5 best satellite phones 2022: Plus other communication gadgets

Is it a satellite phone? Is it a regular GSM phone? The Thuraya XT-LITE is both, all using a single SIM card. And better still, it automatically switches from satellite to GSM without any hassles… so no forgotten calls because you're out of coverage.

A decent, rugged, no-frills sat phone. 

Note that the Thuraya satellite network does not offer coverage in the US, so this is a sat hone for when you're in other territories.

Pros:

Cons:

• Doesn't offer global coverage (doesn't cover north or south America)
• Battery life isn't great

Tech specs:

• Dimensions: 128 × 53 × 27 mm
• Weight: 186g
• Services: Satellite calls and satellite SMS
• Network frequency: L-Band
• Satellite antenna: Omni-directional (walk-and-talk functionality)
• Battery life – talk time: Up to 6 hours
• Battery life – standby time: Up to 80 hours
• Network features: Call barring, Call diverting, Conference calls, Call waiting, Closed User Group, Voicemail
• Organizer: Alarms, Calendar, Calculator, Stopwatch, World time
• External interface: UDC data cable with USB connector, earphone jack (2.5 mm), DC power

A handheld GPS receiver with a built-in satellite receiver that allows you to send and receive SMS messages via the Iridium network. 

Garmin actually makes many satellite-enabled devices, from the simple Garmin inReach Mini 2 to the Garmin inReach Explorer+. These combines the power of the Iridium satellite network with a handheld GPS receiver loaded with topo maps.

Pros:

• Cheaper than a dedicated sat phone
• More features

Cons:

Tech specs:

• Dimensions: 2.04 x 3.9 x 1.03 inches
• Display: 176 x 176 pixels, sunlight-readable, monochrome display
• Weight: 3.50 oz
• Battery life: Up to 14 days in 10-minute tracking mode
• Waterproof: IPX7
• Interface: USB-C

Now we move from a phone to a mobile satellite router.

Just fire it up, it connects to the Iridium satellite constellation, and you get enough data bandwidth to check emails, use Twitter, pull up weather forecasts, and limited web browsing. You can connect up to five devices to the Iridium GO! hotspot.

This is not a cheap kit, and is designed for those who truly want to go off-grid. It includes not only the Iridium GO! base station and AC travel charger with an international adapter but also comes with a solar charger and a desktop charger. 

The Iridium GO! offers up to 15.5 hours of standby battery life and up to 5.5 hours of talk time.

Pros:

• Acts as a satellite hotspot so that multiple devices can connect to it
• Good battery life
• Good selection of accessories

Cons:

Tech specs:

• Dimensions: 114 x 82 x 32 mm
• Weight: 305g
• Services: Satellite calls and satellite SMS
• Battery life — talk time: 5.5 hr
• Battery life — standby time: 15.5 hr
• Operating temperatures: 10 to 50 ℃
• Durability: MIL-STD 810F
• Ingress protection: IP65

Another company that offers satellite trackers and messengers is SPOT. 

There's the SPOT X, which is a two-way device that looks a lot like an old Blackberry, the SPOT Gen3 Messenger, which allows the user to send check-in and SOS messages, and the SPOT Tracker, which allows tracking of things like cars and suitcases.

Pros:

• SOS feature
• Low-cost solution
• Physical keyboard

Cons:

• Limited features
• Physical keyboard is a bit small

Tech specs:

• Dimensions: 166 × 38 × 24 mm
• Weight: 198g
• Services: Satellite SMS, automatic positioning, and SOS
• Battery life — 240 hours
• Operating temp: -20 °C to 60 °C
• Durability: MIL-STD-810G for shock
• Ingress protection: IP67

Now we move onto something that looks and acts like a phone. The Inmarsat IsatPhone 2.1 offers the ability to make and receive voice calls, SMS, track your position with GPS from anywhere on the globe. (Well, mostly, satellite coverage at the north and south poles is poor. Outside of those areas, people will get excellent coverage.) 

The built-in lithium-ion battery offers 8 hours of talk time and 160 hours standby, and the entire package is IP65 rated for dust- and waterproofing. The price starts at $569 for the phone, charger, and SIM with no airtime.

Pros:

• Fully-featured sat phone
• Robust
• Near global coverage
• Good battery life

Cons:

Tech specs:

• Size: 16.9 x 7.65 x 2.9 cm
• Weight: 318 g
• Ingress protection rating: IP65
• Impact protection rating: IK04
• Scratch resistant color screen
• Micro-USB interface
• View/send GPS location as text or email
• Bluetooth for hands-free calling
• Programmable emergency assistance button
• Incoming call alerts when antenna is stowed
• Supports text-to-text: 160 characters
• Supports text-to-email: 160 characters
• Free web message-to-Isatphone 2

Well, sort of.

Apple has added a feature called Emergency SOS via Satellite which allows owners to contact emergency services when in an area without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. 

Emergency SOS via satellite is free for the next two years, after which Apple plans to start charging for the service, although right now we don't have a price. 

This service is currently available in the US and Canada, and will roll out to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December 2022. 

Not really. They're big, bulky, expensive, and the data rates are awful compared to even 3G. They are mostly for emergencies and situations where a regular phone won't work.

It's less about which is best, and more about what bits of the planet you want coverage on. Every network offers maps and details of coverage, and it's advisable to check this at the time of purchase because coverage can (and does) change regularly.

Yes, for example, the Thuraya XT-LITE (bare in mind this handset does not does not offer global coverage, and both north and south America are not covered).

In my experience, these devices are very reliable and are a great insurance policy for those heading out into the great unknown. But bear in mind that satellite communication is not fast, so forget the usual back and forth that you're used to from services such as iMessage.