Türkiye’s first homegrown smartphone from ASELSAN and Türk Telekom set for 2027

Defense giant ASELSAN and operator Türk Telekom are preparing Türkiye’s first fully domestically designed smartphone, to be produced in Malatya, with the first models expected on the market in the first half of 2027.

Türk Telekom CEO Ebubekir Şahin said production and testing of the smartphone the company is developing with defense contractor ASELSAN are under way in the eastern province of Malatya. The first models of the fully Turkish-designed phone are expected to reach users in the first half of 2027.

Türk Telekom CEO Ebubekir Şahin

The project will advance in three phases roughly a year apart: an Android-based phone first, followed by a domestic operating system and, eventually, a domestic chip. The devices will target the mid, upper and premium segments, with a focus on battery life, camera performance and user experience.

A view of Malatya, where the phone will be produced (file photo)

ASELSAN will handle hardware and manufacturing, while Türk Telekom will be responsible for software, content, marketing, distribution and branding, drawing on its 606 dealers and roughly 57 million customers. The phone’s name has not yet been decided.