Alcatel 331 review

Network and connections
A common feature of all Alcatel devices is certainly the good quality at contained costs. The network receiver is GSM Dualband, able to work on 900 and 1800 MHz frequencies. Signal quality is fairly good, although only at the local level. As for wireless, any kind of support is missing, including Bluetooth. However, a USB 2.0 data cable output is provided, so you can also sync with your home PC. The GPRS modem for Internet browsing is also absent, but it's possible to use the WAP browser over the GSM network.

Design and features
The lines are simple but still well cared for. On the front there's a display of 96x65 pixels, amber backlighting, able to display up to 6 lines of text. Just below it, a directional pad together with the function keys. The keyboard is a standard alphanumeric one, with well-separated, elongated keys. The body is a classic monoblock, of good quality as far as the materials used are concerned. Inside, you then find the standard numeric keypad. The dimensions remain compact, to offer ease of transport and handling: 20 mm of thickness for just 77 grams of weight. 3 colors are available: Blue Lagoon, Snow White and Warm Grey.

Main features
From a low-end phone you can't expect high-level operation. However, the basic features are complete and practical to use. Starting with the address book for contacts, or the agenda for organizing your appointments, the calendar and the alarm clock. There's also the calculator and the currency converter. For the voice sector, on the other hand, you can count on the built-in speakerphone and support for multi-conferencing. Writing messages is convenient thanks to predictive text, so you can better manage your SMS.

Entertainment and multimedia
This Alcatel One Touch 331 is a decidedly bare-bones phone. In fact, it doesn't have any particular tools for the entertainment segment. It lacks both a multimedia player and a digital camera. However, it's possible to use the pre-installed games to take a fun break. It's also possible to manage the 35 built-in ringtones, to give a more personal touch to your device. The 600 mAh lithium battery guarantees 280 hours of Stand-by autonomy.