Getting to Know the alcatel Flash 2: Review and Detailed Specs

In September 2015, alcatel put a clear bet on the front camera. The alcatel Flash 2 arrived as a mid-range Android phone built around photography, and it was announced and released in the same month, September 2015, with the Philippines first in line. The alcatel Flash 2 review specifications September 2015 picture is a useful starting point for anyone looking back at this phone today: a 5.0-inch HD screen, an octa-core MediaTek chip, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera with a Samsung sensor, a 5MP front camera with its own LED flash, and a 3000 mAh battery. It was a selfie phone first and foremost, built for a moment when front cameras were becoming a selling point in their own right.

This review looks at the Flash 2 as a phone of its era, not as a current rival to modern handsets. The alcatel Flash 2 specs still tell a coherent story a decade later: sensible hardware, a camera-led pitch, and a price that undercut many better-known names. The alcatel Flash 2 price in Philippines launch details put it at Php 6,190 at launch, and the phone went on sale there on 30 September 2015, after its launch event on 22 September 2015. That pricing, and the way the first batch sold out quickly, explains why the phone is still remembered in Southeast Asia. The alcatel Flash 2 release came at a time when alcatel was trying to build a name for photography-led phones, and the Flash 2 was the second phone in that line after the original Flash and the Flash Plus.

Design and First Impressions

The Flash 2 is a compact phone by the standards of its year, and that is part of its charm. The alcatel Flash 2 dimensions weight 140 grams design figures are 145.8 x 70.4 x 9 mm and 140 grams, so the phone sits comfortably in one hand and slips into a pocket without a fight. The alcatel Flash 2 design uses a curved back that helps the grip, and the plastic body keeps the weight down. It was five inches of HD screen in a body that never felt bulky, and that balance mattered to buyers who wanted a phone they could hold for a long photo session.

At the same time, alcatel was experimenting across categories, and the same brand that made this phone also made wearables. Readers curious about that side of the 2015 range can look at alcatel Watch Hands-On Review and Complete Specs: Durability and Display for a very different kind of alcatel device from the same period. The Flash 2 itself, though, is a straightforward phone: a removable back cover, a microSD slot, and a layout that puts the camera and flash where a photographer expects them.

A Compact 5.0-Inch Body

The 5.0-inch size was a deliberate choice. In 2015, many rivals were pushing toward 5.5 inches and beyond, and the Flash 2 held the line at a size that most hands could manage. The alcatel Flash 2 dimensions are modest enough for one-handed use, and the 9 mm thickness gives the curved back room to sit naturally in the palm. The alcatel Flash 2 weight of 140 grams is light enough that the phone does not tire the wrist during a long call or a long photo walk, and the balance is even, with no heavy top or bottom end.

Volcanic Grey and Mica White

The alcatel Flash 2 Volcanic Grey Mica White colours were the two finishes offered at launch, and Volcanic Grey was the first to reach buyers. The alcatel Flash 2 colours gave buyers a simple choice: a dark, understated grey that hides fingerprints and wear, or a lighter white that stands out more in the hand. The grey version looked the more practical of the two, and it was the one most often seen in early hands-on reports. The alcatel Flash 2 unboxing first impressions September 2015 reports also noted the premium-feeling packaging, which was unusual for a phone at this price, and the headset included in the box.

Display

The screen is a 5.0-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, which works out to about 294 pixels per inch. The alcatel Flash 2 5 inch IPS LCD display is sharp enough for text, photos and video at normal viewing distances, and the IPS technology gives it wide viewing angles, so a photo shared with a friend beside you still looks right. The alcatel Flash 2 display is a 720p HD panel, not a 1080p one, and buyers should not expect the extra crispness of a full HD screen; the trade-off was a lower price and a lighter load on the processor and battery.

The alcatel Flash 2 720p HD screen resolution sharpness holds up well for everyday reading and for reviewing photos on the phone itself. The alcatel Flash 2 screen brightness outdoor visibility test in early reviews found the panel usable outdoors, though like most phones of its year it could struggle under direct midday sun. The alcatel Flash 2 screen is protected by a flat sheet of glass with a modest bezel, and the touch response is quick enough for typing and for tapping through camera settings without lag.

