Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Android
  4. Mobile
  5. News

Alcatel is bringing its new budget phones, the Alcatel 1X and 3V, to the U.S.

U.S. shoppers can get the ultra-cheap Alcatel 1X from Amazon starting next week

Add as a preferred source on Google
Image used with permission by copyright holder

At Mobile World Congress 2018, Alcatel announced that the Alcatel 1X and Alcatel 3V would both be making their way to the U.S.

The two phones boast some pretty decent specs for the price — and could be the phone of choice for many on a budget. Here’s everything you need to know about the phones, including when you’ll be able to get your hands on them.

Recommended Videos

Alcatel 1X

The Alcatel 1X is actually a very interesting offering. Why? It’s one of the first sub-$100 devices to offer an 18:9 display aspect ratio, which helps make it look slightly more modern than it otherwise would. Apart from the 18:9 display, you’ll also find a MediaTek MT6739, coupled with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The 18:9 display only has a resolution of 480 x 960 — but that is to be expected from such a cheap device. The camera on the device comes in at 13 megapixels, with the front-facing camera at 5 megapixels. Last but not least, according to Alcatel, the U.S. variant of the 1X will come with a fingerprint sensor.

When it comes to software, the phone is an Android Go device — so it offers a stripped-down version of Android with stripped-down apps — all built specifically for phones with less RAM and low-power processors.

So when can you get your hands on the Alcatel 1X? Well, it’ll actually be available in the very near future. Alcatel has announced that you’ll be able to buy it in the first week of June, and it’ll be available for $99. The phone will first be available from Amazon, after which it’ll head to Best Buy and Walmart in “coming weeks.”

Alcatel 3V

The Alcatel 3V is a little more high-end. It’s actually Alcatel’s first dual-lens phone to come to the U.S. Under the hood, the phone offers a MediaTek MT8735A processor, along with 2GB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of storage. The rear-facing camera on the device has a dual 12-megapixel sensor, while the front-facing camera offers five megapixels. Like its less expensive sibling, the phone has an 18:9 aspect ratio display, but the resolution comes in at 1,080 x 2,160. The phone also comes with Android Oreo — but its the full version rather than the Android Go version.

We’ve actually reviewed the Alcatel 3V, and you can check out that review here.

Alcatel hasn’t said exactly when the Alcatel 3V will be available in the U.S. beyond telling us that it will be available unlocked in “coming months.” We will update this article when we get more information on pricing and availability.

Update: The Alcatel 1X will be available in the first week of June.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Apple’s new Upgrade program launches on Tuesday with major changes
Apple's new leasing program might drop AppleCare coverage from the bundle.
iPhone 17 Pro Max

Buying your next Apple device could soon look like leasing a car. Apple is launching its new Apple Upgrade program on Tuesday, July 28, replacing new enrollments in the long-running iPhone Upgrade Program with a lease-based option that covers iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches.

Backed by Klarna, the program is designed to lower the upfront cost of Apple's premium devices, but it is also raising questions about whether you'll actually own what you're paying for.

Read more
Setting up your dorm desk? These are the phone stands I’d actually spend my money on
From a $2 folding stand to a three-in-one Apple charging dock, these are the phone stands worth setting up this semester.
Analog Clock, Clock, Electronics

A phone stand is one of the smallest purchases on any back-to-school list, but it's also one of the easiest to get wrong, especially since there are dozens of options available on Amazon. A good phone stand is one that does its job well and, more importantly, doesn't put much of a dent in your budget.

This is one of those product categories where you don’t need to spend big, unless a MagSafe dock or a multi-device charging stand is genuinely useful for your desk or dorm setup. That is why this list begins with the most affordable options and works its way up to the more expensive ones. From a two-pack that costs about as much as a coffee to a three-in-one Apple charging station, I picked eight of Amazon's best-reviewed phone stands worth considering this back-to-school season.

Read more
I picked four wireless chargers so you can stop making your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch fight over one dorm outlet
The best back-to-school wireless chargers for dorm desks, study spaces, and travel
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

A dorm-room desk can disappear surprisingly quickly beneath a laptop charger, phone cable, Apple Watch puck, and the growing collection of adapters required to power them all. Add textbooks and other academic materials, and finding enough room to study becomes the first assignment of the semester.

A wireless charging stand can consolidate several of those cables into one station. It also gives your phone a dedicated place to sit, which helps when you are checking the time or watching a lecture. Every charger here still needs one connection to the wall. So finding a peripheral that works with all of your gadgets isn't just convenient, it's smart. I picked four models ranging from an inexpensive two-device stand to a fast 25W wireless charger capable of powering an entire Apple setup.

Read more