Wallet-friendly big-screen Android comes with extras (hands-on)

We go hands-on with Alcatel's inexpensive Android smartphone with a 5-inch screen and stylus.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations

Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).

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Jessica Dolcourt

Feb. 25, 2013 12:00 a.m. PT

BARCELONA, Spain--Do you remember the Alcatel One Touch Scribe X from CES last month? Well, the Alcatel One Touch Scribe Easy is a lot like it, but less tailored in appearance and more midrange in specs.

Writing on the Alcatel One Touch Scribe Easy (pictures)

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The Scribe Easy's main premise is that's it an extremely affordable Android 4.1 device (4.2 at launch) that comes with a cool magnetic cover and a stylus you can use to transcribe handwriting into text in several custom apps.

For the roughly $130 U.S. full retail price, the specs are fine: a large, 5-inch, 800x480-pixel screen, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and a 5-megapixel camera.

I love that you can tuck the stylus into a loop in the magnetic cover, but the handset design is another matter. The Scribe Easy's wide profile fit awkwardly in my hands, and its grooved sides scooped in, so that I was painfully aware of the rim around the screen pressing into my palm.

Although it may not be the sexiest device around, I'm guessing that the wallet-friendly price and included accessories will get people considering the Scribe Easy as their next device, though I'm also guessing that the round rather than pointy stylus tip will turn some people off.

Already available for sale in China under the TCL brand, the Scribe Easy comes to Russia first in March, followed by other markets.