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Alcatel 5 Smartphone Review

Newly developed design. The Alcatel 5 is supposed to attract customers as the new design flagship of the Chinese company TCL. In order to do that, it throws out the established design arrangements and reorders them. The result is a smartphone that pursues other solutions but is weak in the detail. We clarify in our review what buyers of the Alcatel 5 can expect.
Alcatel 5

The Alcatel 5 is supposed to contribute to the use of the "Alcatel" name becoming more frequent among smartphone buyers this year. An affordable price in combination with mid-range hardware and the unusual design of the Android smartphone is meant to ensure this. The design of the Alcatel 5 should mainly please adversaries of the notch and fans of a bezel-less design. Even though there is a solid hardware base with the already two-year old MediaTek MT6750 SoC and ARM's Mali T860-MP2 GPU, the fact that our test unit runs "only" Android 7.0 instead of Oreo might scare off some potential buyers. In addition, there is 3 GB of working memory and 32 GB of eMMC flash storage.

In the price range between 200 and 250 Euros (~$234-292), interested buyers can choose among an abundance of offerings. To give you an appropriate overview of the competitors, we select smartphones with a similar price and performance for comparison in our test. These include the Moto G6 Plus from Motorola, BQ's Aquaris VS Plus, the Nokia 6 (2018), and the P20 Lite from Huawei, among others.

Alcatel 5 (5 Series)
Processor
Mediatek MT6750 8 x 1.5 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
3 GB 
Display
5.70 inch 18:9, 1440 x 720 pixel 282 PPI, capacitive, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 23 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 audio port, Card Reader: MicroSD (up to 128 GB), 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: G sensor, proximity sensor, E compass
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.2, 2G GSM (850/900/1800/1900), 3G UMTS (B1/2/5/8), 4G LTE Cat. 4 (B1/3/7/8/20/28A), Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.4 x 152.3 x 71.1 ( = 0.33 x 6 x 2.8 in)
Battery
3000 mAh Lithium-Polymer, Talk time 2G (according to manufacturer): 30 h, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 18 h, Standby 2G (according to manufacturer): 470 h, Standby 3G (according to manufacturer): 450 h
Operating System
Android 7.1 Nougat
Camera
Primary Camera: 12 MPix
Secondary Camera: 13 MPix f/2.0
Additional features
Speakers: 2 speakers, Keyboard: onscreen, Keyboard Light: yes, USB charger, USB Type-C cable, stereo headset, Office Suite, enjoy.now, 24 Months Warranty, SAR head: 0.92 W/kg, SAR body: 0.85 W/kg, fanless
Weight
144 g ( = 5.08 oz / 0.32 pounds), Power Supply: 57 g ( = 2.01 oz / 0.13 pounds)
Price
230 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - The Alcatel smartphone is made of metal

The back of the Alcatel 5 is made of metal and the rest of the device is plastic. The smartphone is available in black and gold colors. Our test unit is the latter color and is reminiscent of yellow-gold jewelry. At the front, the display dominates the surface with the bezels being very thin on three sides. Elements such as the ear piece, front camera, and light sensor are arranged in a strip above the screen which is about a centimeter wide (~0.4 in).

The physical control elements are on the right side of the unit and are placed in their frames with a very slight play. The grooved surface of the power knob also ensures a good grip. On the left side, there is only the SIM/SD card slot, and the back is characterized by the fingerprint sensor and the main camera. 

Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5

Size Comparison

160 mm / 6.3 inch 75.5 mm / 2.97 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 167 g0.3682 lbs152.3 mm / 6 inch 71.1 mm / 2.8 inch 8.4 mm / 0.3307 inch 144 g0.3175 lbs152.3 mm / 6 inch 76.7 mm / 3.02 inch 8.4 mm / 0.3307 inch 183 g0.4034 lbs148.8 mm / 5.86 inch 75.8 mm / 2.98 inch 8.2 mm / 0.3228 inch 175 g0.3858 lbs148.6 mm / 5.85 inch 71.2 mm / 2.8 inch 7.4 mm / 0.2913 inch 145 g0.3197 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Features - A mid-range smartphone from Alcatel

Alcatel has equipped the mid-range smartphone with MediaTek's MT6750 and an ARM Mali T860-MP2 graphics unit. In addition, there is 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal eMMC flash storage. You can insert either two nano-SIM cards or a SIM and a microSD card into the slot on the left side.

