Top 7 Offshore Phones

Posted On January 20, 2022

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In this market you have satellite phones and satellite communicators. There are only a few phones offering global voice calling and there are an expanding number of satellite communicators. The satellite communicators are phones without the calling. They are usually cheaper and focus on text, email, and SOS. We have reviewed both. Good luck on your search!

Inmarsat IsatPhone 2.1 Review

The Nitty Gritty

• Mid level price that you can usually find in the $700 – $900 range.
• The Inmarsat 2.1 is similar to the Iridium Extreme as far as durability with an IP65 rating. It can get wet no problem just don’t dive in the water with the phone in your pocket.
• It comes with an SOS button and has incredible battery life in its’ class with 8 hours talk time and 160 hours standby.
• The Inmarsat 2.1 doesn’t offer full global coverage but it’s really close. Like unless your ice fishing in Antarctica you are probably covered.
• Plans range from $40 to $110/Month based on expected usage. Incoming voice and text is free and outgoing text messages are .49 each.
• Overall a tough and widely popular offshore phone.
  
  
  
  The new Inmarsat IsatPhoone 2.1 features excellent battery life and exceptional voice quality. With near-global coverage and up to eight hours of talk time, this satellite phone is an ideal companion for outdoor activities. The 2.2-inch touchscreen provides easy navigation and is packed with convenient features such as hands-free earpiece and GPS location tracking. The phone also comes with a SIM card and a USB charging cable… read more

Iridium Extreme Review (9575)

The Nitty Gritty

• Priced in the $1,100 – $1,700 range depending on your plan.
• The main difference between the 9555 and the 9575 (Extreme) is durability and an SOS button.
• The Iridium Extreme offer military grade construction with an IP65 water resistant rating. That’s good but I don’t know about extreme. That means it can handle rain but don’t drop it in the water.
• The Extreme offers global coverage with text, email, and voice calling.
• Battery life is decent at 4 hours talk time and 30 hours in standby mode.
• Prices start at $50/Month on up with 20 minutes of monthly talk time at the entry level package and then around $1/minute.
• You can buy the Iridium Extreme with a preloaded sim card containing 100, 250, minutes etc but they expire after 60 days. Outgoing text messages are .15 each with unlimited incoming.
• The minimum contract length on the Iridium Extreme is 12 months.
• Overall a top offshore phone that’s tough and has true global coverage.
  
  

The Iridium Extreme 9575 satellite phone is a complete kit. This includes a travel charger, car charger, leather holster, USB mini data cable, magnetic vehicle antenna, and hands-free headphone.

The Iridium Extreme 9575 is rugged and waterproof. It has an ingress protection rating of IP65 and is dust-proof, shock-proof, and jet-water resistant. The Iridium 9575 comes with a hands-free kit and an antenna attachment. This is a great option for travelers who spend lots of time in remote areas or want to be able to call their loved ones. There are also a variety of optional accessories available, such as cases, holsters, and chargers… read more

Iridium 9555 Review

The Nitty Gritty

• Priced in the $950 – $1,500 range depending on your plan. The 9555 offers global coverage with text, email, and voice calling.
• Battery life is decent at 4 hours talk time and 30 hours in standby mode.
• It doesn’t appear to be very water resistant so be careful with it!
• Plans start at $50/Month on up with 20 minutes of monthly talk time at the entry level package and then around $1/minute.
• You can buy a 9555 with a preloaded sim card containing 100, 250, minutes etc but they expire after 60 days. Outgoing text messages are .15 each with unlimited incoming. The minimum contract length on the 9555 is 12 months.
• Overall a good phone with global coverage but on a boat the Iridium Extreme might make a bit more sense for the extra $150 .
  