IPS LCD Panel in Daily Use

In daily use, the IPS LCD panel shows its strengths in colour and viewing angle. Photos taken with the rear camera look natural on this screen, and video playback is smooth, with colours that stay steady when the phone is tilted. The 720p resolution keeps text readable, and the 5.0-inch size means the on-screen keyboard is roomy enough for comfortable typing. For a phone that cost Php 6,190 in the Philippines, the screen was a fair match for the price, and it avoided the washed-out look that cheaper panels of the era sometimes had.

Performance and the MediaTek MT6753

The chipset is the MediaTek MT6753, and that detail matters, because some listings on the web wrongly credit this phone with a Helio X10. The alcatel Flash 2 MediaTek MT6753 octa core performance comes from eight Cortex-A53 cores running at 1.3 GHz, paired with a Mali-T720MP3 graphics processor. The alcatel Flash 2 chipset is a 64-bit part built for mid-range phones, and the alcatel Flash 2 performance in everyday use is smooth for calls, messaging, web browsing, social apps and photography. The alcatel Flash 2 MediaTek chip is not a flagship processor, and heavy games will ask more of it than it can comfortably give, but for the tasks most buyers used in 2015 it was a good fit.

The alcatel Flash 2 RAM is 2GB, and the alcatel Flash 2 storage is 16GB, with a microSD slot for more. The alcatel Flash 2 2GB RAM 16GB storage combination was standard for a mid-range phone in 2015, and it leaves enough room for apps and photos once the system is accounted for. The alcatel Flash 2 microSD card slot 128GB expansion means a card of up to 128GB can be added, which is generous for a phone of this class and a practical answer to the modest built-in storage. It was two gigabytes of memory beside sixteen gigabytes of room, with a card slot to grow from there, and that was a sensible package for the price.

Octa-Core Cortex-A53 in Practice

Eight cores at 1.3 GHz sounds like a lot, and in practice the MT6753 spreads light work across its cores and keeps the phone responsive. App launches are quick, switching between the camera and the gallery is smooth, and the phone handles the photo processing that its camera-led pitch demands. The alcatel Flash 2 call quality signal reception review notes from the period describe clear calls and steady reception, and the processor plays its part by keeping the interface free of stutters during a call or a photo session.

Gaming and Graphics

Graphics come from the Mali-T720MP3, and the alcatel Flash 2 Mali T720MP3 graphics gaming performance is best described as capable for casual games and modest for demanding ones. The alcatel Flash 2 gaming performance Asphalt casual games picture is a fair guide: lighter racing and puzzle games run well, while the most demanding 3D titles of the era need lower settings to stay smooth. The alcatel Flash 2 gaming experience is helped by the 720p screen, which asks less of the graphics chip than a 1080p panel would, and by the 2GB of RAM, which keeps casual games in memory.

Mali-T720MP3 Graphics

The Mali-T720MP3 is a three-core graphics unit, and it pairs with the MT6753 to handle video playback, casual games and the camera viewfinder without fuss. It is not a chip for long sessions of heavy 3D gaming, and buyers who wanted that in 2015 paid more for a different phone. For video, social apps and the camera, though, it is a good match, and it keeps power use in check.

Everyday Multitasking With 2GB of RAM

Two gigabytes of RAM was the mid-range standard in 2015, and the Flash 2 uses it well. The phone keeps a handful of apps in memory, so switching back to the browser or the camera does not always mean a reload. The alcatel Flash 2 software update Android version history is short, as the phone stayed on its launch software, so the memory load never grew the way it did on phones that received several large updates. For the era, the multitasking was smooth and predictable.

Cameras: A Selfie Phone With a Serious Rear Camera

The cameras are the reason the Flash 2 exists, and both of them were given unusual attention for the price. The alcatel Flash 2 camera setup pairs a 13MP rear camera with a 5MP front camera, and both have an LED flash. The alcatel Flash 2 13MP rear camera Samsung sensor is a Samsung S5K3M2 ISOCELL unit with an f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, and a dual-tone LED flash. The alcatel Flash 2 5MP front camera LED flash is a 5MP unit with its own LED flash, a rare feature in 2015, and it is the feature that earned the phone its selfie reputation. It was thirteen megapixels on the back and five on the front, with a flash on each side, and that symmetry was the whole pitch.

