Alcatel’s new 4G smartphones are as budget as they get

If you’re still stuck on a 2G or 3G smartphone in 2025, TCL has launched two new 4G smartphones under the Alcatel umbrella that can help you make the jump for cheap (not that there’s any rush, really). As such, TCL expects these to hit “participating retail stores” sometime in September, failing to mention which those are.

“As a complimentary addition to our TCL portfolio, we’re bringing back the Alcatel brand known for its high-quality, entry-level phones,” says TCL’s Ernst Wittmann. “We’re making it our mission to ensure that everyone can enjoy access to the latest mobile applications and experiences.”

Alcatel’s back, baby

TCL cites the government’s decision to nix the 9% ad valorem duty tax on smartphones priced under R2,500 as a big part of the reason why it decided to bring the Alcatel brand back, as well as helping those make the leap to the 4G spectrum before the government eventually kills off 2G and 3G networks.

Not much is known about Alcatel’s new devices. Not even our sleuthing found out what these devices have to offer other than what TCL has told us. We’ve reached out to better determine what’s lurking under the hood, or which stores will carry the smartphones at launch, but hadn’t heard back at the time of publication.

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As such, you’ll need to make do with the few specs we do have, starting with the cheapest of the lot: Alcatel A11SE. Coming in at R800, it features a 5in FWVGA display (854 x 480), 2MP shooters on the front and the back, and a 2,500mAh battery that should see you through the basics. There’s 32GB of storage (with room for a microSD), and it runs the Android 15 Go Edition. Beyond that, you’ll need to use your imagination.

The Alcatel A31 is a little more respectable, featuring a larger price to reflect that. R1,300 is what you’ll pay to get this one, which includes a 6.5in HD display on the front, a reputable 5,000mAh battery, 64GB storage (and room for a microSD), and finally 5MP cameras on both ends. There’s still no word on the chipset, but it’s running proper Android 15. Do with that info what you will.