CAT phones are known for their rugged build but the brand has been quiet in recent times. Not anymore, though, as Bullitt Group, the company controlling the phone brand has announced the CAT S75 rugged phone.
The smartphone emerges as the first to have MediaTek’s NTN chip for two-way satellite messaging support. It should be noted though, that it shares specs and design with the Motorola Defy rugged phone.
The CAT S75 features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 930 6nm processor paired with 6GB LPDDR4x RAM, and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. The phone runs on Android 12 with two OS updates and offers 5 years of security patches.
As a rugged phone, it has reportedly undergone Mil-Spec 810H testing and has been tested to withstand drops from up to 1.8 meters, as well as being impervious to dust, sand, and dirt ingress.
For optics, the rugged phone features a 50MP camera with f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, and a 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture. It has an 8MP front camera with an f/2.0 aperture.
The phone has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C audio, and it weighs 268g with dimensions of 171 x 80 x 11.9mm. It has IP68 and IP69K ratings and is capable of handling high-pressure water jets.
The Bullitt Satellite Messenger, which is the first 3GPP standards-based satellite NTN or ‘direct-to-satellite’ messaging service for mobile phones, uses the new MediaTek MT6825 NTN chip and Bullitt Satellite Messenger to access a network of geostationary satellites. To send or receive messages via satellite, users need a subscription and an NTN-enabled device.
The Bullitt Satellite Messenger service offers a twelve-month free trial of SOS Assist, providing 24/7 access to emergency response centres provided by FocusPoint International.
CAT S75 Specifications
Network Properties
- 2G bands: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
- 3G bands: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
- 4G bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41
- 5G bands: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 23, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78, 255, 256 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave
- Speed: HSPA, LTE, 5G
Launch
- Announced: 2023, February 24
- Status: Exp. release 2023, Q2
Design
- Dimensions: 171 x 80 x 11.9 mm (6.73 x 3.15 x 0.47 in)
- Weight: 268 g (9.45 oz)
- Build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame
- Colors: Black
- SIM: Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
- IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 5m for 35 min)
- Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m
- MIL-STD-810H compliant
Display
- Type: IPS LCD, 120Hz
- Size: 6.58 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~76.4% screen-to-body ratio)
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
- Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Operating System
- Android 12
Hardware
- Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 930 (6 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
- GPU: IMG BXM-8-256
- Memory Card slot: microSDXC
- Internal: 128GB 6GB RAM
Cameras
- Main Camera: Triple
- 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
- 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
- 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
- Features: Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
- Video: 1080p@30fps
- Selfie Camera: Single – 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
- Video: 1080p@30fps
Multimedia
- Radio:
- Loudspeaker: Yes
- Audio 3.5mm jack: No
Connectivity
- WLAN: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Positioning: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
- NFC:
- USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Features
- Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
- Emergency SOS via satellite (Bullitt Satellite Connect service)
Battery
- Battery Type and Capacity: Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
- Charging: 15W wireless
Models: BM1S1B
CAT S75 Price and Availability
As for the price, the CAT S75 will retail for a hefty €599 (US$ 634). It is even available to pre-order from selected operators and retailers across EMEA. It includes a 3-month free trial of the Bullitt Satellite Messenger Essentials service plan, which includes up to 30 direct-to-satellite messages per month.
The company is expected to showcase the smartphone at the Mobile World Congress 2023 next week.