In order to connect the charger, the manufacturer uses a USB Type-C connection which only operates at the USB-2.0 standard internally. You can also connect external audio devices or the included stereo headset via a 3.5 mm audio port at the top.

Left side: SIM/SD card slot
Left side: SIM/SD card slot
Right side: power button, volume rocker
Right side: power button, volume rocker

Software - Android is not current anymore in the Alcatel

Buyers of the Alcatel 5 receive a relatively pure Android 7.0 with security updates on the level of November 5, 2017. In addition to the adjusted icons, the Android smartphone offers a semi-circular menu called "Joy Touch," allowing you to quickly create screenshots or assign any programs to a quick-selection. In addition to some preinstalled games, Alcatel has also installed an Office suite on the smartphone and offers access to support, news, and tutorials about the Alcatel smartphone with the "enjoy.now" app. All the preinstalled programs can be uninstalled in the menu without any problems.

If more than one user needs access to the Alcatel 5, you can add several user accounts in the settings menu.

Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5
Software Alcatel 5

Communication and GPS - Locating the position with some dropouts

The Alcatel 5 is able to create mobile connections via GSM, UMTS, and LTE. The latter is possible in category 4, enabling it to reach download rates of up to 150 Mb/s and upload speeds of up to 50 Mb/s. The reception is still acceptable in areas with bad network coverage.

At close range, the Alcatel smartphone can use Bluetooth 4.2 and WLAN. The transfer rates we measured are below average and unsuitable for a smartphone in this price range. In the comparison, our test unit has to be content with last place. Comparable devices are at least three times as fast in the WLAN.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Nokia 6 2018
Adreno 508, SD 630, 32 GB eMMC Flash
345 MBit/s +542%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Adreno 508, SD 630, 64 GB eMMC Flash
311 MBit/s +479%
Huawei P20 Lite
Mali-T830 MP2, Kirin 659, 64 GB eMMC Flash
233 MBit/s +334%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
Adreno 505, 430, 64 GB eMMC Flash
182 MBit/s +239%
Alcatel 5
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 32 GB eMMC Flash
53.7 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s +622%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Adreno 508, SD 630, 64 GB eMMC Flash
310 MBit/s +495%
Nokia 6 2018
Adreno 508, SD 630, 32 GB eMMC Flash
289 MBit/s +455%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
Adreno 505, 430, 64 GB eMMC Flash
270 MBit/s +418%
Huawei P20 Lite
Mali-T830 MP2, Kirin 659, 64 GB eMMC Flash
198 MBit/s +280%
Alcatel 5
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 32 GB eMMC Flash
52.1 MBit/s
GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test indoors
GPS Test indoors

Using the "GPS Test" app, we test how accurately the Alcatel 5 can determine our own location. It turns out that the Android smartphone determines our position outdoors at an accuracy of up to four meters using GPS and GLONASS, while the satellite connection is quickly lost indoors, making locating us impossible.

During our compulsory bike tour, the GPS of the Alcatel 5 makes full use of its maximum tolerance of four meters and positions us next to the real route again and again. Not only are tight turns recorded inaccurately but also longer curves are frequently cut off. While you can use the Alcatel smartphone for coarse navigation tasks, you should choose professional navigation devices if you need an accurate location.

Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5
Alcatel 5

Telephone Functions and Voice Quality - The Android smartphone is too quiet

The standard Android app for telephony is available to the users of the Alcatel 5. With this, you can easily select conversation partners from the phone book or manually enter the numbers to call. The voice quality is limited to the minimum that is absolutely necessary to transfer voices still understandably. Conversation partners sound slightly distorted and the low volume is hardly able to get through the surrounding noises. You also need to expect limitations at the other end of the phone call. The microphone in the Android smartphone transfers voices quite muffled and also slightly distorted.

