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Home » Alcatel Flash Plus in the flesh, first impressions

Alcatel Flash Plus in the flesh, first impressions

As the May launch of the Alcatel Flash Plus draws near, we’re still uncertain as to the final details of its arrival. Fortunately, we were able to snap a few photos and played with a sample unit a couple weeks back.

Originally released in China under a different name (TCL), the Alcatel OneTouch Flash Plus is a more beefed up version of the older Alcatel OT Flash with more RAM and storage.

alcatel-flash-plus

The Flash Plus is reminiscent of the OneTouch Idol series of Alcatel from many years back, only this time it is way bigger. It has a solid build quality with a toned down design, rounded corners and curved edges.

The front panel is fully covered with Dragontrail Glass with the backlit navigation buttons found at the bottom. The bezels are a bit thick, perhaps almost similar to the 3.1mm of the Zenfone 2.

alcatel-flash-plus-philippines

The back portion is flat, with a smooth matte finish in light gold tone. The rear camera protrudes just a tiny bit from the surface with a single LED flash just below it along with the OneTouch logo.

The loudspeaker is at the very bottom end, the volume controls on the right side and power button just below it.

Alcatel’s own UI looked simple and flat with no app drawer to speak of, just a bunch of folders to organize the apps by category. This implementation is similar to the Emotion UI of Huawei. With a 64-bit octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM, the device feels very snappy and responsive. Initial shots we took using the camera showed good results.

I am told that the unit will come with Kitkat right out of the box but will probably be getting Android 5.0 Lollipop a month or two after. So far we’ve already confirmed the hardrware specs below.

alcatel-flash-plus-review

Alcatel OneTouch Flash Plus specs:
5.5-inch IPS LCD @ 720×1280 pixels, 268ppi
Dragontrail Glass, Japan OGS full lamination
Mediatek MT6752M 1.5GHz octa-core processor
Mali T760 MP2 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
USB OTG support
Dual-SIM, Dual-LTE, FDD/TD-LTE
13MP rear camera with Sony IMX214 1/3.06-inch CMOS sensor, LED flash, f2.0
8MP front-facing camera, f2.0
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS with aGPS support
Li-Ion 3,500mAh battery
Android 4.4.4 Kitkat (upgradeable to Lollipop)
152.10 x 76.20 x 8.10mm (dimensions)
150 grams (weight)

The Flash Plus uses a Mediatek MT6752 which is a 64-bit octa-core 4G LTE chip based on the ARM Cortex-A53 processor with ARM Mali-T760 graphics. It has a maximum core speed of 2.0GHz but in the case of the Flash Plus, they underclocked it to just 1.7GHz to allow for better battery efficiency.

Our benchmark results showed really good scores with Antutu putting the top marks at 43,519 and Quadrant at 20,249 (more results here).

The Antutu score of 43,519 is pretty impressive — it sits between the 1.8GHz Z3560 of the Zenfone 2 ZE550ML at 42k and the 2.3GHz Z3580 of the Zenfone 2 ZE551ML at 45k.

Our discussion with Alcatel representatives pegged the price at Php6,990. It will be available in both slate and gold colors.

Update: Lazada will be selling the Flash Plus exclusively starting May 15 with a suggested retail price of Php6,490 for the 16GB slate color variant.

Abe Olandres
Abe Olandres
Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.
  1. akuma says:

    Killer phone or beast phone?
    Well played for both alcatel and lazada.

  2. Frodo says:

    Is there anywhere else to get this phone than thru lazada?

  3. Kevz says:

    @Yugatech false review about 1.7Ghz, bakit sa lazada 1.5Ghz???? Wow.. Just wow.

  4. donbatag says:

    Rebrand ata to, waiting ng once touch idol 3

  5. El Gamma Penumbra says:

    Anong mas ayos? Zenfone 2 or Alcatel Flash Plus?

  6. KapaCitivo says:

    May capacitive button pa rin, saiyans.

  7. Pres. Noynoy Aquino says:

    So kasalanan ko na naman ito?

    • Nog nog says:

      yes! Dahil abnu ka.

  8. xn2015 says:

    I’d really love to see image quality of this, especially the front cam. :-)

    I’m still using my Omega XL (by Cherry), it still is pretty much working but I feel na medyo nagpaparamdam na sya. Lol. But I was eyeing Zenfone 2 pero parang di ako convinced sa front cam nya. Wala pa kasi akong nakikitang on the cheaper side na comparable sa front cam ng OXL.

    Hoping hoping talaga. If maganda to, then bibili ako. Dami pa namang devs pag Alcatel. :)

  9. kelvin says:

    How good is it’s camera? Main and secondary.

    • Elvin says:

      I am guessing like the Oppo Find 7a since they used both Sony IMX 214 sensor.

  10. mac says:

    may knock2x code ba to, yung gesture2x ganun?para i turn on yung phone? thanks

  11. kazuya says:

    I’m pretty much excite on this new device. Will it really be released on May 1?

