Posts

New Jolla Phone with Physical Privacy Switch & Sailfish OS 5 is Here

After a long silence, Finnish company Jolla has launched a new phone. It’s calling it Jolla Phone, with the tag line “independent European smartphone running SailfishOS 5.” The phone runs “actual Linux” on the inside, “not a pseudo-Linux.” But what users will see is a privacy-focused Sailfish OS. However, there’s Android app support.

The new Jolla Phone runs on an actual Linux OS

The company, in its post on X, says that every phone, be it iOS or Android, “they all phone home to California.” It notes that users’ data, habits, and conversations are processed, analyzed, and stored on “someone else’s terms.” To that extent, it says that Sailfish OS 5 is the only commercially viable European mobile OS.

Jolla also claims that with Sailfish OS, users need not worry about tracking, hidden analytics, and “calling home.” There is a physical privacy switch that allows you to disable the camera/microphone, Bluetooth, Android apps, or any other feature you choose whenever you want.

Replaceable battery, privacy switch, and more

Besides all the privacy perks, what you get is a 6.36-inch FHD AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a Corning Gorilla Glass layer. The phone features a “high-performance” MediaTek SoC. You get 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage that is further expandable via a microSD card.

For photography, the new Jolla Phone offers a 50MP primary camera on the rear and a 13MP ultrawide camera. However, the front camera details are unknown at the moment. There’s a 5,500mAh user-replaceable battery. Interestingly, the back cover is also replaceable, and the company is offering three color options: Snow White, Kaamos Black, and The Orange.

Other notable features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, 5G connectivity, Bluetooth, and, as said, a new privacy switch. The phone will get a minimum of five years of OS support.

Price, availability

Having said that, Jolla says that the tech specifications of the Jolla Phone are subject to final confirmation upon final payment and manufacturing, and minor alterations may apply. The company will only manufacture the Jolla Phone if it receives at least 2,000 pre-orders by January 4th, 2026. As of now, Jolla has received 2,630 pre-orders on its website.

You can pre-order the Jolla Phone with a down payment of €99 (~$116). The listing says the full price is €499 (~$582), while the normal price will be between €599 (~$699) and €699 (~$815). Pre-order customers will get a special edition back cover as a token of appreciation. The company notes the estimated delivery as the end of 1H 2026. It’ll be available in the UK, Norway, Switzerland, and the EU. The phone will expand to more markets based on interest.