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Thuraya X5-Touch is the first Android satellite/smartphone combo
August 19, 2025
If you’re someone who often enough finds themselves in places wherethere is no cell service, you likely own a satellite phone. But then, when you find yourself back in civilization again, you have a regular,terrestrial smartphone. Don’t you hate having to jump back and forth?
Well, Thuraya has got you covered, as todaythe company announcednot only the first Android satellite phone but also the first phone that is both a satellite phone and aGSM-poweredsmartphone. It’s called the Thuraya X5-Touch.
Using the Thuraya X5-Touch, you can jump seamlessly between a satellite connection and a GSM connection. There’s a helpful widget on the home screen that lets you know which connection the phone is currently utilizing for its data feed. Plus, since the phone is using Android, satellite phone users will finally have access to all the apps in theGoogle Play Storeright on their satellite device.
Thuraya doesn’t divulge specs for the X5-Touch, but it did take care to mention that the phone is IP67 certified, has a high-capacity battery, features a front and rear camera, and even has a built-in SOS button (which, not gonna lie, is kind of freaky). It also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC capabilities.
Thuraya hopes that since the X5-Touch runs Android, developers will create apps catering specifically to the satellite phone market.
We don’t yet know when the X5-Touch will hit the market, nor how much it will cost. But if you’re gearing up for an Antarctic adventure or something, now you know you’ll be able tocheck Facebookwhile you’re there.
NEXT:Here are the best rugged phones you can buy right now
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