The alcatel Flash 2 vs other 2015 selfie phones comparison is instructive: many rivals of the year offered a good front camera or a good rear camera, but few offered a flash on the front and a Samsung ISOCELL sensor with PDAF on the back at this price. The alcatel Flash 2 PDAF autofocus dual tone flash combination on the rear camera helps the phone lock focus quickly, and the dual-tone flash gives warmer, more natural colours in flash photos than a single white LED. The alcatel Flash 2 photos from the rear camera show good detail in daylight, and the f/2.0 aperture helps in lower light.

13MP Rear Camera

The rear camera is the stronger of the two, and it deserves a close look. The Samsung S5K3M2 ISOCELL sensor uses small pixels separated by physical barriers, which helps keep colours clean, and the f/2.0 lens lets in enough light for indoor shots. The alcatel Flash 2 camera samples low light performance from early reviews showed usable indoor photos with some noise, which was normal for the class, and strong daylight photos with good detail. Video recording reaches 1080p at 30 frames per second, which was the standard for a mid-range phone of the year.

5MP Front Camera With LED Flash

The front camera is where the Flash 2 stands apart. A 5MP front camera was already good for 2015, and the LED flash beside it made night selfies possible in a way few rivals could match. The alcatel Flash 2 selfie camera flash night photos benefit is real: in a dim room or at night, the front flash lights the face evenly instead of leaving a dark, noisy image. The alcatel Flash 2 selfie appeal was aimed at buyers who took selfies often, and the alcatel Flash 2 flash on the front is the single feature most often mentioned in early reviews. The alcatel Flash 2 2015 launch put this phone ahead of its time on front-camera lighting, and the feature is still the easiest way to explain what made the phone different.

Battery Life

The battery is a 3000 mAh unit, and it is removable, which was still common in 2015 and is a genuine advantage for a phone of this age today. The alcatel Flash 2 3000 mAh battery life review picture is a full day of normal use: calls, messaging, photos and some video, with charge left at bedtime. The alcatel Flash 2 battery is helped by the 720p screen and the efficient MT6753 chip, both of which draw less power than the hungrier parts in larger, higher-resolution phones. The alcatel Flash 2 battery charging time full day routine is simple: a full charge overnight, or a top-up during the day, and the phone will get through a working day without worry.

There is no fast charging here, and no wireless charging, so a flat battery needs a patient hour or two on the charger. That was normal for the price in 2015, and the removable battery softens the drawback, since a spare battery could be carried and swapped. For a second-hand buyer in 2026, the battery is the part most likely to have aged, and a fresh replacement cell is worth considering before judging the phone.

3000 mAh in Real Use

In real use, the 3000 mAh cell is a good match for the hardware. A day of mixed use, with the camera used often, still leaves a margin, and lighter days can stretch toward a day and a half. The 720p panel is the biggest reason the battery lasts: it draws less power than a 1080p screen of the same size, and the MT6753 is built for efficiency rather than peak speed. The phone also benefits from the removable back, which makes a battery swap a job of seconds rather than a repair visit.

Software, Connectivity and Audio

The phone runs Android 5.1 Lollipop, and the alcatel Flash 2 Android 5.1 Lollipop software features include the material design of that release, the notification and quick settings layout of Lollipop, and alcatel’s own light touches on top. The alcatel Flash 2 Android version is the launch software, and the alcatel Flash 2 software update Android version history shows no major upgrade beyond it, so buyers should expect Lollipop, not a later Android release. The interface is clean and close to stock Android, with a few alcatel additions, and it is easy to learn for anyone who has used Android before.

The alcatel Flash 2 dual SIM 4G LTE connectivity covers two SIM slots with 4G LTE on the data connection, and the alcatel Flash 2 connectivity is rounded out by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The alcatel Flash 2 WiFi Bluetooth GPS connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS with A-GPS, which were the standard connections of the year. The alcatel Flash 2 SIM setup uses two Micro-SIM slots, and the alcatel Flash 2 LTE support covers the LTE bands used in its launch markets. There is no NFC, and the alcatel Flash 2 fingerprint sensor missing features explained point is simple: this phone has no fingerprint sensor, so unlocking is by PIN, pattern or password, which was normal for a phone at this price in 2015.

Audio comes from a loudspeaker and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and the alcatel Flash 2 speaker audio quality headphone jack notes from early reviews describe a clear loudspeaker for calls and alerts, with headphones giving the better result for music and video. The alcatel Flash 2 audio is practical rather than remarkable, and the headphone jack means any standard wired headphones work without an adapter. Readers who want to see how broad the alcatel range was in 2015 can also look at Everything About the alcatel 10.16G: Review, Audio and Full Specifications, a very different alcatel device from the same era, and at alcatel GO Watch Review: Design, Audio and Value for Money, which shows the brand trying wearables alongside phones.

