- Best overall - Alcatel 3X
- Largest screen - Alcatel 3C
- Smallest screen - Alcatel 1066
- Best for photography - Alcatel 3L (2020)
- Best for budget - Alcatel 1C
- More recommendations
Best overall - Alcatel 3X (2020)
Released as a revised version of the 2019 3X, the 2020 model is the best Alcatel phone on the market right now due to its long-lasting battery life, powerful quad camera, and audio flexibility. At only £150, the price is astounding for the technical features it has on offer.
✔5,000mAh battery life
✔Quad camera
✔Bluetooth 5.0 and 3.5mm headphone jack
✘No 5G
✘No IP rating - unknown waterproof capability
Release date |
June 2020 |
Cost |
Around £150 |
Display |
6.52 inch HD display 720 x 1600 resolution |
Size |
165 x 75 x 9.09mm |
Cameras |
Rear = 16MP + 5MP + 2MP + 2MP Front = 8MP |
Processor |
Octa-Core |
Memory |
64GB ROM + 4GB RAM |
Battery |
5,000mAh |
Colours |
Jewelry Black, Jewelry Green |
Water resistance |
No IP rating |
5G compatibility |
No |
Largest screen - Alcatel 3C
The Alcatel 3C offers the largest screen of all Alcatel models, perfect for gamers, film fanatics, or those with poorer visibility. The screen is a huge 6.7 inches and gives you a full HD display. To pair with whatever you’re watching, you have the choice of listening wired or wirelessly, with the choice of the 3.5mm headphone jack or Bluetooth.
✔6.7 inch HD Full View Display
✔3,000mAh battery life
✔Dual stereo speakers
✘No 5G
✘Low quality cameras
✘Not waterproof
Release date |
February 2019 |
Cost |
£50 - £100 from various online retailers |
Display |
6.7 inch HD Full View Display 720 x 1440 resolution |
Size |
173.4 x 83.4 x 8.1mm |
Cameras |
Rear = 8MP Front = 5MP |
Processor |
Quad-Core |
Memory |
16GB ROM + 2GB RAM |
Battery |
3,000mAh |
Colours |
Black, Gold |
Water resistance |
No IP rating |
5G compatibility |
No |
Smallest screen - Alcatel 1066
Buy for £14
Smartphones with small screens are perfect for people who don’t want a huge device taking up space in their pocket or bag. Though not suitable for people with poor visibility or those who use their smartphone for a lot of tasks, small phones are usually cheaper and simpler to use. They are good devices for younger people, like children starting off with their first smartphone, due to their lack of complexity and stripped-back features. They’re also cheap to replace!
The Alcatel 1066 has the smallest display on an Alcatel, and is worth considering if you want a pocket-sized phone.
✔ Portable and travel-friendly
✔ Lightweight
✔ Incredibly budget friendly
✘ Text and call only
Release date |
December 2017 |
Cost |
£14 |
Display |
1.8 inch screen 128 x 160 resolution |
Size |
45 x 108 x 12.83mm |
Cameras |
Rear = VGA |
Memory |
4MB RAM |
Battery |
750mAh |
Colours |
Black |
Water resistance |
No IP rating |
5G compatibility |
No |
Best for photography - Alcatel 3L (2020)
Buy for £138.99
The 2020 release of the 3L brought with it a host of powerful camera technology. The triple rear cameras are ideal if you're a fan of taking pictures or recording videos.
✔ Bluetooth connectivity
✔ Big storage capacity
✘ No 5G
Release date |
May 2020 |
Cost |
£138.99 |
Display |
6.22 inch display 720 x 1520 resolution |
Size |
75 x 159 x 8.45mm |
Cameras |
Rear = 48MP + 5MP + 2MP Front = 8MP |
Memory |
64GB + 4GB RAM |
Battery |
4,000mAh |
Colours |
Chrome |
Water resistance |
No IP rating |
5G compatibility |
No |
Best for budget - Alcatel 1C
Although all of Alcatel’s smartphones are budget-friendly and drastically cheaper than the likes of Apple and Samsung, the Alcatel 1C is one of the best prices for the features it has on offer. Though it only has two relatively low MP cameras, the 5" screen is a decent size and its quad core processor is surprisingly fast.