While the speakerphone function delivers a slightly better sound quality, the low overall volume is also a hindrance here. However, in a quiet office you can still use it to have both hands available, for example. The included stereo headset presents a good alternative here, contributing positively to the communication during the phone call with its higher volume and better sound quality.

Cameras - Alcatel 5, the selfie smartphone

Picture taken with front camera
Picture taken with front camera

The Alcatel 5 offers users a simple camera with a 12-MP sensor in the back and a dual camera setup in front. With an f/2.0 aperture, the latter can also take usable pictures indoors in rooms that are only illuminated by daylight. The 13 and 5 MP photo sensors create selfies with a resolution of 3120x4160 pixels. Using two sliders, the image can be softened before it is recorded and the color temperature can be adjusted. In addition, the photo app recognizes whether there are only one or more subjects in the image and changes automatically into a wide-angle mode to be able to record everyone. 

Panorama pictures taken with the 12-MP main camera of the Alcatel 5 turn out slightly too dark, while the light and dark areas are well delineated. Details are also maintained and the colors are well defined. Close-ups also turn out too dark, and our test picture shows a slight blurriness at the edges of objects when the light conditions are not quite ideal. Under bad light conditions, the image contents become very pixelated but are still recognizable and surpass the low-light quality of our comparison camera. Aside from the options to select among various modes and adjust the resolution, the Alcatel 5 does not offer any options to influence the quality of the camera recordings.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images
ColorChecker Passport
ColorChecker Passport

We test the quality of the color reproduction of the Alcatel 5 camera using the ColorChecker Passport. This confirms the impression of our test pictures that all the color tones, including the gray and black tones, are reproduced too dark.

While our test chart is also reproduced too dark under controlled light conditions, details and fine structures are kept, and we only notice minimal blurriness at the bottom edges.

Alcatel 5 test chart
Alcatel 5 test chart detail

Accessories and Warranty - Stereo headset included with the Alcatel

Included with the Alcatel 5 are a USB charger with the corresponding USB Type-C cable, a tool for opening the SIM/SD card slot, and a stereo headset. The latter is suited well for making phone calls and can also be used for listening to music, even though the bass is lacking. For additional accessories, users need to look for offerings from third-party manufacturers.

Alcatel offers a warranty of 24 months to users of the Android smartphone. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices and Operation - The usual smartphone keyboard

For text input, Google's GBoard is available to users of the Alcatel 5. With this, even longer input succeeds quickly and easily. Every input is acknowledged with a slight vibration. While there is sufficient space on the display for the keyboard and the display content in portrait format, the keyboard almost takes the whole display area in landscape format. The touchscreen responds very directly to every touch and hardly offers any resistance to the fingertips, enabling drag-and-drop movements without any problems.

The user can set up several options to unlock the Alcatel smartphone. In addition to a PIN and a pattern, you can also register your fingerprint or face. The fingerprint sensor needs a very brief moment to recognize the print and unlock the device. The face recognition software unlocks the device almost without any delay and is faster than you can draw a pattern on the screen or enter a PIN.

Alcatel 5 keyboard
Alcatel 5 keyboard

Display - Smartphone with a good contrast

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

Alcatel uses a 5.7-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 1440x720 pixels in the Alcatel 5. This is below the average of this price range, and at about 480 cd/m², the measured brightness is lower than those of comparable devices. Smartphones such as the Moto G6 Plus have clearly more to offer in this regard.

