If you think a walkie-talkie is still the rugged, brick-shaped handheld radio with a long antenna protruding from the top… well, you are not wrong. But that’s for security personnel, events, and such. For sports, it has since evolved into a palm-sized gadget loaded with tech. The RugOne Xlink 7 Next-Gen AI Sports Walkie Talkie is so capable that it may have you questioning whether it is still a walkie-talkie. After all, walkie-talkies were never supposed to communicate across continents. And yes, this one does, thanks to 4G radio.
The Xlink 7 leverages a borderless 4G network to provide push-to-talk communication over distances of up to 20,000 miles. In other words, your riding buddy does not need to be on the next trail. They could technically be on the next continent. The device supports real-time hands-free group chat for up to five devices, making it suitable for cycling, hiking, skiing, motorcycling, and other outdoor activities where fumbling with a smartphone is less than ideal.
What makes the Xlink 7 stand out is how much technology RugOne managed to cram into a device weighing just 84 grams. Roughly the size of an earbud charging case, it combines 4G communication with AI-powered noise cancellation to help keep conversations clear even in noisy environments.
In addition, the built-in AI voice assistant can check the weather, tell you the time, adjust the volume, activate the flashlight, and handle other simple commands without requiring you to take your hands off the handlebars, trekking poles, or whatever sporting equipment happens to be in use.
The device is built for the outdoors. It carries IP68 and IP69K ratings, meets MIL-STD-810H standards, and is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -30°C to 55°C (-22°F to 131°F). Emergencies are also accounted for. Pressing the Action Button five times activates an SOS mode that sounds a siren, alerts emergency contacts, and shares your live GPS location through the companion app.
Other notable features include GPS, BeiDou, and GLONASS positioning support, a built-in TorchX flashlight, a wireless remote ring for hands-free operation, and a variety of wearing options made possible by accessories such as a magnetic back clip, sports armband, lanyard, and remote-ring straps.
The RugOne Xlink 7 comes in two versions. The SIM Bundle includes 12 months of service that activates upon first use, while the Standard version allows users to install their own compatible nano SIM card. Either way, it is difficult to look at the Xlink 7 and still think of it as a traditional walkie-talkie.
The RugOne Xlink 7 Next-Gen AI Sports Walkie Talkie will be available on Kickstarter soon. You can sign up to be updated when it goes live on the crowdfunding platform.
Images: RugOne.