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Alcatel is a mainstream brand that’s known for affordable but reliable entry-level smartphones. Alcatel phones are usually marketed to people who don’t need complex computing features but still want something powerful enough for daily activities. With the Alcatel Insight, the brand has launched yet another smartphone targeting users with basic phone needs.
Alcatel Insight came out in the market in September 2019. A 1.5GHz quad-core Mediatek processor powers this device. You can get your hands on the device through the Cricket Wireless website. It runs Android Pie out of the box and supports 4G LTE. Alcatel Insight aims to provide a simplified Android smartphone experience without unnecessary bells and whistles. Let us take a closer look at the device in our comprehensive Alcatel Insight review.
Alcatel Insight comes in sturdy packaging, strong enough to protect the device. On the back of the box is a picture of the phone with its primary specifications. Opening the box reveals the SIM card and quick start guide. The Alcatel Insight smartphone is beneath the guide, covered in transparent plastic. Below the cell phone are the charging adapter, Micro-USB cable, battery, and terms & conditions booklet. The battery is to be inserted manually into the device.
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The Alcatel Insight defies scrapes and scratches while remaining exceptionally compact. The phone has thick bezels on the top and bottom in the front. Instead of a punch-hole, the selfie camera is embedded in the top bezel. The device weighs only 5.11 oz with an 18:9 aspect ratio, making it comfortable to hold and use with one hand.
The back of the device has a soft suede finish that feels super-premium and resists fingerprints. It also hosts the rear camera with an LED flashlight. The Alcatel logo appears in the middle of the back, and there is a speaker at the bottom. The right edge of the mobile device has the volume rocker and power button. The microphone and 3.5mm headphone jack sit at the top edge. The Micro-USB charging port is on the bottom edge.
Capture everyday moments with ease using the Alcatel Insight. It features the following cameras:
The 5 megapixel rear camera takes clear photos, while the front-facing 2 megapixel selfie camera is good for video calls and capturing selfies. Under daylight conditions, images come out good with less noise and more detail. However, we recommend you use the LED flash for clicking pictures in low light.
The front-facing selfie camera works well for video calls with loved ones, and the screen flash lets you take better selfies when it is dark. You can also record 1080p videos at 30fps with the rear camera. The camera app has a straightforward interface, which makes it easier to take quick photos. You can also add creativity and shoot fun videos by using the Panorama and Time-lapse features. With Panorama, you can capture dramatic wide-view photos, while the Time-lapse mode records at a slow frame rate for a fast-motion video effect. Considering the price, the camera gets the job done, and the picture quality is decent for sharing on social media.
The Alcatel Insight has a 5-inch display, which is slightly smaller than Alcatel 1x, but it has the same resolution of 480 x 960 pixels. Thanks to the 18:9 aspect ratio, on-screen content is maximized so that you can enjoy reading, playing games, and watching videos to the fullest. Though the resolution is low, the bright and bigger screen ensures the content is easy to view. Text and icons on the screen are clearly readable.
The display is also protected by Dragontrail glass for high durability. It is the ideal cover glass for those looking for all-round protection with a soft feel, light weight and scratch resistance. Under direct sunlight, keep the phone at full brightness for better visibility.
The Alcatel Insight phone gets you through the day with a power-efficient 2200mAh battery. Plus, with the built-in battery saver mode, you can go all day without running out of power. According to Alcatel, the battery life should keep up with up to 5 hours of video playback, 7 hours of audio playback, 8 hours of talk time, and 330 hours of standby time on 4G LTE. It takes around 150 minutes or 2.7 hours to charge the mobile phone fully from 0 to 100 with the bundled charger.
The cell phone comes with 16GB of internal storage out of the box, further expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. In our opinion, 16GB is plenty of space if you only use your Android device for basic tasks such as calls, texts, and some web browsing. However, if you love taking photos, videos and storing many apps and files, consider buying a microSD card to expand the storage further. You can also subscribe to Google’s cloud storage.
The MediaTek MT6739WW quad-core processor combined with 1.5GB RAM delivers smooth performance. It handles everyday tasks like streaming videos, playing games, and scrolling social media with ease. However, we wouldn’t recommend you to play graphic-intensive games as the device is only meant for basic, essential functions. The smartphone runs on Android version 9 Pie Go Edition, also known as Android Go.
Android Go operating system is created explicitly for efficient performance on entry-level smartphones such as the Alcatel Insight. The user interface is easy to use so that you can launch the apps instantly. You can set up a PIN as an unlock code to protect your data. The Alcatel phone comes equipped with Google Assistant for easy access to your favorite features. Use your voice to get directions, text family, hear about the latest news, traffic conditions, weather forecasts, and much more. Google Lens is another exciting way to search and interact with the world around you. This software recognizes scanned objects and provides valuable information. You can also make calls to areas with a poor network using Alcatel Wi-Fi calling. Overall, the performance of Alcatel Insight didn’t let us down, considering it’s an entry-level Android phone.
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The Alcatel Insight is a 4G LTE handset geared towards budget-conscious users who have simple needs. Alcatel phones have an intuitive, streamlined interface for the end-user. It combines all the essentials to make communicating easier and faster. A compact and lightweight design, large bright display, front and rear cameras for photos and videos makes this a decent wireless device. If you want a smartphone that nails basic functionality with minimal complexity at a meager price, then Alcatel Insight is the right choice for you.
Yes, the Alcatel Insight has the mobile hotspot feature.
Yes, the Alcatel Insight has a 2200mAh removable battery.
The Alcatel Insight has a 5-inch display on the front with an 18:9 aspect ratio.
You can hold down the power button to turn on the phone.
The Alcatel Insight was released on September 28, 2019 and is a prepaid smartphone available on Cricket Wireless.