483
cd/m²
488
cd/m²
471
cd/m²
492
cd/m²
489
cd/m²
469
cd/m²
476
cd/m²
474
cd/m²
475
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 492 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 479.7 cd/m² Minimum: 16.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 95 %
Center on Battery: 495 cd/m²
Contrast: 1686:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.21 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
97.4% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.286
Alcatel 5
IPS, 1440x720, 5.70
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
IPS, 2160x1080, 5.90
Nokia 6 2018
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Huawei P20 Lite
IPS, 2280x1080, 5.84
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Screen
12%
-31%
-11%
-11%
Brightness middle
489
761
56%
417
-15%
528
8%
634
30%
Brightness
480
723
51%
421
-12%
525
9%
635
32%
Brightness Distribution
95
90
-5%
88
-7%
89
-6%
96
1%
Black Level *
0.29
0.69
-138%
0.61
-110%
0.51
-76%
0.49
-69%
Contrast
1686
1103
-35%
684
-59%
1035
-39%
1294
-23%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.21
2.4
54%
6.1
-17%
4.7
10%
5.9
-13%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.31
5.2
44%
11.2
-20%
8.9
4%
11.6
-25%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.5
1.8
72%
7.1
-9%
6.4
2%
7.8
-20%
Gamma
2.286 96%
2.21 100%
2.16 102%
2.22 99%
2.16 102%
CCT
8727 74%
6312 103%
8362 78%
7987 81%
8464 77%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Whatever remains to be desired about the resolution of the display is made up for by its very good contrast ratio of 1686:1 and a black value of 0.29. Colors are strong and clearly defined, and black tones also appear very saturated. In this area, the comparison devices are worse in our test than the Alcatel smartphone. However, the CalMAN analysis attests the display with a clear blue tint, with red colors being strongly underrepresented.

CalMAN - Color Accuracy
CalMAN - Color Accuracy
CalMAN - Color Space
CalMAN - Color Space
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - Saturation

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
20 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7 ms rise
↘ 13 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 37 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
40 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19 ms rise
↘ 21 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 55 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The Alcatel 5 can be used easily outdoors. Reflections of the environment remain within limits and the brightness is just sufficient to make the display content visible even in strong sunlight. 

Using the Alcatel 5 outdoors
Using the Alcatel 5 outdoors
Using the Alcatel 5 outdoors
Using the Alcatel 5 outdoors

The viewing angles of the IPS panel of the Alcatel 5 are extremely stable. The display content can be read from any position imaginable, without distortions or color shifts.

Alcatel 5 - viewing-angle stability
Alcatel 5 - viewing-angle stability
Alcatel 5 - viewing-angle stability
Alcatel 5 - viewing-angle stability

Performance - Average performance by the Alcatel

The computations in the Alcatel 5 are handled by a MediaTek MT6750 SoC in combination with an ARM Mali T860-MP2 graphics unit. Both hardware components are supported by 3 GB of working memory and 32 GB of internal eMMC flash storage. This sort of equipment could already be found in mid-range smartphones for the last two years and can ensure a smooth system operation.

