Alcatel this spring with three new, cheap Android smartphones: the Alcatel 3L, 3 and 1S. Despite the low prices, they do offer extras as double cameras.
New Alcatel smartphones 2019: competitive price-quality ratio
At the Mobile World Congress, Alcatel hopes to show what is possible with a budget smartphone nowadays. The company presented three devices that are all sold for less than 200 euros but have features that until recently were only on top equipment.
Alcatel 1S: entry model with frills
The entry model is the Alcatel 1S. This device has a suggested retail price of 109 euros but is equipped with a 5.5-inch screen, a spacious 3GB memory, and a fingerprint scanner. The device is available in two colors from the second quarter: black and blue. The most important specifications at a glance:
- 5.5 inch HD screen
- 13 + 2-megapixel camera on the back, a 5-megapixel camera in front
- Octa-core processor, 3GB RAM
- 32GB of expandable storage space
- Runs on Android 9.0 (Pie)
Alcatel 3L: double camera, slightly more expensive
For a few bucks more you get the Alcatel 3L in house. It has a hefty 5.9-inch screen that fills almost the entire front. At the top is only a small notch for the selfie camera and various sensors. The 3L is also available in black and blue from this spring, for a slightly higher retail price of 139 euros.
For that, you get a device with a dual camera of 13 and 5 megapixels on the back. That secondary lens is used to add a bokeh effect to your photos.
The Alcatel 3L camera also has scene recognition and can adjust the camera settings based on what is in view. If you photograph a dog, the device, for example, takes into account movement. The device still runs on Android 8.1 (Oreo), but according to the manufacturer shortly after the release an Android Pie update. Alcatel also promises quarterly security updates up to two years after release.
Alcatel 3: more power for more money
The Alcatel 3 is a small upgrade compared to the 3L. The device has a somewhat smoother Qualcomm chipset with eight cores instead of four. Alcatel sells a variant with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage space for 159 euros, and a variant with 4GB / 64GB for 189 euros.
The other specifications are almost identical to the 3L, including the double camera and fingerprint scanner. However, the 3 has a slightly more luxurious housing, with a gradient design on the back that combines two colors. The 3L has a simpler plastic-looking back.