Alcatel's new budget phones look less budget than ever

Top-tier smartphones might be getting real expensive these days, but thankfully, budget devices keep getting better and better. If you'd prefer the kind of handset that doesn't cost an arm and a leg,  Alcatel just announced three new affordable devices: the Alcatel 3 (2019) (pictured above), the Alcatel 3L, and the Alcatel 1S.

To start, the Alcatel 3 and Alcatel 3L are designed to look good without breaking the bank. They've both got an on-trend tear-drop notch display and screen-to-body ratio of 88%. The Alcatel 3 has a gradient finish on the back, while the Alcatel 3L has a metallic texture.

The pair have a few other similarities. Both have a dual rear-camera configuration made up of a 13MP primary lens and 5MP depth lens, and both have a 3,500mAh battery.

There are fairly significant differences in terms of hardware, however. The Alcatel 3 is a bit more robust: it has an eight-core Snapdragon 439 processor, and either 3GB of RAM with 32GB of storage or 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage. On the other hand, the Alcatel 3L (pictured above) has a four-core Snapdragon 429 processor and 2GB of RAM paired with 16GB of storage. 

Both phones ship with Android Oreo, but Alcatel says an upgrade to Pie is in the pipeline.

Alcatel has yet to announce local pricing and availability, but given the company's track record, we'd be surprised if either cost over $300 when they launch in Australia.

The Alcatel 1S (pictured above) is pitched as Alcatel's new "essentials" smartphone. While it's clearly an entry-level product, it ships with 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. Most entry level smartphones have typically only had 16GB of storage to date.

Other key specifications for the Alcatel 1S include a 5.5-inch 720p+ display, an eight-core Spreadtrum SC9863A CPU, a 13MP + 2MP rear-facing camera, and a 3,060mAh battery. The Alcatel 1S runs Android Pie out of the box.

Alcatel hasn't announced local pricing and availability for the Alcatel 1 either, but we're expecting to see it come in under $150.

Alcatel Australia contributed funding toward WhistleOut's trip to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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