Dual SIM 4G LTE and Everyday Connections

Dual SIM is a practical feature for buyers who carry a work number and a personal number, or who travel between networks. The Flash 2 handles two SIMs with 4G LTE data, and switching the data SIM is a simple settings change. The microUSB 2.0 port handles charging and file transfer, and the 3.5 mm jack handles audio. Taken together, the connections cover everything a 2015 buyer needed, and the absence of NFC is the only gap worth noting.

Full Specifications

The alcatel Flash 2 specs in full are set out in the table below. All figures follow the verified specification record for this model: announced and released in September 2015, MediaTek MT6753 chipset, 5.0-inch IPS LCD at 720 x 1280, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage with microSD expansion to 128GB, a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, a 3000 mAh battery, Android 5.1 Lollipop, dual SIM 4G LTE, and the Volcanic Grey and Mica White finishes.

Pros and Cons

The alcatel Flash 2 pros start with the cameras: a 13MP rear camera with a Samsung sensor and PDAF, and a 5MP front camera with its own LED flash, at a price of Php 6,190 in the Philippines. The alcatel Flash 2 cons include the 720p screen, the absence of a fingerprint sensor and NFC, and software that stayed on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The alcatel Flash 2 pros and cons verdict 2015 is that the phone was a strong value choice for photography-led buyers, and a weaker choice for buyers who wanted the newest software or the sharpest screen.

What Stands Out

The cameras stand out first, and the front flash is the feature that still defines the phone. The battery is the second strength: 3000 mAh, removable, and well matched to the efficient chip and 720p screen. The third strength is the price and the microSD slot, which together made the phone easy to buy and easy to expand. The compact 5.0-inch body is a fourth strength for buyers who prefer a phone that fits one hand.

What Holds It Back

The screen is 720p, not 1080p, and the difference shows when reading small text or viewing fine detail. The software stayed on Android 5.1 Lollipop, with no major upgrade, so later apps and security updates are out of reach. There is no fingerprint sensor and no NFC, both of which became common soon after. The 16GB of built-in storage is modest, even with a microSD slot, and the 2GB of RAM limits how many apps can be kept open at once. A basic-phone comparison from the same brand shows how different the priorities were across the range, as in Our alcatel 2007 Review: Charging Speed, Audio and Detailed Specs, while a bigger-screen alcatel phone from the same period is covered in Buying the alcatel Fierce XL? Read This Review and Specs Guide First.

FAQ

When was the alcatel Flash 2 announced and released?

The alcatel Flash 2 was announced in September 2015 and released in September 2015. The Philippines was the first market, with the launch on 22 September 2015 and sales starting on 30 September 2015 at Php 6,190.

What chipset does the alcatel Flash 2 use?

The alcatel Flash 2 uses the MediaTek MT6753 chipset, with an octa-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 processor and Mali-T720MP3 graphics. It does not use a Helio X10, despite what some listings on the web claim.

Does the alcatel Flash 2 have a front camera flash?

Yes. The front camera is 5MP and has its own LED flash, which was rare in 2015 and is the phone’s best-known feature. The rear camera is 13MP with a Samsung S5K3M2 ISOCELL sensor, f/2.0, PDAF and a dual-tone LED flash.

How much RAM and storage does the alcatel Flash 2 have?

The phone has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage, with a microSD slot that accepts cards up to 128GB. That combination was standard for a mid-range phone in 2015.

Is the alcatel Flash 2 still worth buying second hand?

The alcatel Flash 2 second hand value today 2026 is low, and the phone is best seen as a collector’s item or a spare for a photography fan, not as a daily phone. The alcatel Flash 2 verdict for a second-hand buyer is to check the battery first, since the original cell will have aged, and to expect Android 5.1 Lollipop with no later update. The cameras and the front flash still work as they did in 2015, and that is the reason to own one now.

Taken as a whole, the Flash 2 is a clear picture of what alcatel wanted to be in 2015: a brand that gave buyers a camera-led phone at a fair price, with a front flash that few rivals could match. Its screen, software and missing fingerprint sensor show its limits, and its cameras, battery and price show its strengths. For anyone studying the mid-range phones of 2015, it remains a useful and interesting example.