What if you could talk to someone on the other side of the world with a walkie-talkie? Two days before leaving for China in 2026, I gave one PocLink POC-1 Ultra to my colleague Marino in Brindisi and took the other to Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. We were 9,000 km apart.
The live test: Shenzhen to Brindisi
The POC-1 Ultra is a radio that works the classic analogue way, but it also has a SIM card inside, provided by the company, so it can talk over the mobile network from anywhere with coverage. It was 5 p.m. in Huaqiangbei and 11 a.m. in Italy when I pressed the button: "Marino, do you copy?" He heard me loud and clear, even from a basement. It was sunny in Brindisi, and so hot in Shenzhen that the only cool place was an air-conditioned mall.
The lag was only about one second: as soon as one of us released the button, the other could answer. We talked as if we were in the same room. Marino was blown away, and my father keeps calling me to get Marino to bring it to him so he can try it.
What's in the box
They come in pairs, which makes sense, since one walkie-talkie alone is useless. Inside: two radios, belt clips, carabiners and a quick-start guide. Each one weighs about 130 g and feels more like a remote control than a classic walkie-talkie: solid, with a small colour screen, a big push-to-talk button and a short antenna. Charging is USB-C, finally. The 3,000 mAh battery is replaceable. I left mine in standby for four or five days and it was still at 40% when I used it in Shenzhen.
Setup was the easiest part. The SIM is already inside. I created a group with Marino, and the app unlocks more features, such as the location of group members.
No roaming, no phone bills
The best part is the cost model. The Ultra comes with an unlimited SIM that works out of the box in 80+ countries, including Europe and North America, with a premium option for 160+. No entry or exit fees: it connects through local 4G. I travel abroad five or six times a year and pay at least €10–15 for an eSIM each time, so it adds up. Next trip I'll leave one with my parents, agree a time, and just tell them I'm safe, without being glued to my phone. I also want to try it snowboarding with the kids in January, clipped to my helmet.
The honest cons
It's not satellite. On a mountain with no phone coverage you're back to analogue range. It's only splash-resistant (IPX4, according to the maker), so rain is fine but rafting isn't. And it's not cheap, at about €300 with coupons. Still, it's one of those gadgets I didn't know I needed, and one I'll keep using.