The Alcatel Volta is a budget smartphone that was released in 2021, aimed at providing an affordable option for those in the market for a new device. With a low price point, the Volta offers a range of features that are impressive for its category, including a 60Hz IPS TFT display, a Mediatek MT6739 processor, and a 5MP rear and front camera. However, as with any budget device, there are some trade-offs to be made. In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at the Alcatel Volta, examining its specs, performance, and overall value to help you determine if it’s the right smartphone for you.

Table of Contents

Design and Build Quality

The Alcatel Volta has a sleek and modern design, with a plastic back panel and a metal frame. It is lightweight at 168 grams, making it easy to handle and carry around. The phone’s build quality is decent for its price point, but it is not as durable as more expensive models. The back panel is easy to scratch, and the metal frame isn’t as durable.

One of the standout features of the Volta’s design is its slim profile, measuring just 8.5mm thick. It’s also available in a variety of colors, giving users the option to choose a color that best fits their personal style. The phone’s buttons are well-placed and easy to reach, and the fingerprint sensor is located on the back of the device, making it easy to unlock the phone quickly.

Display

The Alcatel Volta features a 60Hz IPS TFT display with a resolution of 480 by 960 pixels. While the resolution is relatively low, it is suitable for basic usage such as browsing the internet, watching videos, and making phone calls. The display also boasts good viewing angles, providing a comfortable viewing experience from various angles.

In terms of brightness, the display falls short and may not be suitable for outdoor use or well-lit indoor spaces. While the colors of the display are accurate, they do not appear as vibrant as those on more expensive models. Additionally, the 60Hz refresh rate is sufficient but not noteworthy.

Overall, the Alcatel Volta’s display is not the strongest aspect of the device. The low resolution and brightness may make it less suitable for certain types of use. However, it is suitable for basic usage and offers good viewing angles.

Performance

The Alcatel Volta is powered by a Mediatek MT6739 1.5GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. While the specs are not as high as more expensive models, it is suitable for basic usage such as browsing the internet, watching videos, and making phone calls. The phone’s performance is good enough for everyday tasks and runs smoothly, with minimal lag or stuttering.

The internal storage is limited to 16GB. Which may fill up quickly if you have a lot of apps and media files. However, the phone does have expandable storage of up to 128GB. Which allows you to add more storage space to the device. This can be useful for users who need to store more photos, videos, or apps on their phones.

The phone’s GPU is a PowerVR GE 8100 clocked at 570MHz, which is good for basic gaming and video playback. The phone may struggle to run high-end games or heavy apps, but it can handle basic games and apps without any issues. Overall, the Alcatel Volta’s performance is suitable for basic usage and everyday tasks. The phone runs smoothly and has good enough specs for basic usage but does not fulfill the power user’s needs.

Camera

The Alcatel Volta is equipped with a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. While the camera specs are not as high as more expensive models, it is suitable for basic photography and video recording. The camera app is easy to use and offers different shooting modes to suit different photography needs.

The rear camera can capture 1080p at 30 frames per second video, which is not bad for a budget phone, but it’s not the best either. In the terms of photos, the rear camera is capable of capturing decent photos in good lighting conditions. You can see some samples below to get an idea of what the camera is capable of.

The front camera is also 5 MP, which is not very high, and struggles in low-light conditions. The photos taken with the front camera may appear grainy or noisy. The front camera can also capture 1080p at 30 frames per second video, but the quality is not very good. Overall, the camera is suitable for basic photography, but it may not be the best choice for those who are looking for a high-quality camera phone.

Battery Life

The Alcatel Volta is equipped with a 3000mAh lithium-ion battery. This is a relatively small battery capacity, but it is suitable for basic usage and offers decent battery life. The phone can last through a full day of moderate usage with ease, and with light usage, it could last even longer.

The phone does not come with fast charging technology, so it may take a while to charge the device. However, it comes with a charging brick which is not common for budget smartphones, this could be a convenient feature for users who don’t have a charger at home. The phone also has a battery-saver mode that can help extend the battery life even further, this is useful for users who are away from a power source for a long time.

Software

The Alcatel Volta runs on Android 10 Go Edition. This is a lightweight version of the Android operating system that is optimized for budget devices with lower specs. It offers a similar user experience to the standard version of Android 10, with the main difference being that it uses less memory and storage space, which helps to improve the phone’s performance.

The phone comes with a relatively clean software experience, with minimal bloatware pre-installed on the device. It does not come with any custom UI skin from the manufacturer, which makes it similar to stock Android.

The phone does not receive regular software updates, which means it may not receive the latest security updates or new features that are available on other devices. This could leave the device vulnerable to security threats and could limit the phone’s capabilities over time.

Overall, the Alcatel Volta’s software experience is decent for a budget device. The Android 10 Go Edition is optimized for budget devices and provides a similar user experience to the standard version of Android. However, the lack of regular software updates may limit the phone’s capabilities over time, and the phone may not receive the latest security updates.

Connectivity

The Alcatel Volta supports a variety of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth. The phone supports dual SIM, which allows users to use two SIM cards at the same time, and it also supports 4G LTE, which allows for faster internet speeds when using cellular data.

The Wi-Fi connectivity is good, the device can connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, and it supports 802.11b/g/n standards. It also supports Wi-Fi Direct, which allows for easy file sharing between devices without the need for a Wi-Fi network.

The Bluetooth connectivity is also standard, the device supports version 5.0 and it allows you to connect to other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as headphones, speakers, and fitness trackers.

Additional Features

The Alcatel Volta has a few additional features that are worth mentioning. One of these is the face unlock feature, which allows users to unlock the phone by simply looking at the front camera. This feature is relatively fast and accurate. Another notable feature is a 3.5mm headphone jack is still there while the manny flagship device does not have a 3.5mm. 

Pros
  • Affordable price point
  • Sleek design and lightweight build
  • Additional features such as face unlock and expandable storage
  • Good viewing angles
  • Enough performance for everyday tasks
  • Decent camera for basic photography
  • Comes with a charging brick
Cons
  • Limited internal storage
  • Build quality is not strong
  • Not suitable for heavy users
  • Camera capabilities struggles in low-light conditions

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Alcatel Volta is For users who are looking for a budget-friendly device for basic usage such as browsing the internet, watching videos, and making phone calls, the Alcatel Volta may be a good option. It has a decent display, good enough performance, and a decent camera for basic photography and video recording. The battery life is also suitable for basic usage and the phone comes with a charging brick which is a convenient feature.

However, users who require high-end features or heavy users may want to consider other options. The phone’s build quality, display, performance, camera capabilities, and battery life may not be able to fulfill the power users’ needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Does the Alcatel Volta have a removable battery?

A. Yes! Alcatel’s Volta has a removable battery. This allows users to easily swap out batteries when needed, and it also makes it possible to replace a damaged depleted battery without having to send the phone back to the manufacturer. As a result, the Volta is a great choice for those who need a reliable, long-lasting phone.

Q. Does Alcatel Volta have NFC?

A. The Alcatel Volta does not have Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities. NFC is a technology that allows devices to communicate with each other when they are close centimeters. It is used for a variety of applications such as mobile payments, contactless ticketing, and data sharing.

Q. Does the Alcatel Volta have WIFI calling?

A. The Alcatel Volta does have WiFi calling capability. Which allows you to make phone calls using a WiFi connection instead of a cellular network connection. This feature can be useful when you are in an area with poor cellular coverage but have access to a WiFi connection. It can also be useful to save on cellular data usage.