Alcatel 1 (2021)

Talking about affordability, nothing beats Android Go phones. The phones are configured with very minimal hardware requirements, yet performs great. For some markets and consumers that just need a basic Android phone, Android GO edition devices might be the way to go, and TCL has just expanded its options with the introduction of the Alcatel 1 (2021) and the Alcatel 1L Pro.

Alcatel 1 (2021)

The name Alcatel 1 has actually been around since 2018, so to avoid some confusion there’s a need to slap the “2021” on it. Alcatel 1 (2021) retains the theme of packing the essentials without burdening users with extraneous features or hidden costs. In this case, that translates to a 1.28GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6739 from 2017, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage that you can expand with a 32GB micro SD card.

As for the cameras, the Alcatel 1 (2021) comes with a single 5MP fixed-focus camera and a 2MP FF front-facing camera.

The phone is built around 5-inch 960×480 screen is going to feel a tad cramped for video binging, though.

Alcatel 1 (2021) Specifications

Network Properties

• 2G bands: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
• 3G bands: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
• 4G bands: 1, 3, 7, 8, 20
• Speed: HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps

Launch

• Announced: 2021, June 25
• Status: Exp. release 2021, August

Design

• Dimensions: 137.6 x 65.7 x 9.8 mm (5.42 x 2.59 x 0.39 in)
• Weight: 134 g (4.73 oz)
• Colors: Volcano Black, AI Aqua
• SIM: Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

Display

• Type: TFT
• Size: 5.0 inches, 64.5 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution: 480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~215 ppi density)
• Protection: Asahi Glass

Operating System

• Android 11 (Go edition)

Hardware

• Chipset: Mediatek MT6739 (28 nm)
• CPU: Quad-core 1.28 GHz Cortex-A53
• GPU: PowerVR GE8100
• Storage: 8GB 1GB RAM, 16GB 1GB RAM
• Memory Card slot: microSDXC (dedicated slot)

Cameras

• Main Camera: Single – 5 MP, f/2.4, 1/5.0″, 1.12µm
• Features: LED flash
• Video: 720p@30fps
• Selfie Camera: Single – 2 MP, f/2.8
• Video: 720p@30fps

Multimedia

• Radio:
• Loudspeaker: Yes
• Audio 3.5mm jack: Yes

Connectivity

• WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
• Bluetooth: 4.2, A2DP, LE
• GPS: Yes, with A-GPS
• NFC: No
• USB: microUSB 2.0

Features

• Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity

Battery

• Battery Type and Capacity: Li-Ion 2000 mAh

Alcatel 1 (2021) Price and Availability

The phone is available in Volcano Black and AI Aqua and will launch in Europe and Latin America in August for 59 EUR, roughly $70.