My first thoughts on the Alcatel Flash 2 (during its launch) are spot on – don’t let the price fool you, the gSight (rear) and Profile (front) cameras are good. I still can’t wrap my head around it, how a below-P7k phone can have cameras this good. Often, with budget phones, you don’t expect much.

Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price

That’s a selfie shot, no flash, no settings adjustment, under unevenly lit conditions (blueish overhead and yellowish lighting). More on this below.

My longer hands-on time with the Alcatel Flash 2 took place at the Lazada Philippines office, where bloggers were invited to unbox Flash 2 units, and where I was asked to deliver, prior to the unboxing, a short talk on how I compose reviews for this site.

Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price

Mico Castaneda of Lazada Philippines opening the unboxing event.

Here’s quick look upon unboxing, and using for a short while, the Alcatel Flash 2. Get it from Lazada here. It goes on sale on October 8, 2015 at 12 nn.

Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price

Chic box and generous comes-with items. Unboxing the Alcatel Flash 2 feels like unboxing something worth more than the price tag. You wouldn’t think the entirety costs P6,190. Freebies in the box include a free fliptop case and a screen protector. Not even the pricier ASUS ZenFone Laser comes with either items.

Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price

Acceptable performance. The octa-core processor and 2GB RAM are enough for most tasks. If you’re going for a budget social media phone, with the occasional selfie and food shots, this is it. The Flash 2 is not a heavy gamer’s or multi-tasker’s phone, but you’re not in the market for that when you’re shopping in the P7k-ish price range. So it’s fine.

Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price

The Flash 2’s rear and sides, because of its texture, provide enough grip – something that makes complete sense and yet many budget phones go for the all plastic rear and sides, which can, when your hands are wet, slip. Granted, the soft grippy texture will absorb sweat and oils in the long run, but that’s better than having the phone slip from your hand.

Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price

Despite the yellowish and bluish lighting, the Alcatel Flash 2’s rear camera’s white balance adjustment nailed the right lighting for this scene.

Good cameras – the gSight (rear) and Profile (front) cameras are spot on. Despite having no laser autofocus, image capture is fast. If you’re looking for an affordable phone with good cameras, the Alcatel Flash 2 is it.

  • Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price
    Front camera, no flash. Overly bluish lighting all around. But the Alcatel Flash 2's Profile camera manages to prevent me from looking like a pale corpse. Notice also the wide angle lens - you can fit in more people in the frame.

Impressed yet? Get the Alcatel Flash 2 from Lazada.

Alcatel Flash 2 Specs

5.0-inches IPS HD LCD, 1280×720 pixels, 294 ppi
1.3GHz Mediatek MK6753 octa-core processor
2GB RAM, Mali-T720MP4 GPU
16GB internal storage (expandable)
13MP rear camera, auto-focus, Dual LED and Dual Tone Flash
5MP 84-degree wide angle, front camera with LED Flash
3G, HSPA+, LTE, Dual-SIM (both micro), dual LTE
WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, aGPS
3,000mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
SRP: Php6,190

You can buy the Alcatel Flash 2 during its October 8, 2015 flash sale.

 

Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price

Left to right: Fliptop case and Alcatel Flash 2 with rear cover removed.

 

Should You Buy It?

Hell yeah! Alcatel seems to have hit the right formula – improve the cameras for better shooting and selfie experience, throw in just the right performance, package the whole thing beautifully, make sure the grip and ergonomics are right, and bring the price down to an eyebrow-raising range that nobody can ignore.

Alcatel Flash 2 Review, Alcatel Flash 2 Lazada, Alcatel Flash 2 Price

Get the Alcatel Flash 2 on Lazada.

 

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