Is Alcatel V3 Ultra 2025’s Best Reader’s Phone?
Alcatel made a strong return to the Indian smartphone market in May 2025 with the V3 Ultra. After a three-year gap, the brand launched this model on May 27, 2025, with sales starting in early June. Alcatel priced the V3 Ultra competitively at ₹19,999 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. The 8GB RAM variant costs ₹21,999. With these price points, Alcatel aimed at students, readers, and everyday users looking for a device that focuses on battery life and display comfort.
Design and Build
Alcatel designed the V3 Ultra to stand out with a clean and modern aesthetic. The phone measures 167.6 mm in height, 75.5 mm in width, and 7.99 mm in thickness. Its weight of 196 grams provides a balanced feel without becoming too bulky for daily use. The rear panel combines matte and glossy plastic, which resists fingerprints better than most glass-backed competitors.
Alcatel included a circular camera island that gives the phone a modern look. A side slider key allows users to switch between display modes effortlessly. The inclusion of a 3.5 mm headphone jack adds practical value, especially for users who prefer wired audio.
Display and NXTPAPER Technology
Alcatel equipped the V3 Ultra with a 6.8-inch full HD+ LCD display. The company combined this with 120Hz refresh rate technology and TCL’s proprietary NXTPAPER innovation. The display delivers sharp visuals while reducing glare and strain on the eyes.
Users can toggle between four display modes with the side slider key. The modes include Regular (standard color output), Color Paper (softened tones for reading), Ink Paper (black-and-white e-paper style for maximum eye comfort), and Max Ink (low-power monochrome mode for extended battery life). This feature appeals to readers and students who spend long hours on their devices.
The display reaches peak brightness of around 650 nits. While this level suffices for most indoor and shaded outdoor use, users will notice some difficulty in direct sunlight. The screen’s PWM-free technology ensures reduced flickering, which helps users with sensitive eyesight enjoy longer reading or browsing sessions.
Performance
Alcatel powered the V3 Ultra with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor. The device includes either 6GB or 8GB of physical RAM and offers virtual RAM expansion. Storage starts at 128GB, and users can add more through the microSD card slot.
In day-to-day use, the V3 Ultra handles browsing, social media apps, video streaming, and light multitasking smoothly. Geekbench results show a single-core score near 729 and a multi-core score close to 1905. These numbers put it in the lower end of the mid-range bracket.
When tested with popular games such as Asphalt 9, Battlegrounds, and Temple Run, the device showed occasional frame drops. The phone doesn’t cater to mobile gamers or users who want fast and intensive processing power. Other phones in the ₹20,000 segment, such as the Poco X7 5G or CMF Phone 2 Pro, deliver stronger performance at a similar price.
Camera
Alcatel fitted the V3 Ultra with a triple rear camera system. The primary sensor boasts 108 megapixels. It pairs with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The front camera uses a 32-megapixel punch-hole lens for selfies.
In good daylight conditions, the main camera produces natural colors. However, it sometimes struggles with autofocus, especially during close-up photography. The ultra-wide lens works fine for landscape shots but shows softness at the edges. The selfie camera tends to apply excessive smoothing, which reduces detail in facial features.
Users looking for casual photography will find the V3 Ultra sufficient. Photography enthusiasts or content creators will likely feel disappointed by the results.
Battery Life
The Alcatel V3 Ultra carries a 5,010 mAh battery. The battery lasts a full day comfortably under normal usage. Alcatel also provided a 33W fast charger in the box, which charges the device to full in about 80 minutes.
Max Ink mode, one of the display options, helps stretch battery life even further. With this mode, users report between two and three days of moderate use before recharging becomes necessary. The device charges the first 20 percent of the battery a bit slower than some rivals, but the overall charging speed remains decent for the price.
Software and User Experience
Alcatel ships the V3 Ultra with Android 14. The company promises two major OS updates, taking the device up to Android 16 or 17, along with four years of security updates. The user interface stays clean, with minimal bloatware, and offers useful tools like Eye-Care Assistant, reading modes, and night light settings.
The V3 Ultra supports stylus use, but the included stylus works only for basic note-taking. It doesn’t feature Bluetooth connectivity or pressure sensitivity like high-end options. The stylus comes with the bundled case rather than built into the device itself.
Productivity and Special Features
The stylus and NXTPAPER display work together to create a productive environment for users who enjoy reading, annotating, or writing on their device. Alcatel positioned the V3 Ultra to appeal to students, working professionals, and e-book lovers. The display modes reduce eye fatigue, allowing users to read or write comfortably for long periods.
Strengths
Alcatel built a phone that offers excellent eye comfort. The NXTPAPER display modes deliver a unique experience that most mid-range phones don’t match. Battery life stands out, especially when using Ink Paper or Max Ink modes. The inclusion of a stylus at no extra cost adds practical value for students or note-takers. The 3.5 mm headphone jack and microSD expansion also provide functional benefits that many phones in this range skip.
Weaknesses
The Dimensity 6300 processor holds the V3 Ultra back. While it handles casual tasks well, it can’t match the performance levels of similarly priced rivals. The camera system, although promising on paper, produces average results and fails to excite photography enthusiasts. Alcatel launched the device with Android 14 at a time when Android 15 already started rolling out, which makes the software feel slightly dated from day one.
Verdict
The Alcatel V3 Ultra serves a niche well. It stands out in the ₹20,000 market by offering a paper-like display, stylus support, and battery life that satisfies casual users. People who prioritize reading comfort, eye health, and basic productivity will appreciate the V3 Ultra.
On the other hand, users who expect gaming performance, vibrant cameras, or cutting-edge processing power should consider other mid-range options. Competitors such as Poco, CMF, and Realme deliver stronger hardware and cameras at similar price points.
Alcatel created a unique device with the V3 Ultra. The phone fills the gap for users who want an affordable e-reader, digital notebook, and smartphone combined into one product. The V3 Ultra earns praise for this purpose, but buyers should weigh their priorities carefully before choosing it over more powerful alternatives.