In our benchmark tests, the Alcatel smartphone only manages to reach one of the last places in our comparison list, with the PCMark benchmark being aborted several times with an error message. While the results reflect the performance of the Mediatek SoC very well, we should be able to expect a bit more performance from devices in this price range.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
39247 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
71635 Points +83%
Nokia 6 2018
72580 Points +85%
Huawei P20 Lite
68232 Points +74%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
46651 Points +19%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (38547 - 44842, n=17)
41781 Points +6%
AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
52439 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
90347 Points +72%
Nokia 6 2018
90435 Points +72%
Huawei P20 Lite
88550 Points +69%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
58282 Points +11%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (52278 - 56639, n=10)
54391 Points +4%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
834 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1535 Points +84%
Nokia 6 2018
1504 Points +80%
Huawei P20 Lite
1445 Points +73%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
323 Points -61%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (253 - 965, n=19)
663 Points -21%
Average of class Smartphone (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +584%
System (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
1844 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3249 Points +76%
Nokia 6 2018
3237 Points +76%
Huawei P20 Lite
3109 Points +69%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
1805 Points -2%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1077 - 2003, n=19)
1776 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +422%
Memory (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
779 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1213 Points +56%
Nokia 6 2018
1161 Points +49%
Huawei P20 Lite
1930 Points +148%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
778 Points 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (609 - 1288, n=19)
833 Points +7%
Average of class Smartphone (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +700%
Graphics (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
498 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1523 Points +206%
Nokia 6 2018
1520 Points +205%
Huawei P20 Lite
848 Points +70%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
788 Points +58%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (471 - 649, n=19)
585 Points +17%
Average of class Smartphone (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +2691%
Web (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
676 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
925 Points +37%
Nokia 6 2018
895 Points +32%
Huawei P20 Lite
858 Points +27%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
10 Points -99%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (9 - 1137, n=19)
446 Points -34%
Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +120%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
590 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
822 Points +39%
Nokia 6 2018
883 Points +50%
Huawei P20 Lite
935 Points +58%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
681 Points +15%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (590 - 682, n=18)
618 Points +5%
Average of class Smartphone (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +758%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
2531 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
4011 Points +58%
Nokia 6 2018
4210 Points +66%
Huawei P20 Lite
3749 Points +48%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
2601 Points +3%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1790 - 2765, n=18)
2520 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +435%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
1714 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3763 Points +120%
Nokia 6 2018
3690 Points +115%
Huawei P20 Lite
3116 Points +82%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
2190 Points +28%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1393 - 1935, n=16)
1705 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points +518%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
8780 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
16818 Points +92%
Nokia 6 2018
17030 Points +94%
Huawei P20 Lite
12048 Points +37%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
9949 Points +13%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (5606 - 10269, n=18)
9018 Points +3%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
8502 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
18449 Points +117%
Nokia 6 2018
18572 Points +118%
Huawei P20 Lite
11713 Points +38%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
10262 Points +21%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (5884 - 10361, n=18)
9007 Points +6%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
9914 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
12845 Points +30%
Nokia 6 2018
13196 Points +33%
Huawei P20 Lite
13387 Points +35%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
8990 Points -9%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (4811 - 10553, n=18)
9040 Points -9%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
455 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1348 Points +196%
Nokia 6 2018
1332 Points +193%
Huawei P20 Lite
138 Points -70%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
596 Points +31%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (136 - 559, n=18)
471 Points +4%
Average of class Smartphone (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3495 Points +668%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
387 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1258 Points +225%
Nokia 6 2018
1249 Points +223%
Huawei P20 Lite
109 Points -72%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
527 Points +36%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (109 - 484, n=18)
411 Points +6%
Average of class Smartphone (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3845 Points +894%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
1196 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1802 Points +51%
Nokia 6 2018
1733 Points +45%
Huawei P20 Lite
1760 Points +47%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
1103 Points -8%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (694 - 1219, n=18)
1059 Points -11%
Average of class Smartphone (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
2989 Points +150%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
305 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
833 Points +173%
Nokia 6 2018
814 Points +167%
Huawei P20 Lite
257 Points -16%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
316 Points +4%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (105 - 393, n=19)
324 Points +6%
Average of class Smartphone (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2665 Points +774%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
252 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
721 Points +186%
Nokia 6 2018
707 Points +181%
Huawei P20 Lite
207 Points -18%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
262 Points +4%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (83 - 329, n=19)
272 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2655 Points +954%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
1161 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1822 Points +57%
Nokia 6 2018
1738 Points +50%
Huawei P20 Lite
1757 Points +51%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
1134 Points -2%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (702 - 1233, n=19)
1086 Points -6%
Average of class Smartphone (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points +169%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
21 fps
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
28 fps +33%
Nokia 6 2018
31 fps +48%
Huawei P20 Lite
19 fps -10%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
14 fps -33%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (12 - 25, n=16)
20.6 fps -2%
Average of class Smartphone (22 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
83 fps +295%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
13 fps
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
30 fps +131%
Nokia 6 2018
30 fps +131%
Huawei P20 Lite
19 fps +46%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
18 fps +38%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (12 - 17, n=16)
15.1 fps +16%
Average of class Smartphone (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps +1777%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
10 fps
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
13 fps +30%
Nokia 6 2018
15 fps +50%
Huawei P20 Lite
8.9 fps -11%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
7.5 fps -25%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (5.6 - 13, n=17)
10 fps 0%
Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps +610%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
5.4 fps
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
14 fps +159%
Nokia 6 2018
14 fps +159%
Huawei P20 Lite
8.7 fps +61%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
7.6 fps +41%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (5.3 - 7.1, n=17)
6.26 fps +16%
Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps +2456%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
7.8 fps
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
9.4 fps +21%
Nokia 6 2018
10 fps +28%
Huawei P20 Lite
5.6 fps -28%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
4.8 fps -38%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (3.8 - 10, n=17)
7.46 fps -4%
Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps +668%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
3.5 fps
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
9.8 fps +180%
Nokia 6 2018
9.8 fps +180%
Huawei P20 Lite
5.2 fps +49%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
2.4 fps -31%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (3.5 - 4.7, n=17)
4.18 fps +19%
Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps +2663%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
3.8 fps
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
5.3 fps +39%
Nokia 6 2018
5.9 fps +55%
Huawei P20 Lite
3.3 fps -13%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
2.7 fps -29%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (2.3 - 4.9, n=18)
3.57 fps -6%
Average of class Smartphone (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +1029%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Alcatel 5
1.9 fps
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
5.6 fps +195%
Nokia 6 2018
5.6 fps +195%
Huawei P20 Lite
3.1 fps +63%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
2.7 fps +42%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1.9 - 2.5, n=18)
2.24 fps +18%
Average of class Smartphone (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +2984%

