Alcatel 3026G 3G Features | Pricing | Specs

If your phone needs are for a simple and easy-to-use handset, the Alcatel 3026G 3G could be your perfect device.

There's plenty of choice in the smartphone world, but not everyone wants or needs a complex phone capable of running hundreds of apps at once. For some of us, a phone is just a communications device used for making calls and sending texts. At that level, a smartphone is overkill and can be a nuisance if you're not a fan of touchscreen input. If what you favour is more of a classic flip phone design, the Alcatel 3026G 3G should meet your simple needs well.

Design

• 2.8-inch display
• SOS button for emergencies

• Read our full overview of the Alcatel 3026G 3G's design

  The Alcatel 3026G 3G doesn't stray far from the classic notes of flip phone design, which means it's compact, even when fully flipped open, measuring at 106 x 55 x 17 mm with a carrying weight of 240g. As is common with flip phones, it doesn't feature a particularly large display, with just a 2.8-inch LCD screen. At 240 x 320 pixel resolution, it's also not going to be particularly sharp, but that doesn't really matter for a phone that's mostly about taking and making calls anyway.

  One unique feature of the Alcatel 3026G 3G is the inclusion of an SOS button on the surface of the phone. You can pre-program the button to dial an emergency contact, so if the worst does happen and you need help quickly, it'll dial out at the tap of a single button, rather than having to flip the phone open.

Camera

• Very rudimentary camera

• Read our full overview of the Alcatel 3026G 3G's camera

  Back when flip phones were a hot commodity, mobile phone photography was in its infancy. We've come a very long way since then, but the Alcatel 3026G 3G's in-built camera certainly hasn't. It features a single rear-mounted 2MP camera, and that's not likely to deliver particularly stunning results. Again, that's a function of its price and intended market. There's no front-facing camera, so you're also not going to be able to take any selfies or have any video calling adventures with the Alcatel 3026G 3G.

Performance

• Custom OS built for calls and texts

• Read our full overview of the Alcatel 3026G 3G's performance

  Alcatel knows full well that the market for flip phones is one that doesn't give a hoot about operating systems or apps, but instead wants a simple interface for navigating basic phone functions. That's what you'll get from the Alcatel 3026G 3G, because it's running its own custom operating system that provides just a few basic functions. Shortcut keys can switch between these functions, so you're not going to be stuck wondering where a particular feature is.

  The Alcatel 3026G 3G is, as the name suggests, a 3G-only device, so it's also not one that's going to be notably fast in data terms. Once again, that's really a function of its intended market purpose. 4G in a device like this at the time of writing would be overkill. The model sold in Australia is typically network-locked to Vodafone.

Battery

• 950mAh battery
• Charging cradle

• Read our full overview of the Alcatel 3026G 3G's battery

  On paper, the Alcatel 3026G 3G's 950mAh battery doesn't sound very impressive. Top-end mobiles these days pack more than 4,000mAh battery capacities into their frames. However, those are largely for phones that use a lot more power on a daily basis, not simple feature phones like the Alcatel 3026G 3G.

  Keeping it simple means that it can boast of battery life up to eight days in standby mode and up to 4.5 hours of talk time. That's a pretty decent single chat, but if you do worry about the battery conking out, you also won't have to worry about fiddly cables or easily lost chargers. The Alcatel 3026G 3G comes with a custom charging dock that you simply drop the phone into in order to top up its battery.

Early verdict

• It's not fancy, but the Alcatel 3026G 3G is entirely suitable for folks who don't want or need a smartphone.

• Read our early verdict on the Alcatel 3026G 3G

  Without a doubt, there's a market for phones pitched at those who either don't want or need a complex smartphone experience. The Alcatel 3026G 3G isn't a complicated device, and it's not particularly powerful or quick. Equally, it's reasonably affordable for the money, although you do have other options in both the flip phone and very low-cost Android phone sector to consider.

Pricing and availability

• The Alcatel 3026G 3G typically sells in Australia for around $79
• Also available on contract through Southern Phone

The Alcatel 3026G retails outright in Australia at around $79 outright.

It's also available on contract terms through Southern Phone, although as you'd imagine for a phone this cheap, the actual contract repayments for the phone are pretty low.