Hands-on with Alcatel's new phones at MWC 2018

There are plenty of big announcements still coming at MWC, with companies like Samsung and LG sure to make a big splash in the smartphone market. But those aren’t the only phones worth paying attention to. Google recently promised that we’d see Android Go phones at MWC 2018, and Alcatel is the first one to announce one at the trade show. Not only that, Alcatel knows high-end phones aren’t for everybody, which is why the company has announced five new phones in total, all offering solid specs without breaking the bank.

Say hello to the Alcatel 1X, Alcatel 3, Alcatel 3V, Alcatel 3X, and Alcatel 5. We’ll go through all of the devices in detail below, but the unifying theme between them are their 18:9 FullView displays. Alcatel is the first to bring the 18:9 aspect ratio across their entire range of smartphones regardless of price.

Alcatel 1X

The most affordable of the new devices is the Alcatel 1X, which comes in two variants and starts at 99,99 euros for a single-SIM and 109,99 euros for a dual-SIM. Both models have 16 GB of internal storage and a microSD slot that supports up to 32 GB. It comes in either 1 or 2 GB of RAM variants which is questionable for a new phone coming out in 2018, until you realize that they’re running Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) — the new version of Google’s OS that’s optimized to run on devices with less than 1 GB.

The 1 GB version comes with an 8 MP rear shooter while the 2 GB version has a 13 MP camera, and both have an f/2.0 aperture, a 5 MP front-facing camera, and are capable of capturing 1080p video at 30 fps. The 5.3-inch screen has a resolution of 960 x 480 which means you can ditch the bulky phones of the past for a narrow phone that’s easier to hold in the hand. All of this is powered by a 2,460 mAh battery under the hood.

Alcatel 3

The next phone to be announced is the Alcatel 3, which comes with a few beefed-up specs when compared to the 1X. You’ll also get an 18:9 IPS display, but this one has a resolution of 1,440 x 720 and measures 5.5 inches — slightly larger than the 1X we mentioned above. It has 16 GB of internal memory with microSD card support for up to 128 GB.

On the front you’ll find a 5 MP camera for all your selfie-taking needs. The back camera has a 13 MP sensor and comes with extra features like HDR, panorama, and face recognition. It’s running Android Oreo and has a 3,000 mAh battery that Alcatel claims will provide a solid 17 hours of talk time. It’ll be available next month for 149,99 euros and comes in black, blue, and gold.

Alcatel 3X

Stepping up to the Alcatel 3X you’ll get a 5.7-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1,440 x 720. The 3X sports a dual-camera setup, one of which being 13 MP while the other is 8 MP. Memory can be expanded up to 128 GB, and internal storage comes in at either 16 or 32 GB variants. In the 32 GB model you’ll find 3 GB of RAM, while the 16 GB model features 2 GB of RAM. Unfortunately this phone runs Android Nougat out of the box, which is a shame as all the other Alcatel phones are running Oreo.

It also comes with a 3,000 mAh battery, estimated for 6 hours of talk time if you’re on 3G. It comes in the same three colors as the other models, but will retail for 179,99 euros upon release.

Alcatel 3V

The second phone in the 3 series is the 3V, which comes with a 6-inch Full HD+ (2,160 x 1,080). The 3V also comes in two storage capacities (16 GB/32 GB) with 2 GB of RAM. The rear camera is a 12 MP shooter and just like the Alcatel 3, this too comes with a 5 MP selfie camera and a 3,000mAh battery that will last you 14 hours of talk time. When it comes out it’ll retail at 189,99 euros and come in three different colors: black, blue, gold.

Alcatel 5

Rounding out the new devices announced is the Alcatel 5, which again, comes in two variants. The first comes with 32 GB of internal memory and 3 GB of RAM, while the second has 16 GB of storage and 2 GB of RAM. Both models come with a microSD card slot that can take up to a 32 GB card. Unique to the Alcatel 5 is a 13 MP front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture, while the back camera is 12 MP. Both cameras feature electronic image stabilization (EIS). Under the hood is Android Nougat and it also has a 3000mAh battery. This model comes in only two colors (black or gold) and comes in at 229,99 euros.

Thoughts on Alcatel’s new phones? Are any catching your eye, or would you go for another affordable device? Let us know in the comments.