Legend

 
Alcatel 5 Mediatek MT6750, ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Motorola Moto G6 Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, Qualcomm Adreno 508, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
Nokia 6 2018 Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, Qualcomm Adreno 508, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Huawei P20 Lite HiSilicon Kirin 659, ARM Mali-T830 MP2, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
BQ Aquaris VS Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937), Qualcomm Adreno 505, 64 GB eMMC Flash

The results in the browser benchmark are mixed and range from the last place in our comparison list to the first place in Mozilla Kraken 1.1. In everyday operation, the browser performance is good, and websites are rendered quickly and smoothly. Only sites with media content need slightly longer to be loaded.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points +970%
Nokia 6 2018 (Browser: Chrome 65)
28.17 Points +55%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Chrome 66)
27.97 Points +54%
Huawei P20 Lite (Chrome 63)
23.42 Points +29%
Alcatel 5 (Chrome 67)
18.21 Points
Average Mediatek MT6750 (12 - 20.8, n=19)
18.2 Points 0%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +928%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Chrome 66)
5011 Points +54%
Nokia 6 2018 (Browser: Chrome 65)
4993 Points +53%
Huawei P20 Lite
4191 Points +29%
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
3305 Points +1%
Alcatel 5 (Chrome 67)
3260 Points
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1994 - 3506, n=19)
3095 Points -5%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Average Mediatek MT6750 (11708 - 22627, n=19)
14563 ms * -3%
Alcatel 5 (Chrome 67)
14104 ms *
BQ Aquaris VS Plus (Chrome 65)
13541 ms * +4%
Huawei P20 Lite (Chrome 63)
10788 ms * +24%
Nokia 6 2018 (Browser: Chrome 65)
9923 ms * +30%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Chrome 66)
9797 ms * +31%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +88%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Nokia 6 2018
117 Points +50%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Chrome 66)
108 Points +38%
Huawei P20 Lite (Chrome 63)
86 Points +10%
Alcatel 5 (Chrome 67)
78 Points
BQ Aquaris VS Plus (Chrome 65)
78 Points 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (34 - 78, n=5)
61 Points -22%

* ... smaller is better

In our test, the internal storage of the Alcatel 5 only achieves mediocre read and write rates that are still above the average of comparable devices with 32 GB of eMMC flash storage. 

The microSD card reader also achieves only below-average values with our Kingston storage card. Due to a read error, we were unable to use our usual Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 reference storage card. When using a microSD card to expand the storage, it can be reformatted as internal storage in order to increase the overall storage space for apps and your own data.