  12. klky says:

    waw. ayos to pang upgrade ng zf2 ko..

    ang gusto ko lang malaman kung meron tong notification LED at kung okay sa mata ung 268 ppi nya.. meron din kayang OTA updates to gaya ng asus?

    • klky says:

      zf5 pala ahha

  13. asd says:

    This might be a good deal but I’m doubting the display quality. It looks like a low quality IPS screen or a high quality TN panel which is equally bad, but judging from just an image I might be wrong. I have to see this in person.

    • fey says:

      some of ZF2 variants has only 267ppi.i’m not sure if all 7 variants has only 267ppi.

  14. eric says:

    I’m really curious kung meron talagang backlight yung navigation buttons. Can someone confirm this please? Thanks

  15. Limit says:

    Meron bang mapagpipilian na kulay?

    • Anderson says:

      dyan me nanghinayang. parang white and gold ata ang colors. buti pa meizu m1, may blue hehe

  16. HeyHey says:

    Backlit navigation keys? Can anyone confirm this please? :)

  17. Heeii says:

    Mga boss 2gig ram tlga yan?? Kala ko 1gig ram.

    • Abe Olandres says:

      Yes, the OT Flash has 1GB. The Flash Plus has 2GB.

  18. joseph says:

    yugatech i want to know if there is a core pilot on this octacore unit?

  19. yadzkie08 says:

    Finally! Alcatel has made me go back to them through this unit. Will be patieeeeeeently waiting. :-)

  20. Aucifer says:

    with the kind of specs and price point,ill gladly buy one instead of the m1note or the zf2

  21. Bluetooth says:

    We only had one Alcatel phone ever, it was touchscreen pero it wasn’t Android. Mom used it. Call quality was good and matibay, as in!. Am disappointed na Asus is not sure about releasing the 4gb model of Zenfone 2 model. Para naman hello, it’s just 15k. A 15k phone with specs found in flagship models that usually cost in the upper 20k onwards. Ano pa kelangan nila pag-isipan?! So I might settle for this.

    • nek says:

      what? sure po na ilalabas nila un.. rumors lang ung sinasabe na hindi sila sure.. nasagot na ng asus yan.. meron na ngang ze551ml sa online eh..

  22. Scorpio says:

    pero sana .. this may talga available na sila pareho para magkaalaman pag na hands on na :)

  23. chuck says:

    where can i buy this?is there still an outlet in robinsons galleria?hope someone replies.thanks :)

  24. Summer says:

    I’d pay 1k more for an IGZO screen..

    • Anderson says:

      totally agree with you. this is why i bought Meizu M1 note. hehe

    • Kazeo-san says:

      Well almost all LCD panel is plagued with ghosting compared to OLED. Razer Blade uses IGZO and I don’t see any complaint about major ghosting issues. I guess it’s about the implementation on the panel. Still, having better battery life and touch sensitivity which what IGZO offer is a good trade off for some minor ghosting.

    • Elvin says:

      IGZO exhibits ghosting

  25. chokobenibambi says:

    ayos na sana to. mukha lang cherry mobile sa harap

    • ben says:

      looks or performance?

  26. chokobenibambi says:

    ok na sana, kaso mukhang cherry mobile

    • Takahashi says:

      Nakakagalit ung comment nito , ang stupid nya lang :D! Nakakagigil

    • asskickr says:

      hahaha comment tanga ampota

    • Peenoise says:

      Comparing local brands with Alcatel? Hahahaha. So futile.

    • Pres. Noynoy Aquino says:

      Wag kayong mag away. Baka sisihin ako ng taong bayan, kasalanan ko na naman yan.

    • invo says:

      edi wag ka bumili gago

  27. magnum1990 says:

    Removable po ba battery nito thanks

  28. NotaSheep says:

    loving this trend for cheaper powerful phones! we probably got to thank Asus for that even though i’m not buying a Zenfone 2 anymore :P

    Alcaltel is a questionable brand for me… they are like Cherry mobile… so many phone choices, little care for software… the price is GOOD but the trust isn’t there yet… Meizu only have a few phones yet they get updates (in China that is) almost on a weekly basis, not sure about the international one’s though. hmm… so many gray areas.

    • eric says:

      alcatel is better than cherry, i have OT idol before, nabasag lang dahil napaglaruan ng mga kids ko. but ok ang build quality. not comparable sa cherry

  29. cheenie says:

    sana may news din kung kelan ang release ng alcatel pixi 3 (4).

  30. kulas says:

    Yay!!!!! hopefully below 8k pa rin ang price nito pag available na dito sa Pinas

    • www.kusina101.com says:

      Abe says the price above (P6990) is from alcatel philippines. pag wala pa rin stocks ang m1 note(white) by May, eto na kukunin ko. :)

  31. RaM says:

    Bang for the buck to! =P

  32. Zobel says:

    Okay lang naman 720p basta 5″ sakto. At kahit walang update yan makakaasa kang maraming magagaling na international developers. nalagyan ko nga ng cyanogenmod yung one touch 990 ko dati.

