Thuraya X5-Touch: World's first satellite smartphone that runs on Android
Thuraya, a UAE-based satellite communication company, has launched the world's first Android-based satellite smartphone. Dubbed as Thuraya X5-Touch, it features a dual active mode function that allows satellite and GSM mode to be "always on". Further, the phone is ruggedly built and comes with all the features of a regular smartphone including a full-HD+ touchscreen, rear camera and a selfie snapper. Here's our roundup.
Thuraya X5-Touch: At a glance
The Thuraya X5-Touch is built to last in harsh conditions. It comes with an IP67 dust and water resistance and is compliant with MIL 810 G/F to withstand high temperature, shock and vibration. The phone, weighing a hefty 262g, features a retractable antenna and a 5.2" full-HD touchscreen which works even if the glass is wet or while you are wearing gloves.
Thuraya X5-Touch's unique SAT and GSM 'Always On' function
The Thuraya X5-Touch comes with support for dual SIM-card slots with the dual-active mode which allows the satellite and GSM (2G/3G/4G/LTE) modes to be 'always on' and work simultaneously. On the satellite mode, the phone works over Thuraya's L-band satellite network which is available "in more than 160 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia", according to the company.
Thuraya X5: An overview
The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, paired with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (expandable up to 32GB). Further, it features an 8MP rear camera, a 2MP selfie shooter, runs Android Nougat and packs 3,800mAh battery rated to deliver up to 100 days of standby time. The Thuraya X5-Touch also comes with a dedicated SOS button.
Connectivity options and sensors onboard the phone
In terms of connectivity, the Thuraya X5-Touch supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, GPS, BeiDou, Glonass, FM radio, USB-C connector and 3.5mm headphones jack. Sensors onboard the phone include Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Geomagnetic sensor, Ambient Light Photo sensor, and Digital Pressure sensor It also supports 16 languages including English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Farsi, Japanese and Urdu.
Pricing and availability
The Thuraya X5-Touch will be made available in 160 countries at £999 (approx. Rs. 96,670) in December. However, in certain counties like the UK, the phone may arrive at the end of January 2019.
