Alcatel is going big at MWC 2017, bringing four new devices to the show. Those include three new Android smartphones and a Windows 10-powered 2-in-1. Here’s how they each break down:
- Alcatel U5 (above) is an affordable Android phone aimed at first-time smartphone buyers. It runs Android 6.0 on a 5-inch 854x480 display and its packing a 5-megapixel camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and a bevy of selfie-specific camera features. Also included is 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, a microSD slot, a MediaTek MT6737M processor, and a 2050mAh battery.
- Alcatel A3 is another affordable Android 6.0 smartphone with a set of selfie features, but it’s a bit higher-end than the U5. The Alcatel A3 is packing a 5-inch 1280x720 display, 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front cameras, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a microSD slot, an MT6737 processor, and a 2460mAh battery. The A3’s also packing a fingerprint reader on its backside.
- The Alcatel A5 LED’s claim to fame is a backside covered in LEDs that you can use for notifications and customize with different themes and patterns. Specs-wise, the A5 LED offers a 5.2-inch 1280x720 display, 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front cameras, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a microSD slot, an octa-core MediaTek MT6753 processor, and a 2800mAh battery. It comes preloaded with Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
- Finally, there’s the Plus 12, a Windows 10-powered 2-in-1 with an 11.6-inch 1920x1080 touchscreen that can be separated from its keyboard dock. The tablet’s got a dual-core Intel Celeron N3350 processor, 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, a microSD slot, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, a fingerprint reader, and an array of ports that includes micro HDMI, USB-A, and USB-C. Meanwhile, the Plus 12’s keyboard is packing a Qualcomm MDM9207 processor, 256GB of flash storage and 128MB of LPDDR2 memory, a 2580mAh battery, and built-in UMTS and LTE connectivity.
With its trio of new Android phones, Alcatel is going after the affordable smartphone market. While those specs may not be the most exciting we’ve ever seen, it’s important to offer lower-cost devices for folks that can’t or don’t want to pony up hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a flagship. And the A5 LED and its light-up backside looks kinda nifty and is will likely catch the eye of folks that want a phone that’ll stand out.