Alcatel V3 Ultra

The headlining feature of the Alcatel V3 Ultra is its so-called NxtPaper display. Specs-wise, the V3 Ultra uses an LCD display with FHD resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and up to 650 nits brightness. The first thing you'd notice about it, the moment you lay eyes on it, is the matte finish. The smooth, matte look not only stands out, but it also appears fairly scratch-resistant. Turn it on and it comes alive with a burst of colours. The NxtPaper modes, accessible via the slider key on the right spine and via display settings, allow you to choose between Colour Paper, Ink Paper and Max Ink modes. They're all suited for reading, with the Ink Paper mode effectively converting the phone into a Kindle e-book reader, and getting rid of all the colour. The matte screen with its non-glare attribute makes things easier on the eyes, too. The Max Ink mode is about the same as Ink paper, except that it acts as a battery saver option by restricting access to apps. The Colour Paper mode retains colour, but in a subdued manner to keep the visuals easy on the eyes.

On paper, the Alcatel V3 Ultra has respectable camera specs -- a 108MP main shooter, complemented by an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro. Selfie duties are assigned to a 32MP camera on the front. The camera app is also quite feature-rich, offering a set of colour filters in addition to the usual ones, as well as NxtPaper filters that include sketch, nostalgia, mono, and a few others. The results, however, aren't impressive, especially considering what other phones in the sub-Rs 20k phones offer in terms of photography capabilities these days. Daylight shots are generally fine, but can feel lacking in terms of detail and dynamic range. Low-light photography is a hit-or-miss affair, and oftentimes, it's the matte display that can be blamed for the photos appearing softer than they are. Comparing the photos with those shot using the Moto G96, we can see a few of these niggles.DaylightThe photo shot using the Moto G96 looks better in terms of a few key aspects, including dynamic range, detail and clarity.PortraitEdge detection and skin tones are handled well by the Moto G96, while the Alcatel phone tends to muddle up the colours.SelfieSelfies shot using the Moto G86 look more natural and lifelike, while the V3 Ultra does a reasonable job as well. That said, the colour science seems off.

The V3 Ultra isn't a performance-focused phone. Its choice of SoC is the MediaTek Dimensity 6300, which is a functional, solid chip, but it pales in comparison to what rivals offer in the same price range. You also get 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, which are unimpressive specs too. The Alcatel V3 Ultra runs most apps fine, and manages thermals well. That said, there's some lag while scrolling lists and jumping between apps. Suffice it to say that if your usage involves heavy tasks and gaming, or if you're lookigng for a high-performance daily driver, you should consider alternatives. There are plenty of other phones in the sub-Rs 20k segment that offer better performance, but more specifically, options like the Moto G96, Tecno Pova Curve, Infinix Note 50s, and even the CMF Phone 2 Pro can be considered for that. 

On the software front, things are mostly clean and straightforward. The device runs a customised platform based on the dated Android 14, but the UI is close to stock and there aren't too many preloaded apps to clutter the interface. The software features include a customisable sidebar that gives you quick access to notes, e-signature and a few other utilities, and you also get a full-fledged note-taking app with support for handwritten notes using the bundled stylus. 

The 5,010mAh battery supports 33W charging, and Alcatel includes a charger in the box. Interestingly, the included charger is PD-capable, and a Type-C to Type-C cable is also included, which is a nice touch. In daily usage, the phone delivers a day's worth with medium to heavy usage, and battery life can also vary depending on how extensively you use the NxtPaper modes like Ink Paper. It takes about an hour and a half to charge the phone fully using the bundled charger.