Jolla Resurfaces with the Jolla Phone: A European Linux Alternative Challenging the Mobile Duopoly

After a considerable hiatus, the Finnish company Jolla has announced a new smartphone, the Jolla Phone, positioning it as an “independent European Linux Do It Together (DIT) phone.” This re-entry into the competitive mobile landscape marks a significant moment for those who have long yearned for alternatives to the dominant operating systems, echoing a historical desire for open, user-controlled mobile experiences.

Jolla’s journey began in the wake of Nokia’s ill-fated MeeGo project, with former Nokia employees forming the company to continue the legacy of a truly open mobile platform. Their claim that the Jolla Phone runs “real Linux” – not a “pseudo-Linux” – speaks volumes to a segment of users and developers. While Android itself is built on the Linux kernel, its userland and ecosystem are heavily controlled by Google, leading many open-source purists to view it as a proprietary system leveraging open foundations. Sailfish OS, in contrast, offers a more traditional GNU/Linux stack, providing a deeper level of transparency and control that aligns with the ethos of desktop Linux distributions.

At the heart of the Jolla Phone is Sailfish OS 5, which the company proudly touts as the “only European mobile operating system.” This geographical emphasis is not merely a marketing ploy; it taps into a growing sentiment across Europe for digital sovereignty and data protection, a direct response to concerns over surveillance and data harvesting by non-European tech giants. Jolla explicitly states that with Sailfish OS, there is “no tracking, no calls home, no hidden analytics,” a bold promise in an era where user data often feels like the primary currency. The phone even supports Android applications, yet offers the option to completely decouple from Google’s services, providing a crucial bridge for users transitioning from the Android ecosystem without sacrificing app compatibility.

Delving into the hardware, the Jolla Phone presents a compelling package for its target audience. It is powered by a “high-performance” MediaTek SoC, paired with a generous 12GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage via microSD. The visual experience comes courtesy of a 6.36-inch FullHD AMOLED display, boasting a pixel density of 390 ppi and protected by Gorilla Glass. For photography, it features a 50MP main camera alongside a 13MP ultrawide lens, though details on the front-facing selfie camera remain undisclosed. Perhaps one of its most striking features, a nostalgic nod to a bygone era of user empowerment, is the 5,500 mAh user-replaceable battery. This design choice, along with interchangeable back covers offered in Snow White, Kaamos Black, and The Orange, stands in stark contrast to the sealed, non-serviceable designs prevalent in today’s market, echoing the repairability movement championed by companies like Fairphone.

Beyond the core specifications, the Jolla Phone integrates a suite of privacy and convenience features. A side-mounted fingerprint scanner, NFC, 5G connectivity, and dual SIM support are all included. However, the standout addition is a physical privacy switch, allowing users to instantly disable the microphone, camera, and Bluetooth – a tangible control that offers a level of assurance digital toggles often cannot. This commitment to user control extends to software longevity, with Jolla promising a minimum of five years of operating system support, a duration that significantly surpasses the typical support cycles offered by many mainstream Android manufacturers. Considering the rapid pace of technological obsolescence in the smartphone market, does this extended support truly address the underlying challenge of hardware aging, or is it primarily a software-centric promise?

The production model itself is an intriguing experiment in community-driven manufacturing. Jolla has adopted a “Do It Together” approach, requiring a minimum of 2,000 pre-orders by January 4, 2026, for the phone to enter production. This strategy, reminiscent of early crowdfunding campaigns for niche tech products, allows a smaller company to gauge genuine market interest and mitigate financial risk. With over 1,200 pre-orders already secured at the time of writing, the project appears to be gaining momentum. Priced at €499 for pre-order customers (following a €99 deposit), with a projected regular price between €599 and €699, the Jolla Phone positions itself competitively against mid-to-high-range Android devices, offering a unique value proposition centered on privacy and open software. Early supporters will also receive a special back cover as a token of appreciation, further solidifying the community bond. Deliveries are estimated by the end of the first half of 2026, initially targeting the UK, Norway, Switzerland, and the EU, with broader availability contingent on demonstrated interest.

“The Jolla Phone is not just another device; it’s a statement. It’s a testament to the enduring desire for digital autonomy, a physical manifestation of the belief that technology can serve humanity without compromising fundamental rights.”

The Jolla Phone’s emergence represents more than just a new device; it signifies a persistent effort to carve out a space for independent, privacy-focused mobile computing. In a world increasingly concerned with data security and digital freedom, its blend of a robust Linux-based OS, user-centric hardware design, and a transparent privacy policy offers a compelling alternative. As digital privacy concerns escalate globally, does the “Do It Together” ethos of the Jolla Phone represent a viable path for consumers seeking genuine alternatives, or is it destined to remain a niche endeavor for the most dedicated privacy advocates?

Ultimately, the Jolla Phone stands as a beacon for those who believe in a more open, private, and user-controlled mobile future, offering a distinct European voice in a global conversation dominated by a powerful duopoly.