In this guide

  • Review
  • Details
    • Pricing & Availability
  • Ask an expert
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Telstra Essential Plus review: Plans | Pricing | Specs

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Telstra Essential Plus
3.0
★★★★★
Finder score
  • Battery Score 2
  • Camera Score 3
  • Design Score 2
  • Performance Score 3

Summary

As a rebadged Alcatel handset, the Telstra Essential Plus isn't fancy, but it's also cheaper than many of the carrier's plans. If all you need is simple smartphone operation, it's an easy recommendation.

  • It's very cheap
  • 4G capable
  • Android Oreo Go
  • Blue Tick certified
  • It would only go fast if you dropped it off a cliff
  • Battery life isn't great
  • Generic design

In this guide

  • Review
  • Details
    • Pricing & Availability
  • Ask an expert

Details

Pricing & Availability

Launch price (RRP) $99
Launch date 2018-08
Telstra Essential Plus

The latest rebranded Alcatel phone to arrive with a quick coat of Telstra paint is the Telstra Essential Plus. It's a slightly reworked Alcatel 1, which means it joins the very small family of phones running Android Oreo Go here in Australia. It's also only $99 outright, which means it's extremely affordable.


Design

  • Small in the hand.
  • Feels cheap (because it is).
  • Headphone socket included!

Camera

  • A camera is present. That's about it.
  • Slow to start, slow to focus.

Performance

  • Slow application performance.
  • Android Oreo Go apps work a little better than you might think.
  • Display washes out a lot when flat on a desk.

Battery life

  • Woeful battery life.

Verdict

  • Hard to argue against the value of a $99 4G smartphone.
  • A good choice for low needs phone users.

Pricing and availability

Compare SIM-only plans for the Telstra Essential Plus

1 - 6 of 6
Name Product Data Price Apply Price
Telstra $12 SIM Kit
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
Telstra $12 SIM Kit
Prepaid
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Telstra 5G/4G network
3GB
$12
per 7 day recharge
View details
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
3GB
Data
$12
per 7 days expiry
Telstra $35 SIM Kit
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
35GB for $17 for the first recharge, then 35GB for $35 for the next 2 recharges. Reverts to 15GB for $35/recharge after. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 25.12.23
Telstra $35 SIM Kit
Prepaid
35GB for $17 for the first recharge, then 35GB for $35 for the next 2 recharges. Reverts to 15GB for $35/recharge after. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 25.12.23
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Telstra 5G/4G network
35GB
$35
per 28 day recharge
View details
  • 35GB for $17 for the first recharge, then 35GB for $35 for the next 2 recharges. Reverts to 15GB for $35/recharge after. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 25.12.23
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
35 GB
Data
$35
per 28 days expiry
Telstra $45 SIM Kit
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
50GB/recharge for the first 3 recharges, then 25GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply

Telstra $45 SIM Kit
Prepaid
50GB/recharge for the first 3 recharges, then 25GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply

  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Telstra 5G/4G network
50GB
$45
per 28 day recharge
View details
  • 50GB/recharge for the first 3 recharges, then 25GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply

  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
50 GB
Data
$45
per 28 days expiry
Telstra $160 SIM Kit
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
110GB for the first recharge, then 70GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
Telstra $160 SIM Kit
Prepaid
110GB for the first recharge, then 70GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Telstra 5G/4G network
110GB
$160
per 6 months
View details
  • 110GB for the first recharge, then 70GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
110 GB
Data
$160
per 6 months
Telstra $320 SIM Kit
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
230GB for the first recharge, then 165GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply
Telstra $320 SIM Kit
Prepaid
230GB for the first recharge, then 165GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Telstra 5G/4G network
230GB
$320
per 12 months
View details
  • 230GB for the first recharge, then 165GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
230 GB
Data
$320
per 12 months
Telstra $35 Casual SIM Kit
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
Telstra $35 Casual SIM Kit
Prepaid
  • 95 standard national minutes + 120 std. nat. texts
  • Telstra 5G/4G network
0.35GB
$35
per 6 months
View details
  • 95 standard national minutes + 120 std. nat. texts
0.35GB
Data
$35
per 6 months
loading

Specifications

Display

Display Size
5 inches
Pixels per inch (PPI)
214.66 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels
5MP
Video recording
1080p
Front camera megapixels
2MP

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions
138mm x 65.7mm x 9.8mm
Weight
134g

Connectivity

NFC
No
Wi-Fi
802.11 b/g/n
Network category speed
N/A

Power, storage and battery

Processor
MT6739
RAM
1GB
Operating system
Android 8
Internal storage
8GB
External storage support
Up to 32GB
Battery capacity
2,000mAh

Device features

Headphone jack
Yes
Fingerprint sensor
No
Water resistance rating
N/A
Wireless charging
No

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Image: Shutterstock

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Alex Finder

Senior editor

Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.

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Avatar

Kgg

January 29, 2019

When I am contacted by someone on contact list, number shows on screen but not name of person. How do I fix the issue?


Avatar

Jeni Finder

January 30, 2019

Hi Kgg,


Thank you for getting in touch with finder.


Kindly check if the person’s number is not duplicated. In addition, please check if you saved the number on the sim or on the phone then check the memory/storage you choose on your phone. If you still need technical help, you may visit the nearest Telstra shop or contact their technical support team for further assistance.


I hope this helps.


Thank you and have a wonderful day!


Cheers,

Jeni


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