New Alcatel 1X, 1C cost under $130 because not everyone has $1,000 for a phone

We went hands-on with these two cheapies at CES 2019.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations

Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).

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Jessica Dolcourt

Jan. 8, 2019 8:15 a.m. PT

2 min read

alcatel-ces-2019-1c-beauty-shot-3 — Angela Lang/CNET

In a year when smartphones are bound to get even more expensive than they already are, it's nice to know that someone is watching your cost-conscious back. The Alcatel 1X and 1C phones for 2019 seem as exciting as yesterday's toast, but these budget Android devices fulfill an important role for people who need a basic phone for around one-tenth of the price of the Galaxy S9 or iPhone XS .

Although it may not have the name recognition of newer premium brands like Google's Pixel and even cult favorite OnePlus , Alcatel's achievement as a global phone brand that's quietly been selling entry-level phones for years is remarkable at a time when Chinese compatriots like Huawei and ZTE find themselves in the cross-hairs of a political predicament that threatens their ability to sell phones and networking equipment. Part of China's TCL, which is best known for its budget TV business, Alcatel only makes handsets rather than the telecommunications devices that elicit so much concern.

Alcatel 1X and 1C are dirt cheap Android phones

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We went hands-on with the two new handsets at CES 2019 in Las Vegas. The Alcatel 1X is the slimmer, lighter and more advanced of the two. It has thin bezels in the 18:9 ratio seen on every high-end phone, and a no-slip backing that feels textured in the hand. It's not a beautiful phone, but it's also inoffensive, especially once you slap a case on it. The 1C is comparatively thicker and heavier, with wide bezels around a dull, low-resolution screen (remember, this also costs only 70 euros). The backing is unapologetically plastic, but I appreciate that Alcatel gave it a crosshatch design for a little zing.

While we don't have exact sale dates, we do know that both the Alcatel 1X and 1C will launch in Q1. The 1X, which is the relatively more advanced of the two devices, will cost $120 or 120 euros and will sell in select markets in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Meanwhile, the bare-bones 1C -- which has a 70 euro price tag -- will sell in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.