Alcatel 1X review

Alcatel is a brand that in recent years has found an interesting connotation in the cheap smartphones segment. The 1X is at the “top” of the super-cheap smartphones range, priced at (Check on Amazon.com) but still having something to offer.

In the package, we find a pair of stereo headphones, a 5V/1A power adapter, and a USB/micro-USB cable.

Build and Ergonomics

The Alcatel 1X is obviously made of plastic, but despite this fact, it is stylish enough to be somewhat interesting. The case has a rough stone effect and is particularly pleasant to the touch, in some ways even more than other smartphones with a much higher price and that is made out of metal. The physical keys on the right side have a good click and overall construction. By current standards, it is also quite compact, and in the pocket, it almost “disappears” with its 151grams of weight.

Hardware

The hardware is quite modest but not negligible. It has a Mediatek MT6739 quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, 16GB of internal memory and LTE connectivity up to 150Mbps. The interesting thing is that the dual SIM version is equipped with 2GB of RAM. It also sports a PowerVR GE8100 GPU, b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 and GPS. The only thing missing is NFC which, considering the price, is to be expected. There is, however, FM radio. The speaker is embedded in the ear capsule, it is not very powerful, but at least it provides the audio head-on and therefore more directly.

Cameras

The Alcatel 1X has a 13 megapixel f/2.0 camera. Photos are sufficiently good under optimal lighting conditions. It is not a camera phone, obviously, but it can give you some satisfaction, although it is not recommended for this purpose. It records videos at 1080p with electronic image stabilization. The same considerations made for the photographic sector also apply to videos. The front camera is a modest 5 megapixel one.

Display

If there is one place in which Alcatel has undoubtedly cut some corners, that is the display. It’s not totally rubbish, but it’s definitely its weak point, and it is the highlight of every modern smartphone, it’s a bit of a letdown. It is a 5.3-inch display with a 480×960 pixel resolution. It is not so much the size or the resolution that disappoint, but the contrast, with the images that look a little “washed out”, and above all the scarce viewing angles.

Software

The Alcatel 1X comes with Android 8.1 Oreo. It is a slightly customized software version, but still not distorted compared to “pure” Android. And then there is the face unlocking to remedy the lack of a fingerprint reader. It works well enough, but it’s not exactly fast.

Autonomy

The 2460mAh battery can last a whole day with average usage.

Price

The Alcatel 1X costs (Check on Amazon.com), which is by far one of the lowest prices for this type of smartphone. It is a decent deal for what it offers.

Final Verdict

You can’t have high expectations from the Alcatel 1X. But for a smartphone that costs (Check on Amazon.com) and is meant for standard use, it is a decent buy.