Alcatel’s new sub-$200 smartphone is an affordable winner

by James Wilkinson

Alcatel’s 1SE has debuted in Australia and what you can expect is a high-quality, highly affordable smartphone with features and performance at a price well below other models in the market.

The Alcatel 1SE is a sub-$200 smartphone with features that include an AI triple-rear camera and impressive display technology, and is a reminder of how fast mobile technology and innovation has evolved, with such technologies appearing in much more expensive, flagship devices just a few short years ago.

With 22 manufacturing facilities, 28 Research and Development Centres including over 10 joint laboratories, and its own display business, parent company TCL has been able to evolve the look and inclusions available in its Alcatel branded sub-$200 devices.

A look back at the 2016 Alcatel POP 4 saw a then-impressive list of features that included an 8MP rear camera, a 2500 mAh battery capacity, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory on a 5-inch HD display. 2018’s Alcatel 3V saw improvements in larger, higher quality displays with an 18:9 ratio, better battery life and dual camera technology.

Today, the Alcatel 1SE (2020) shows just how far things have come in just a few years, with a 13MP+5MP+2MP rear camera that includes a 120-degree wide angle lens, a 4,000mAh battery, 4+64GB Memory, fingerprint security and a 6.22-inch HD+ Vast Display with 87.18% screen to body ratio.

“Affordable smartphones play an essential role in the industry, offering accessibility to technology to those who can’t or don’t want to fork out the exorbitant cost of a new flagship smartphone,” said Alcatel VP and Regional Managing Director, South East Asia & Pacific, Sam Skontos.

“We take pride in being able to really drive inclusions and offer consumers features that were in much more expensive devices just a few short years ago,” he said.

The device’s 6.22-inch HD+ Vast Display and 87.18% screen-to-body ratio provides an immersive viewing experience for consumers. The expansive display delivers vibrant colours, housed with 2.5D glass on the front and stunning radial texture on the back to provide a great aesthetic along with a better in-hand experience.

The Alcatel 1SE’s AI triple-camera setup allows users to make every photo shine whatever the time. Take photos of everything from food to fireworks in stunning quality with the 13MP main lens, 5MP super wide-angle and 2MP depth lens.

The AI scene detection automatically optimises the setting in real time to capture 12 different subjects and scenes for quality colour, detail and lighting of images.

Users can capture the world around them with a 120-degree wide-angle lens, while portrait mode blurs any background in real time for studio-like pictures. For the selfie-snappers, the front-facing 5MP camera with LCD flash creates brighter, clearer selfies.

The Alcatel 1SE offers a powerful octa-core processor, which provides a smoother multi-tasking experience and fast downloads (which means you can enjoy the day worry-free with 4000mAh high-capacity battery and 5V2A charging).

The dedicated Google Assistant button on the side of the phone provides users with endless information, helping them get on with their daily tasks quickly and effortlessly.

The Alcatel 1SE is available at JB Hi-Fi both in-store and online for AU$199.

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