MWC 2017
The world's largest annual mobile event - Mobile World Congress - takes place on the last days of February. We're on the ground in Barcelona to bring you all of the week's news. Tune in here for our full coverage, including hands-on with new phones from LG, BlackBerry, Huawei, Alcatel, ZTE, Sony, and more.
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Hands On with the Alcatel A5
Here's a neat one. Alcatel showed off the A5 LED this week, an entry-level smartphone that packs some visual pow thanks to light-up LEDs that cover the back surface. The phone by itself may not be all that impressive, but the light show is a riot. Here are our first impressions of the Alcatel A5.
Alcatel A5 with LED to Make Its Way Stateside
The Alcatel A5 LED smartphone is serious about having fun. The phone features an LED-covered rear panel that can blink a few dozen LEDs with color. The LEDs can be used to serve as notifications for incoming calls, messages, or alarms. The included Color Catching 2.0 app lets owners create unique LED patterns and themes. Last, the LEDs can provide a light show when listening to music. The A5 has an octa-core processor, 5.2-inch HD screen, 8-megapixel main camera, and a 5-megapixel selfie camera with Face Beauty software for that perfect look. Alcatel didn't announce pricing, but the phone is meant for younger people. Availability isn't yet known, though Alcatel did say this phone would reach the U.S. at some point.
Alcatel's A3 and U5 Serve As Entry-Level Phones
Alcatel today announced the A3 and the U5, new additions to the bottom of its lineup of inexpensive Android smartphones. The devices are made mostly of plastic and share similar designs.
- A3: The A3 is the more capable of these two devices with a 5-inch HD display, 4G LTE, 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 5-megapixel front camera, fingerprint sensor, quad-core CPU, and metal frame.
- U5: This phone includes a 5-inch screen, LTE 4G, front and rear cameras, and Simple Mode for novice users. The plastic rear shell comes in a variety of colors for personalization.
