Telstra T-Essential

  • 4GX
  • Blue tick tested by Telstra to ensure superior voice coverage in regional areas

Your included Quick Start SIM comes with: 

  • 10GB data
  • Unlimited calls & texts to standard Australian numbers
  • 100 texts to all international countries
  • Valid 14 days from activation
  • For use in Aus

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  • Telstra Pre-Paid mobile devices: Only work with a Telstra SIM card. Unlocking fee applies for use with a non-Telstra SIM card. Read more unlocking information.

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    Summary

    Manufactured by ZTE
    Brand Telstra
    Model Telstra T-Essential
    Display 5" FWVGA+ (960x480) 18:9 inches
    Storage 32 GB
    Battery 2000 mAh
    RAM 2 GB
    Operating System Android T go
    Launch Date 16/01/2024
    Network Support 4GX Yes
    Network Support 5G (SA) Yes
    Network Support 5G (NSA) No
    Telstra Blue Tick Yes

    Features

    Fingerprint Sensor No

    Performance

    Chipset SC9863A1
    RAM 2 GB

    Design

    Width 67.6 mm
    Height 137.35 mm
    Thickness 10.7 mm
    Weight 144.5 grams
    Colours Black

    Display

    Display Type TFT
    Pixel Density 214 ppi
    Screen Size 5 inches
    Screen Resolution 960x480 pixels

    Camera

    Front Camera 2MP
    Rear Camera 5MP with Flash

    Battery

    Quick Charging No
    Wireless Charging No
    Capacity 2000 mAh
    Talktime up to 15.5 hours
    Stand-By Time up to 404 hours

    Connectivity

    Wi-Fi Yes - 802.11 b/g/n
    Bluetooth Yes - 4.2
    NFC No
    SAR Value 1.216 W/Kg(10g-0mm,Limit:2.0W/Kg)
    eSIM No
    Dual SIM No - 4FF

    This phone is Telstra Blue Tick certified. That means it’s certified to give superior voice coverage in rural and regional areas.

    How do we test phones for Blue Tick?

    We do most of our testing in purpose-built facilities. Here we can simulate exactly how a new phone would perform as if it were held in your hand on the edge of a coverage area.

    We seal the handsets in our specialised echo-free chamber to ensure accurate tests. We then take the handset out into rural areas to replicate these test results. That way we can be certain that only the best-performing phones are awarded the Blue Tick.

    Read more about Telstra Blue Tick

    This device has a range of accessibility features. View accessibility features, opens in a new window.

    Our network

    The Telstra Mobile Network offers 4GX in all major and regional cities and in over 1,600 towns and communities around Australia. In other coverage areas around Australia, you’ll automatically switch to our fastest available 4G. Check our mobile coverage page.

    Telstra 5G now reaches 85% of Australians. Compatible device required. Roll over unused data when you recharge $13-$69 before expiry. Unlimited calls and text exclude satellite and premium numbers (e.g. 19xx numbers), operator assisted calls (e.g. most 12xx numbers) and diverted calls. Our FairPlay policy (PDF 227 KB) applies.

    Our speeds

    Speeds vary for reasons like location, distance from base stations, terrain, user numbers, hardware/software configuration, download source and upload destination.

    Download speeds are capped on our 4G and 5G network on some plans. Your capped download speed is the maximum potential download speed for data included in your recharge. Factors impacting typical speed include location, distance from the base station, local conditions, concurrent users, hardware and software configuration and download/upload destination.

    Telstra Pre-Paid mobile device

    An unlocking fee may apply for use with a non-Telstra SIM card. Check our unlocking information page. Limit 1 per customer and no trade sales. Blue Tick lets you know which phones are recommended for handheld coverage in rural areas.

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    Why choose Telstra?

    Australia’s largest mobile network

    Our mobile network covers 1 million square kilometres more than any other mobile network.

    Find out what coverage is available to you and how to maximise your signal.

    Industry-leading security

    With a cyber security team monitoring our network 24/7, we take protecting our network from suspicious activity seriously. 

    Unlock more with Telstra Plus

    Make the most of Pre-Paid with Telstra Plus. Earn points on eligible recharges to redeem on movie voucher deals, devices and more.

    Eligibility criteria apply to join Telstra Plus. 

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