Hi, my name is Erin and I’m a technology geek. It’s true, my husband has called me “gadget girl” pretty much since we met in 1992. The gadgets are WAY cooler now. So, when I was asked to try out the brand new, unlocked ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL 3 smartphone and smartwatch, I was all in. I love bells and whistles. You should know that I love to personalize my cell phone. I like wallpapers, personalized ringtones, apps, widgets, you name it. I’m an Android girl because iPhones are too simple for me. Enough background, let me tell you about these cool new devices.
The ALCATEL ONETOUCH smartphone is unlocked, meaning you simply pop your sim card into the back of the phone and you’re off. No contracts, no payment plans. I was skeptical but it really was SUPER simple to swap out the sim card from my Galaxy to the new ONETOUCH IDOL 3. Right away, my contacts were available. Good thing because I’ve decided I know entirely too many people. Having two teenage boys, most of their names start with “Coach”. The ALCATEL ONETOUCH 3 has a very nice 5.5” full HD display. The resolution is amazing. Geek alert! This is the first phone of it’s kind that has a fully reversible display. This means you can multi-task until your heart’s content. Pick up the phone right-side-up or upside down and you can just start talking. There’s a microphone on both sides. To go along with the great display, the dual FRONT FACING speakers deliver sound unlike any cell phone I’ve ever heard. Can’t believe it’s taken this long for a phone manufacturer to realize that when we are watching videos on our phone, we are IN FRONT OF IT! Duh, why are other dinky speakers on the back?
All moms will want to know that this little baby has a GREAT camera too. We took it on this summer’s staycation and it was the only camera I used. The display makes it easy to see the photo you’re taking EVEN IN FULL SUN!!!! I took several hundred photos and there’s room for all of them. Resolution of the photos is top notch as well.
The ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL 3 is more affordable than other phones of its kind. At $249, it offers all the features my MUCH more expensive phone did. I purposely set out to set this phone up as close to my other one as possible and it passed the test. Still ran quickly and smooth. The memory is great and I’ve been able to install all of my favorite apps. This is a great option for any Android fan.
This brings me to the perfect companion to the IDOL 3. The ONETOUCH WATCH. This thing is COOL!!! Does all the things you want your activity tracker to do like; steps, sleep, stopwatch, calories, etc. I have another activity tracker and either the ONETOUCH WATCH is more accurate or my previous tracker is stingy because it seems a little more difficult to rack up the steps.
The ONETOUCH WATCH will also notify you of calls, texts, emails, or social media notifications. You can personalize these settings any way you’d like.
OK, here’s the coolest part (keep in mind, I’m a geek). The wallpaper!!! Fully customizable! You can use one of the many backgrounds provided, or, better yet, use ANY PHOTO ON YOUR PHONE!!! I’m not going to lie, my watch face has matched my outfit every single day since it arrived. LOVE this feature. It will also chime your phone when you’ve misplaced it. I’ve used that feature more than a few times. By the way, the ONETOUCH WATCH will pair with just about any Android or iOS phone so you don’t have to own the IDOL 3 to use this neat smartwatch. At a bargain price of $149, it’s a smartwatch for everyone.
I’m hard pressed to find many cons with this nifty little phone/watch duo but I did come up with a couple of pet peeves. As I’ve said, I love to personalize. For that reason, I usually use a third party text messaging app. Unfortunately, it seems that the watch is not able to give notifications from non-native text messaging apps. Additionally, it would be nice if the watch could pair with a wider variety of activity tracking apps. I like to ride my bike and I want to see “credit” for that exercise in the activity app. The ONETOUCH WATCH has an app called “Move” but doesn’t have a ton of features. Honestly, if that’s all I can come up with on the con side of these two super affordable gadgets, they’ve hit a home run.
All in all, it’s pretty obvious that I won’t be running out to buy any of the competitor phones that are 4 to 5 times the price. The ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL 3 phone and ONETOUCH WATCH are feature packed and stylish. Give them a try yourself, for more information visit ALCATELONETOUCH.US!
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Vine
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Facebook
• Google+
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Erin is a writer for Jen is on a Journey. She’s a 40 year old Student Data Specialist at a rural K-8th grade school, but her most important job in life is being a wife (married almost 21 years) and mom to two boys 18 and 15. Ever the multi-tasker, she loves to volunteer and be involved with her boys’ activities. Vice President of the High School all sport booster club and Player Agent of the local Babe Ruth baseball league, her greatest joy is watching her boys do what they love. In her spare time (what’s that?) she enjoys custom making & selling t-shirts, sweatshirts and other gift items. A HUGE fan of all things sparkly, she tries to leave a little trail of glitter wherever she goes. Find Erin online, http://facebook.com/
Product was sent for honest review, all opinions are 100% my own.
James Robert says
This is totally awesome. We cannot have our phone on at work and worry about the kids when I am there. I love that I could get a text message on this watch if anything is wrong
Lisa Brown says
To #LiveUnlocked means having the freedom to choose; to make my phone what I need and what it to be.
