TCL Communication has taken the opportunity presented by this year’s IFA Berlin 2018 consumer electronics event to launch a brand new Alcatel-branded Android Go edition tablet dubbed the Alcatel 3T 8. The company hasn’t given away all of the specifications for its latest tablet just yet but it is expected to go on sale at some point this month for just $138 – or €119. That makes it one of the most budget-friendly Android 8 Oreo tablets on the market. It may also be one of the most high-value offerings in its price tier, with mobile connectivity provided via 4G LTE and a 4,080 mAh battery that has a claimed all-day battery life. Meanwhile, although the overall design is a fairly standard curved back design against a flat forward-facing screen, it is relatively slim and lightweight. TCL indicates that the weight of its Alcatel 3T 8 comes in at just 279 grams, with a thickness of 8.2 mm. Storage is set at built-in 12.7GB, accounting for Android Go’s small footprint.
Looking beyond specifications, the tablet will be available in Metallic Black and Suede Blue colorations and is expressly designed to be portable and easy to hold. That’s because this tablet is being billed as a device meant for shared family use, rather than as a dedicated power-user, although the OEM says that it is more than capable of handling the needs of most average users. In keeping with that theme, the company has included a blue-light filter mode called Eye Care and a Kid Mode which enables parents to hand their children an ad-free, curated Android experience. Of course, the lightweight and highly-optimized apps associated with the Go version of Android are included out-of-the-box, including Google Go, Google Maps Go, Gmail Go, and others, while more Go-optimized apps can be found in the Google Play Store.
More information about the new Alcatel-branded tablet will undoubtedly be revealed moving forward. In the meantime, the company also has plans to launch a child-friendly bumper case with extra grip and protection from drops, water damage, or dust. It also mentions that the device can be easily paired with a Bluetooth keyboard. However, it’s not immediately apparent whether it intends to release that type of accessory or was simply indicating that the Alcatel 3T8 features Bluetooth connectivity.