Alcatel 5Motorola Moto G6 PlusNokia 6 2018Huawei P20 LiteBQ Aquaris VS PlusAverage 32 GB eMMC FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
128%
50%
139%
53%
43%
839%
Sequential Read 256KB
271
286.6
6%
272.6
1%
293.9
8%
274.3
1%
242 ?(25.8 - 452, n=247)
-11%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
441%
Sequential Write 256KB
127.8
216.1
69%
118.3
-7%
198.3
55%
205.1
60%
100.5 ?(14.8 - 196, n=247)
-21%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
743%
Random Read 4KB
57
58.4
2%
38.78
-32%
48.19
-15%
48.3
-15%
43.2 ?(3.59 - 117.2, n=247)
-24%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
323%
Random Write 4KB
13.59
62.8
362%
15.3
13%
71.1
423%
6.4
-53%
22.4 ?(0.75 - 91, n=247)
65%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
1850%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
36.5 ?(Kingston 32GB)
83.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
129%
83.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
128%
83.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
129%
84.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
132%
71.8 ?(8.2 - 96.5, n=178)
97%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
20.8 ?(Kingston 32GB)
62.1 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
199%
61.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
195%
69 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
232%
60.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
191%
52.9 ?(3.4 - 87.1, n=178)
154%

Games - Casual games on the smartphone

The performance necessary for games is provided by an ARM Mali T860-MP2 graphics unit in the Alcatel. With its two computing cores, the GPU is suited for occasional games and older games from Google's Play Store. The Temple Run 2 and Dead Trigger 2 games we tested ran smoothly and could be controlled reliably via the touchscreen. Only the position sensor responded with a slight delay, which needs to be taken into account when controlling the corresponding games.

Temple Run 2
Temple Run 2
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2

Emissions - The Alcatel smartphone becomes very warm

Temperature

In daily operation, the surface of the Alcatel 5 can heat up a lot. Even during idle, the temperatures rise above 35 °C (95 °F), and under load they almost reach the 50-degree mark (122 °F) at the hottest spot. In this state, the device feels very hot, and it cannot be ruled out that there might be some damage due to the temperatures becoming too high after prolonged usage. 

Max. Load
 47.1 °C
117 F
40.6 °C
105 F
37.1 °C
99 F
 
 46.6 °C
116 F
40.6 °C
105 F
37.3 °C
99 F
 
 44.7 °C
112 F
40.7 °C
105 F
37.4 °C
99 F
 
Maximum: 47.1 °C = 117 F
Average: 41.3 °C = 106 F
35.8 °C
96 F
42.2 °C
108 F
48.9 °C
120 F
37.2 °C
99 F
42.2 °C
108 F
45.3 °C
114 F
37.4 °C
99 F
42 °C
108 F
44.3 °C
112 F
Maximum: 48.9 °C = 120 F
Average: 41.7 °C = 107 F
Power Supply (max.)  45.2 °C = 113 F | Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 41.3 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 47.1 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 48.9 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 36.1 °C / 97 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heat map - front
Heat map - front
Heat map - back
Heat map - back

Speakers

Pink Noise
Pink Noise

The speakers of the Alcatel 5 do not achieve a high volume and are mainly able to reproduce sounds in the mid-range well. High as well as low tones are underrepresented, and the audio accordingly sounds distorted. Even during simple phone calls, there is a slight scratching noise at the highest volume, which becomes more prominent when playing media content.

The included stereo headset represents a good alternative to the built-in speakers and is able to offer a significantly louder and better sound. However, the low tones are lacking here as well. You can also connect other sound output devices via the available 3.5 mm port.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs202527.62527.628.43126.827.24028.130.95028.1356320.519.88017.51910015.617.312515.915.916014.41620013.719.325012.226.131511.134.640010.14450010.148.76309.354.88008.85810008.558.912508.160.116008.359.620007.76125007.862.531508.161.740007.958.55000855.863008.254.280008.352.8100008.251.3125008.249.1160008.332.3SPL54.347.363.620.770.8N8.45.413.90.324.6median 8.4median 51.3median 38.7median 10.5median 47.7Delta3.714.524.910.223.135.239.232.937.437.23831.739.839.639.928.335.727.32926.931.726.732.42441.620.948.920.95419.554.718.563.317.564.717.567.315.768.315.873.616.675.215.873.815.472.415.570.21671.715.8771677.516.378.316.372.816.276.216.471.116.460.528.686.31.167median 16.4median 70.22.28.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAlcatel 5Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Alcatel 5 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (70.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.8% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (31.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 78% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 89% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 9% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Motorola Moto G6 Plus audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 15% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 37% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 55% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Life - Smartphone battery with a good runtime