✔Cheap - no more than £50
✔Fast processor for its price
✔Modest battery life
✘No 5G
✘Low performing cameras
✘Not waterproof
Release date |
January 2019 |
Cost |
£49 |
Display |
5 inch Full View Display 480 x 960 resolution |
Size |
136.6 x 65.3 x 9.95mm |
Cameras |
Rear = 5MP Front = 2MP |
Processor |
Quad core |
Memory |
8GB ROM + 1GB RAM |
Battery |
2,050mAh |
Colours |
Black, Red, White |
Water resistance |
No IP rating |
5G compatibility |
No |
More recommendations
Alcatel has plenty more to offer. If none of the above are to your liking, take a look at the following and see if they’re right for you.
Alcatel 1S
The original Alcatel 1S was released in 2020, with a follow up version coming out in 2021.
With barely any difference in price, the newer model has a slightly bigger screen, but the 2020 version has a better rear camera. They both share a long-lasting 4,000mAh battery, but the older model doesn’t have the added benefit of a water-resistant design. See how they stack up below:
Alcatel 1S |
2020 |
2021 |
Cost |
£98.99 |
|
Display |
6.22 inches |
6.52 inches |
Size |
75 x 159 x 8.45mm |
63 x 171 x 92mm |
Cameras |
Rear 13MP 5MP 2MP Front 5MP |
Rear 13MP 2MP 2MP Front 5MP |
Processor |
Octa-Core |
MediaTek Helio P22 |
Memory |
32GB |
32GB |
Battery |
4,000mAh |
4,000mAh |
Colours |
Grey |
Black, Blue |
Water resistance |
No |
Yes |
5G compatibility |
No |
No |
✔ Under £100
✔ Large and clear displays
✔ Triple rear cameras
✔ Relatively long-lasting battery lives
✘ No 5G
Alcatel 1SE
The 1SE has a large enough display for watching videos, a decent set of triple rear cameras, and a reliable 4,000mAh battery capacity. It’s also really affordable. Take a look at its other features below:
Release date |
2020 |
Cost |
|
Display |
6.22 inches |
Size |
75 x 159 x 8.65mm |
Cameras |
Rear 13MP 5MP 2MP Front 5MP |
Processor |
Octa-Core |
Memory |
32GB |
Battery |
4,000mAh |
Colours |
Grey |
Water resistance |
No |
5G compatibility |
No - 4G |
✔ Under £100
✔ Large screen
✔ Reliable battery capacity
✘ No 5G
✘ No water protection
Alcatel 1B
With its 5.5 inch screen, the 1B is a travel-friendly, portable handset. It also comes with a fair 3,000mAh battery, 32GB storage, two colour options, and a camera lens on each side. At only £69, the Alcatel 1B is as cheap as it gets for a smartphone!
Release date |
2020 |
Cost |
|
Display |
5.5 inches |
Size |
72 x 146 x 9.9mm |
Cameras |
Rear 8MP Front 5MP |
Processor |
Quad-Core |
Memory |
32GB |
Battery |
3,000mAh |
Colours |
Black, Green |
Water resistance |
No |
5G compatibility |
No - 4G |
✔ Under £100
✔ Portable and travel-friendly size
✔ Decent battery life
✘ No 5G
✘ No water protection
More smartphones
Alcatel is a great budget brand. The main areas they usually suffer in compared to the big name manufacturers is their camera quality and battery capacity. If you don’t mind grainier photos, or don’t take a lot to begin with, then an Alcatel model is most likely your best choice for saving money.
If you’ve now decided Alcatel isn’t for you, take a look at some of our other brands in this series:
- Which iPhone is right for you?
- Which Samsung smartphone is right for you?
- Which Huawei phone is right for you?
- Which Google phone is right for you?
- Which Xiaomi phone is right for you?
And keep an eye out on Asda mobile’s online store to find your next phone.