Britnee says
#liveunlocked means freedom to do what I want with no restrictions.
Mary says
To #liveunlocked means to have the freedom to choose which kind of phone I like best.
Elena says
#LiveUnlocked means freedom to choose what products or services are right for you, including your phone and wireless plan
latanya says
#LiveUnlocked picking a plan to fits your needs without any contracts
ellen beck says
To #LiveUnlocked means to have the freedom to go where you want when you want. I means not being tied to an unrelible device, it means to live to the fullest.
David says
Most of us don’t come anywhere close to using the data we have to purchase as a precondition of certain phones. I like being able to pick and choose an al a carte plan that fits my needs, not the phones.
Melissa Grecom says
To #LiveUnlocked, you have to have no fear of what others think. People say that at the end of your life, you regret the things you didn’t do more than the things that you did
mita says
#LiveUnlocked having the freedom to choose, picking a plan to fits your needs.
Allison Swain says
To #liveUnlocked means to have an affordable plan without being tied down to contracts.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Elizabeth B says
To #LiveUnlocked means to live free of unnecessary restraints!
Gideon says
I wouldn’t have it any other way, because to #LiveUnlocked is the only way. The freedom to choose and to change whenever you want to. Who wouldn’t want that!?
Thanks for this opportunity
Linda Kish says
I think it means you can use it with any company and choose what you want for your services.
Chuck Bortscheller says
To #LiveUnlocked means more freedom in your everyday life.
Thomas Murphy says
It means to not have a cell phone contract.
Jeanna says
To #liveUnlocked means being able to customize your phone to how you want to use it without any additional apps or things tying up for storage!
Will C says
#liveUnlocked is about not having any obligations to any carrier or plan or phone type! Thanks for the giveaway!
Dawn Monroe says
It means to throw away the schedule, relax, unwind and have fun.
Amanda Sakovitz says
#LiveUnlocked means choosing the phone and the plan that is right for you.
Elle says
To #liveunlocked means to live without being tied down and being free to choose what you want when you want.
kelly tupick says
To live #LiveUnlocked means not being locked into a plan you want out of. Finding a plan that fits your needs and enjoying every minute of it.
Jodi Flaherty says
To #LiveUnlocked, to me, mean having no barriers! Total freedom!
Heather Hayes Panjon says
To #LiveUnlocked To Me Means To Live Life To The Fullest, Try New Things And Take A Leap Of Faith.
Karla R. says
To #LiveUnlocked means to live contract free.
Eileen Richter says
#LiveUnlocked is to not be tethered to ANYthing….any plan, anything people think, and have the connection to the people you love and the things you NEED at your fingertips.
Connie R. says
#LiveUnlocked is stress free living. No commitments no problems.
Julie Lundstrom says
#life unlocked means to me being able to be free and to enjoy everyday with out boundaries to hold you back. Enjoy and life every moment.
Carla D. says
#LiveUnlocked to me means to be able to live freely and do as I choose, within reason of course. To be able to make choices and not have to worry about what others think or have to say.
Ling Cheung says
To get through the day without problems.
Fay Yeung says
to live without concern.
Karen Nadeau says
It means you can do what you want with your phone you got freedom.
steve weber says
To #liveunlocked means to have the freedom to choose which kind of phone I like best.
Will G says
#LiveUnlocked means that I am not restricted to one carrier!
Julia says
For me it is being open to change in all areas of my life.
mrsshukra says
#LiveUnlocked means freedom and savings especially when travelling outside of the US!
Alicia S. says
To #LiveUnlocked is to have the freedom to go where I want and do what I want to do. Agency! Liberty! Bringing a device of my choice to any compatible carrier!
Tabathia B says
To live #unlocked means the freedom to add as many lines as I want to a plan, update phones and the option of whether or not to have a plan
Kari says
To #LiveUnlocked…having a phone that does the things you need/want it to do with no restrictions.
Madonna says
#liveunlocked means I get to choose what works best for me and my family to suit our needs not some generic family out there.
Michelle says
#liveunlocked means no boundaries and freedom
Renee Simmons says
To #liveunlocked means to have the freedom to choose phone & carrier!!
Susan Smith says
#liveunlocked means freedom to do what I want with no restrictions
Kat says
To #LiveUnlocked means being able to bring my own device to my cell phone plan in order to save money. Financing phones on the bill does not work for my budget.
Mariaelena says
To me it would mean living debt free!! #liveunlocked
John says
To #LiveUnlocked means having freedom in choices.
CR Williams says
To be safe and protected in everything I do.
Sonya Morris says
To #LiveUnlocked means I could put the smartwatch on while busy with the kids and not worry about keeping up with my phone.
Kelly D says
To #LiveUnlocked means to be able to contact my friends and family whenever I want to.
Sze says
free to express
Stefanie Gladden says
to me being unlocked means freedom to choose what I want!
trixx says
I think it’s amazing. I hate being held to contracts, plans and the whole nine yards
Lisa L says
#LiveUnlocked means freedom from contracts. Hooray!