Power Consumption

The Alcatel 5 is slightly more efficient than comparable smartphones with the MediaTek MT6750 SoC. However, our test unit still reaches a maximum consumption of almost 7 watts under load. The power consumption during idle is also considerably higher than those of the competitors in this test, causing the Android smartphone to end up only in last place.

The included 10-watt power supply needs about two-and-a-half hours to completely recharge the 3000 mAh battery.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.3 / 0.9 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.4 / 1.9 / 2.4 Watt
Load midlight 4.5 / 6.8 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Alcatel 5
3000 mAh
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3200 mAh
Nokia 6 2018
3000 mAh
Huawei P20 Lite
3000 mAh
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
3400 mAh
Average Mediatek MT6750
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
29%
31%
13%
11%
0%
9%
Idle Minimum *
1.4
0.5
64%
0.67
52%
0.98
30%
0.79
44%
1.13 ?(0.57 - 2.3, n=19)
19%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
36%
Idle Average *
1.9
1.78
6%
1.76
7%
2
-5%
2.29
-21%
2.02 ?(1.42 - 3.5, n=19)
-6%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
24%
Idle Maximum *
2.4
1.81
25%
1.78
26%
2.11
12%
2.3
4%
2.42 ?(1.47 - 5.9, n=19)
-1%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
32%
Load Average *
4.5
3.3
27%
2.82
37%
3.9
13%
3.84
15%
5.21 ?(3.24 - 10.8, n=19)
-16%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-24%
Load Maximum *
6.8
5.14
24%
4.56
33%
5.62
17%
5.95
12%
6.56 ?(3.3 - 12.4, n=19)
4%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
-22%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Despite the relatively high power consumption, the Alcatel 5 lasts for almost 13 hours in our realistic WLAN test. During this time, various websites are called up in the smartphone browser with a display brightness of 150 cd/m². Our test unit achieves a good place in the middle of our comparison field. 

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
12h 47min
Alcatel 5
3000 mAh
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3200 mAh
Nokia 6 2018
3000 mAh
Huawei P20 Lite
3000 mAh
BQ Aquaris VS Plus
3400 mAh
Battery Runtime
WiFi v1.3
767
702
-8%
942
23%
582
-24%
644
-16%

Pros

+ battery life
+ low-light performance of the camera
+ high-contrast display

Cons

- aged operating system
- mediocre system performance

Verdict - The design rather than the performance is the deciding factor

In review: Alcatel 5. Provided by Alcatel Germany.
In review: Alcatel 5. Provided by Alcatel Germany.

The Alcatel 5 attracts users who are looking for a different design and are price conscious. For a price starting at 230 Euros (~$269), interested buyers receive a smartphone with an operating system that is not quite current anymore and has sufficient performance to master all the usual daily tasks. The battery life is also good and the workmanship offers no reason for complaint.

Although with Android 7, the Alcatel 5 does not offer a current operating system, it is able to gain some positive points with its design and good battery life.

However, other manufacturers can offer slightly more for the same price. Particularly in the system performance, the camera function, and in terms of being up-to-date, some competitors do a better job. While with its low resolution, the display is also not up-to-date anymore, it offers vibrant colors and a good contrast. In the end, an interested buyer's design taste and priority for a current system will decide whether the Alcatel 5 is a good choice or not.

Alcatel 5 - 07/02/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
82%
Keyboard
65 / 75 → 86%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
37 / 60 → 62%
Weight
93%
Battery
96%
Display
86%
Games Performance
16 / 63 → 25%
Application Performance
29 / 70 → 42%
Temperature
81%
Noise
100%
Audio
58 / 91 → 64%
Camera
66%
Average
69%
80%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Mike Wobker, 2018-07-14 (Update: 2019-03- 9)