Bullitt’s New Smartphone Combines a Tough Design with Satellite-Communication Messaging

Rugged phones aren’t anything new – we’ve actually seen a ton of them in the past few years, but a new entry from UK-based company Bullitt adds a new trick up its sleeve. More specifically, the brand’s new CAT S75 smartphone brings a ton of features geared towards rugged environments, as well as satellite phone calling.

In terms of design, the S75 comes with a rugged form factor, which Bullitt says has been extensively tested to survive damage and everyday wear and tear, with an IP68 and IP69K rating, as well as MIL-SPEC 810H certification. Inside the rugged exterior is MediaTek’s MTK D930 octa-core processor, paired with 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. The phone also comes with Android 12, although it will receive updates for Android 13 and 14, as well as five years of security patches.

What makes the phone stand out is the built-in connectivity features, which aside from bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular data, also incorporate satellite connectivity, so users can continue to communicate even in isolated areas with no cellular network coverage. The new Cat S75 uses the built-in MediaTek NTN chip, and will be able to connect to Bullitt’s Sattelite Messaging platform, which allows for messages to be sent completely via satellites – this will be very useful in emergency situations, and for individuals who spend long periods in far-off locations.

Other hardware features include a 6.6-inch display, a triple camera array at the rear which comes with a 50 + 8 + 2MP lens set-up, an 8MP front camera, a large 5,000 mAh battery, a rear fingerprint sensor, as well as a programmable key for shortcut functions.

As for Bullitt’s Messaging service, sending or receiving messages (or sending an SOS assistance request via satellite) will require a subscription and an NTN enabled device. Bullitt clarifies that any users with more “standard” smartphones can receive a message from someone using Bullitt Satellite Messenger service. They will receive this as an SMS and can respond by downloading the Bullitt Satellite Messenger app, which is available in the App Store or Play Store.