  

The compact, lightweight, and powerful Iridium 9555 satellite phone is engineered for rugged conditions. It is connected to the only global mobile network, and its aerodynamic features and integrated antenna make it easy to use. It also has a built-in speakerphone and mini-USB data port. Whether you are traveling or just out for a picnic with friends and family, you can always be connected to email no matter where you are… read more

ZOLEO Satellite Communicator Review

The Nitty Gritty

• A newcomer and cheap (Usually around $200). It’s a little rugged box about the size of a wallet.
• Great battery life (200+ hours).
• No screen and an SOS button. So basically, your phone connects to it to send text and do other things like check the weather forecast.
• The Zoleo does not offer voice calling. For texting you have the same typical service plans as other satellite communications.
• The plans range from $10 – $50/Month depending on how many texts you expect to send. They do offer a unique feature that allows you to suspend your plan and only pay $4/Month.
• The Zoleo has slightly better water resistance than the others with an IP68 rating.
• Overall a solid low cost option. A positive and negative is that the device is heavily reliant on your phone.

The ZOLEO Satellite Communicator allows you to communicate with family and friends around the globe. The device pairs with your smartphone and allows you to send and receive messages from any location. The ZOLEO uses the Iridium satellite network to deliver messages. When you have a subscription plan, you can send and receive text messages using the device. However, you should make sure that you have a stable data connection before you begin… read more

Garmin Inreach Marine Bundle Review

The Nitty Gritty

• Small. Low end price usually in the $350 – $400 range.
• No calling but you have SOS and texting.
• There is a cool map feature that pairs with your phone buy you probably have a better map solution on your boat already.
• Good battery life at up to 50 hours and one of the more rugged units we have seen (MIL-810F). It has the typical IPX7 rating so good in a storm not scuba diving.
• Subscription plans are $10 – $50 / Month mainly dependent on the amount of text messages you need each month.
• Similar to Spot X you have unlimited preset message sending.
• For weather there is no radar but you can get marine specific forecasts sent to the device.
• Overall this may be the top unit in the lower price range.
  
  

A compact satellite communicator, the Garmin Inreach carries a 50-hour battery life and is durable. Its interactive SOS function lets you send a distress signal to a 24-hour search center. It offers access to GPS, downloadable maps, text messages, and weather reports. It also provides a variety of helpful information. Even the weather can be updated to help you make the right decisions. Choosing the right device for your needs is essential… read more

Spot X Review

The Nitty Gritty

• Almost the cheapest device on OffshorePhones.com ($250 – $350) It does the basics SOS and texting but no calling.
• Crazy long battery life with an average of 10 days.
• Subscription plans are $12 – $40/Month based on usage.  You have a limit to the number of custom texts you can send but in all plans have unlimited predefined texts. You can create your predefined messages (up to 14).
• The SpotX has the IPX7 rating so it’s good to get splashed on the boat, rained on, but probably shouldn’t go swimming with you.
• One unique aspect is it has an actual keyboard on it like the old blackberry phones. Most other phones have the number style keypad that you have to hit multiple times to choose letters.
• It’s main knocks are slow sending speeds and some users have reported that the Spot X can be a little buggy while having send/receive issues.  
  
  

One of the main benefits of using a SPOT X satellite communicator is that it supports 2-way messaging and direct communication with Search & Rescue services. The device has an SOS button for emergency use, which can send out SMS messages and email messages. The device also comes with tracking and digital compass capabilities and can share its GPS coordinates via social media. But, it is only useful if you’re using it in the event of an emergency… read more

Garmin GPSMAP 66i Review

The Nitty Gritty

• Mid level price ($550 – $800).
• Long battery life at 35-200 hours.
• This isn’t touch screen and of course you can’t make phone calls but you can text and email (no pics).
• The subscription plans range from $15 to $65/Month. The cost is based on usage for example up to 10 texts a month, 40 texts a month etc.  
• The 66i also has a weather feature that includes specific marine info like wave height but NO radar.
• Cool SOS button on the side that sends a message with your location to the Garmin emergency network. The SOS button has a cover over it that you have to pull off to then press and activate.
• The 66i has an IPX7 rating so considered waterproof but don’t go snorkeling with it in your pocket.
• Overall a very solid device. No calling but loaded with other features.
  
  

The Garmin GPSMAP 66i is a great, affordable option for people looking for a reliable handheld GPS. This ruggedized device has a push button interface that’s easy to use and a helix antenna for all position function. It also has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can stay connected while on the go. For those interested in taking their GPS to the next level, the 166i is a good choice… read more