  33. PapaBootz says:

    Sana maglabas dn cla ng full hd at at upgrade naman nila yung MALI-T760 MP2 to MP4 para mas maangas, cgurado mas mabili pag ganun nilabas nila, ????

  34. pandamanila says:

    Very nice specs if everything they say are all true. Im worried about the 3500mAh battery capacity though. At 150grams, this phone is very light for a 5.5 incher. Many chinese brands lie about their battery capacity especially with their newest 5.5″ MT6752 phones (Kingzone Z1, Elephone P3000s, Mlais M52 Red Note, Ecoo E01 Aurora) and at 150grams, the TCL M2U (oem of the alcatel flash plus) is the lightest of them all. Compare it with the Jiayu S3 (189g) and the Asus ZF2 -non removable (170g) — both of which have credible 3000mAh batteries. Hopefully though this isnt the case and that it really is a 3500mah unit. Otherwise it will just be 2100-2600mah like the ones mentioned above.

  35. Elvin says:

    I hope you can make a detailed review of its camera (with Sony Exmor 214 sensor) so we can compare it with Zenfone 2 and Meizu M1 Note.

  36. Anthony Viado says:

    Xgurado lng ako HND pa yan ang tlgang price nyan nsa 9k to 10 yan pgdting na satin..

    • ewan says:

      boom basag! pasigura-sigurado kapang nalalaman. You know nothing so shut up!.

    • Abe Olandres says:

      We got this price from Alcatel executives here in PH.

  37. Cecil says:

    The question is when? I’ll buy if I got the money.

  38. www.kusina101.com says:

    this will sell like hot pancakes. meizu and asus beware. though its not FHD; the dual LTE, expandable storage and 3500mah battery is a fair trade off.

  39. Ces says:

    5.5-inch IPS LCD @ 720×1280 pixels, 268ppi

    268 ppi? Ano po bang masasabi niyo sa ganito? Malabo ba ‘to? Malinaw?
    Kasi yung ibang phone, 400+ppi naman sila, while some say 291+ppi or 300+ppi. Medyo naguguluhan lang ako, malabo ba yang 268ppi considering na 5.5 inches ang screen??

    Thanks.

  40. ako ito says:

    Ito nalang siguro bibilhin ko once landed na sa pinas…ganda nang specs at price sub 10k lang fighter ‘to mga brod and sis.

  41. redyelogrin says:

    sir mejo off topic, ask ko lang. worth it paba bumili ng outdatd na android like xperia z ultra. ang mura na po kasi ngaun eh.

    • KpopBoy says:

      I’m in search for a smartphone not a tablet –

    • shutter says:

      @kpopboy , kung massive gusto mo na sony try mo yung z4tab nila. hehehe

    • kpopboy says:

      same here – but Sony is rolling out Lollipop updates for their Z line, so i guess it’s not really outdated in terms of software, but in specs wise, the specs still are good –
      I always wanted the Z ultra for it’s massive display size

  42. denmark says:

    64bit ba yung Mediatek MT6752M 1.5GHz octa-core processor? thanks!

    • ewan says:

      Yes. 64-bit sya.

  43. icedrop says:

    damn! full review please…

  44. Paul says:

    san ba mga concept stores at kiosk ng alcatel?? can someone please provide a list para di mahirapan sa paghahanap sa may 1..

  45. shutter says:

    patay na, sa pagdating ng Alcatel at Asus baka mawala sa no.1 spot ang cherry berry. hehehehe

  46. Inloveboy says:

    This is what im waiting….i prefer this more than the zenfone 2 which is it’s closest rival. Of course its my own opinion others may have different ones. Sana may update pa po nito…

  47. Goodie says:

    not bad for its price. mura at maganda pa specs. sana may mini version nito. kahit 4.7inchs lang.

  48. Jijoe123 says:

    Yes ito ang matagal ko nang inaantay!! Mas gusto ko to kesa zenfone 2. Sa aking pananaw lng naman..ayoko maka kita ng ayaw sa comment ko…iba iba namn tayu ng opinion di po ba……aantayin ko talaga to!!! Sana may update pa po nito sa susunod..Salamat!!

  49. jayson says:

    i had an alcatel smartphone before, Alcatel One Touch Scribe HD.
    okay naman ang camera at internet and gaming experience ko before pero walang naging system update.
    Kaya sana eto, khit may lollipop update lang #_-

  50. ewan says:

    This one will be asus’ toughest contender.

  51. tsarlesss says:

    eto nalang kesa MEIZU m1 Note or Zenfone 2
    :D

    • Christian Paul Navarro says:

      Look for The Lenovo K3 Note vs This Alcatel ,, let see who will win for high specs

  52. ac3buddy says:

    Wow. ASUS Zenfone killer to, mas gusto ko na to

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