Thuraya One Smartphone Review

Thuraya One Smartphone Review – It’s been almost 18 years since Thuraya Telecom released its last phone. Now, the company is back with the new phone. For those unfamiliar with this brand, they have been known for providing global satellite communication services for more than two decades. The company is based in the UAE. IET Telecom has now released a new phone known as the Thuraya Telecom One.

At first sight, it looks like a regular entry-level smartphone from the outside with a slightly thick side panel. But the device packs the latest satellite calling and messaging features inside. From its outer design, nobody can tell whether you use a traditional phone or a worldwide communication device. But does it justify the price of a flagship smartphone? Let’s find out from the subsequent Thuraya One review.

Thuraya One Smartphone Review

Highlights

1. The device grants a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and has 700 nits brightness.
2. In terms of the hardware section, you will obtain a Qualcomm QCM4490 chipset with an older-gen Adreno 613.
3. As for software skin layout, the phone is equipped with an Android 14 operating system.
4. A mid-range 50MP triple camera module setup followed by a 16MP selfie camera lens gives proper image results.
5. Under the hood, an average 3500 mAh battery configuration and 18W wired charging support.

Design and Display

The Thuraya One device looks like a thick brick, which roughly weighs 230 grams. For a normal phone, it doesn’t look bulky but you will obtain a robust grip on this phone. But, the device feels heavy when you are holding it with one hand. Unlike other brands, Thuraya didn’t give a variety of color variants. Instead, it comes in a classic black-colored back panel with a rectangular camera module appearing on the right corner.

The matte finishing black panel gives a smooth texture. Besides this, the fingerprint scanner is placed on the side panel, even though the phone features an AMOLED panel. Yet, the best part of this phone would be the curved 6.67-inch AMOLED panel that provides FHD resolution and above-average brightness support. At the same time, the device renders corning gorilla glass 5 protection and IP67 ingress on the body.

The viewing experience with the AMOLED display isn’t that bad, you can stream content using the cellular networks. Furthermore, the touch response will be enhanced through the 90Hz refresh rate settings. But, a huge bezel at the bottom looks quite annoying. If the phone didn’t have thick bezels at the bottom, the users might have received more screens. But, it’s not worth complaining.

Memory and Internal

Thuraya One makes sure multitasking is possible even in diverse environmental conditions with the Qualcomm QCM4490 chipset. The good thing about this chip is it’s based on 4-nm architecture, which can push the processing speed up to 2×2.4GHz speed. Besides this, light gaming and social media usage won’t be a trouble for the phone.

The performance aspect might not live up to the expectation since many devices will offer the latest Qualcomm chipset at the same price. At the same time, the Thuraya isn’t suitable for heavy usage due to its small battery configuration and mediocre GPU. Whereas, the software interface isn’t that disappointing as you are getting Android 14.

In fact, the interface provides a near-stock Android experience with limited customization privileges. In general, satellite phones come with their native operating system, which makes them more secure and safe. Still, having an Android ecosystem makes this phone a good choice for day-to-day usage. In terms of storage, the company inserts UFS-based MCP (uMCP) 128GB storage with 6GB RAM. For your information, UMCP delivers higher performance and fast data transfer speed.

Camera

The camera capabilities aren’t that advanced even if you look at the standard mid-range phone. The Thuraya One includes a 50MP primary camera setup that can efficiently capture photos and video. Irrespective of lighting conditions, the pictures come out average. The worst part would be the lowlight photos since noise and blur are visible in almost every clip.

Aside from this, the company also added two secondary lenses on the camera island. It’s none other than a regular 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro lens. This combination delivers decent images depending on the lights. The front screen has a 16MP selfie lens that can capture polished photos. Sometimes the skin tone looks a bit artificial.

Still, the native camera app covers up for those shortcomings and offers a portrait mode, Pro mode, and a couple of other modes. In terms of video recording, the Thuraya One struggles to capture a decent 1080p at 30fps clip. The video results aren’t that appealing since they lack video stabilization. Overall, the camera department is one of the core downsides of this phone.

Battery and Others

The Thuraya One houses a 3500 mAh battery setup that can render up to a day’s worth of battery life. In remote locations, power reliability is crucial, and it could have been better if the company added more mAh. Nevertheless, the phone can stay active for more than a day without charging. You can use an 18W wired charger to refill the percentage from scratch 20% to full in an hour.

One of the most important features of this phone is the satellite connectivity and service. The service has expanded to 150 countries with 370+ roaming partners. The built-in antennas will be hidden when not used. But they will start working as soon as you use the satellite calls or SMS service. Thuraya Telecom company has already launched its three satellites into space. With that, the device can seamlessly give access to terrestrial and satellite coverage.

You might not receive a dedicated 3.5 jack, but it ensures crisp audio output with the stereo speakers configuration. Now, let’s talk about the pricing. The handset is expected to be released at $1195 (Rs 1,04,550 in India) approximately for the 6/128GB variant. If you overlook the satellite connectivity for one second, it’s just another entry-level phone with some exclusive features.

Thuraya One Pros and Cons

Thuraya One Specification Detail

Down below you can see the full specifications of the Thuraya One smartphone.

Conclusion

The Thuraya One brings the advancement of satellite communication to the hands of any everyday user. There’s no doubt that the phone is a reliable solution for extreme environments such as deserts, dense rainforests, high-altitude snow-prone areas, offshore locations, and so on. If you have this phone, it won’t be difficult to message or call. Plus, the phone comes with a seamless ability to switch between cellular network to satellite in one click. Thus, making it a must-have choice for adventurers, and professionals who work in off-grid industrial zones.

Not to forget, it can become a dependable communication tool, especially in emergencies. Hoped that the Thuraya One can be purchased worldwide through the IET telecom website. However, check the availability details for your country before purchasing this device.

Speaking of the price, a typical satellite phone costs more than a regular flagship smartphone, and the Thuraya One is no exception. If you want a rugged built and uninterrupted connection in extreme conditions, feel free to purchase. But if you want a better camera, software experience, AI features, and other mainstream perks, getting the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra would be a better choice. At the end of the day, we want you to choose a phone that meets your specific needs. So, make sure to pick.