The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and for many parents, that means a scramble to find high tech gifts for teenagers. And as a parent of three very plugged-in teens, I can attest to the fact that this demographic can be incredibly picky when it comes to gadgets. Which game system do they want? Which Bluetooth speaker? Do they want an action camera to shoot clips for social media?
Here’s what you get with the Alcatel A50.
It rocks a 5.2-inch (1280x720p) display with HD resolution, so streaming movies will look fantastic. Inside is a quad-core CPU with 2GB of RAM, plenty of horsepower to run popular Android mobile games like Super Mario Run. The installed Android 7.0 (Nougat) operating system is easy to use, and ensures they can run all the latest apps. With LTE and dual-band Wi-Fi, the Alcatel A50 has the connectivity to ensure they can keep checking Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and all their favorite social media apps, no matter where they are. An integrated 8MP rear camera with dual tone flash means they can shoot the clips for their next YouTube video, and with the microSD card slot, they can store those videos on inexpensive microSD cards so you don’t have to buy a more expensive phone with more built-in storage.
Music is a big deal for teens and the Alcatel A50 has everything they would need to listen to their favorite tunes. They can stream videos and concert footage on that big, bright, HD display, and stream music from Spotify or other services. They can store their own music collection directly on the device or SD cards. With Bluetooth 4.2, the latest wireless headphones are supported. But unlike some much more expensive smartphones, the A50 comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack —so they can plug in any earbuds or headphones. The included modular Sound SNAPBAK replaces the back panel of the smartphone with a kickstand and a pair of 2.5-watt speakers so they can listen to music with their friends. And for an old-school touch, there’s even a built-in FM radio.
One thing I’ve learned as a parent of teenagers is that privacy from their siblings is important, and too often they aren’t careful with their devices around each other. The Alcatel A50 helps to prevent the inevitable fights by offering Private Mode, which that keeps their sensitive data secure using a separate password. This can also come in handy if two kids are sharing a phone.
Smartphones are valuable tools in my own parenting. Kids who have smartphones can have a little more freedom, because they’re carrying a device that you can always use to reach them. No worrying about where they are, and they can reach out to ask if they can go somewhere after school. When my wife and I are shopping and see a shirt or something they might like, we snap a photo and text them so they can give it the thumbs up (or, as is more often the case, the thumbs down).
With a 2,800mAH battery, you can count on the Alcatel A50 always having enough juice for a full day of school and activities. And for extended sessions like school trips, concerts or sleepovers, the included Power SNAPBAK boost that battery to nearly 5,900mAh —enough power to go for several days without recharging.
The smartphone is currently available for free on a two-year term at Telus, Koodo, Virgin Mobile or Videotron stores or an outright purchase price of $240 CAD.
Stop pulling out your hair trying to keep track of all the high tech gadgets on your teen’s gift list. With the Alcatel A50, you’ll get them a gift they’ll love. It will cover all the bases in one device, end up costing you less than buying an armload of gadgets, and also offer you additional peace of mind as a parent. As I said, the Alcatel A50 is the ultimate high tech gift for your teen!
For more information and full product specifications on the Alcatel A50, visit: alcatelonetouch.ca
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