Reversible Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 picks up a cool trick (pictures)

Alcatel has announced a new duo to comprise its flagship smartphone lineup: the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3, in 4.7 and 5.5-inch versions.

The larger Idol 3 is also the better-appointed phone, but that doesn't mean you'll necessarily get your choice of the two if you buy through a carrier. Some markets may only see one phone over the other.

Running on Android 5.0, Alcatel has included a clever mode that flips the OS so that any direction you grab the phone becomes "up".

The on-screen navigation buttons disappear from view after idling. You can call them back with a quick swipe.

Despite its plastic build, this slim black handset with a brushed finish looks pretty good, a nice feat given its low prices (see here for more details on that).

Both phones have a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, but the larger version houses an 8-megapixel front-firing shooter versus the smaller Idol 3's 5-megapixel sensor.

The Idol 3 is a slim phone in both sizes.

The 5.5-inch Idol 3 can claim the more powerful octa-core processor versus the 4.5-inch versions' quad-core chipset, both supplied by Qualcomm.

One Alcatel extra is the OneTouch Music Mix app, which lets you hone your DJ skills.

You can add effects like scratching and crossover fades.

Mixing tunes is something Alcatel thinks buyers are going to want to do.

We have many more specs and comparisons between the two phones. Check out video and hardware details in CNET's Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 hands-on.