

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