The Alcatel 3T 8 and Amazon Fire 7 (2017) represent the extreme lower end of the tablet market, often serving as first tablets for children or secondary devices for media consumption. Both aim for affordability, but significant differences in their underlying hardware dictate which tablet delivers a more satisfying user experience. This comparison dissects those differences, focusing on real-world performance implications.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a functional, general-purpose tablet, the Alcatel 3T 8 is the better choice. While both devices are limited by their budget components, the Alcatel 3T 8’s Mediatek MT8765 chipset, with its slightly higher clock speed, provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Amazon Fire 7’s older MT8127.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | N/A |
| 3G bands | N/A | - |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 66, 71 | - |
| EDGE | No | No |
| GPRS | No | No |
| Speed | LTE | - |
| Technology | LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, October 08. Released 2018, October 08 | 2017, May. Released 2017, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 209.5 x 125 x 8.3 mm (8.25 x 4.92 x 0.33 in) | 192 x 115 x 9.6 mm (7.56 x 4.53 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | No |
| Weight | 279 g (9.84 oz) | 295 g (10.41 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 800 x 1280 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~189 ppi density) | 600 x 1024 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~170 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.0 inches, 185.6 cm2 (~70.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.0 inches, 137.9 cm2 (~62.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.28 GHz | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT8765 | Mediatek MT8127 (28 nm) |
| GPU | - | Mali-450MP4 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo) | Customized Android 5.1 (Lollipop), Fire 5.4 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 8GB 1GB RAM, 16GB 1GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 2 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.8, (wide), 1/5.0", 1.65µm | VGA |
| Video | 720p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | No |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer |
| | - | Alexa natural language commands
Text-to-Speech English-language content reader |
| Battery |
|---|
| Talk time | - | Up to 8 h |
| Type | Li-Po 4080 mAh | Li-Ion 2980 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Black, Canary Yellow, Marine Blue, Punch Red |
| Models | 9027Q, 9027W, 9032X, 9032T, 9032X_EEA | - |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 70 EUR |
alcatel 3T 8
- More modern chipset (MT8765) offers better performance.
- Larger 8-inch display provides more screen real estate.
- Standard Android experience offers greater flexibility.
- Detailed display specs (brightness, color accuracy) are unknown.
- RAM capacity likely limited to 1GB or 2GB.
Amazon Fire 7 (2017)
- Tight integration with Amazon’s ecosystem.
- Access to Amazon’s vast content library.
- Lower price point (potentially).
- Older, less efficient chipset (MT8127).
- Fire OS is restrictive and lacks full Google Play Store access.
- Smaller 7-inch display.
Display Comparison
Neither tablet boasts a particularly impressive display. Both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, common in this price bracket. However, detailed specs like brightness (nits) and color gamut coverage are unavailable. The Fire 7’s 7-inch display offers a slightly higher pixel density than the 3T 8’s 8-inch screen, potentially resulting in a sharper image, but the difference is likely minimal. Bezels are substantial on both devices, reflecting their budget nature. Color accuracy is expected to be basic on both.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance on both tablets is expected to be poor. Detailed sensor information is unavailable, but both likely feature low-resolution sensors suitable only for basic snapshots. Focusing on megapixel counts would be misleading; image quality is more heavily influenced by sensor size, lens quality, and image processing. Given the price point, neither tablet is a viable option for serious photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Alcatel 3T 8’s Mediatek MT8765 features a quad-core 1.28 GHz CPU, while the Amazon Fire 7 (2017) uses the older Mediatek MT8127, a quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 processor. While the Fire 7 has a marginally higher clock speed, the MT8765 benefits from a more modern architecture, offering improved efficiency and performance. The MT8127, built on a 28nm process, is less efficient, potentially leading to more heat generation under load. Both devices likely feature 1GB or 2GB of RAM, limiting multitasking capabilities. The MT8765 will provide a smoother experience with app switching and basic gaming.
Battery Life
Battery capacity details are missing for both devices. However, the MT8127’s less efficient architecture in the Fire 7 likely translates to shorter battery life despite potentially similar battery sizes. Charging wattage is also unknown, but both are expected to charge slowly via micro-USB. Real-world battery life will heavily depend on usage patterns, but the Alcatel 3T 8’s more efficient chipset should provide a slight advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Alcatel 3T 8 if you need a tablet capable of handling basic multitasking, light web browsing, and video playback without significant lag. It’s a better option for users who want a more standard Android experience. Buy the Amazon Fire 7 (2017) if you are deeply embedded in the Amazon ecosystem, prioritize access to Amazon’s content library, and are willing to accept a more constrained operating system and slower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Alcatel 3T 8 handle streaming video services like Netflix and YouTube smoothly?
The Alcatel 3T 8’s Mediatek MT8765 chipset should be capable of handling standard definition and even 720p video streaming on services like Netflix and YouTube without significant buffering or lag. However, expect limitations with higher resolutions like 1080p, especially during multitasking.
❓ Can I install apps from the Google Play Store on the Amazon Fire 7 (2017)?
No, the Amazon Fire 7 (2017) does not come with the Google Play Store pre-installed. It uses Amazon’s Appstore, which has a limited selection compared to Google Play. While it’s possible to sideload apps, it requires technical knowledge and isn’t officially supported.
❓ Is the Amazon Fire 7 (2017) a good choice for playing mobile games?
The Amazon Fire 7 (2017)'s MT8127 chipset is not well-suited for demanding mobile games. While simple 2D games may run adequately, expect significant lag and low frame rates in more graphically intensive titles. The Alcatel 3T 8 offers a slightly better gaming experience due to its more modern chipset.
