TECH – After a long quiet spell, Finnish phone maker Jolla is back and they’re doing it by steering clear of the usual Android/iOS rut. Their new Jolla Phone is now available for pre-order and touts a striking mix of modern features, old-school flexibility, and a privacy-first philosophy.
On the hardware side, the phone is no slouch: a 6.36-inch Full HD AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass, 5G connectivity, dual nano-SIM support, 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage — expandable up to 2 TB via microSD. The rear camera setup includes a 50 MP main sensor and a 13 MP ultra-wide lens, while the front selfie camera details are still unconfirmed. A user-removable 5,500 mAh battery and a back cover that comes off give the device a rare dose of repairability and user control.
What truly sets the Jolla Phone apart is its software and privacy stance. Running on Sailfish OS 5 — a Linux-based operating system — the device avoids the heavy data-collection and “always-on” telemetry typical to mainstream phones. “Mainstream phones send vast amounts of background data… Sailfish OS stays silent unless you explicitly allow connections,” Jolla explains. Despite its Linux roots, the phone still supports Android apps — balancing freedom with practicality.
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A handy physical privacy switch sits on the side, letting users instantly disable the microphone, camera, Bluetooth, and other sensors if they wish. The company promises at least five years of software support, which is quite generous compared to the industry norm.
As of writing, the new Jolla Phone can be pre-ordered with a €99 deposit, and will only go into production if at least 2,000 orders come in by January 4, 2026. Early-bird buyers get a discounted price of €499; once it hits retail, Jolla expects the price to climb to between €599 and €699.
Jolla offers three color variants — Snow White, Kaamos Black, and a vivid The Orange — and plans to ship first to Europe, while designing the phone’s radios to support global roaming where possible.
The return of Jolla and its new Phone feels like a breath of fresh air: a smartphone that values user control, privacy, and practicality over flashy features. Whether there’ll be enough interest to get it into mass production remains to be seen — but for those craving a different kind of mobile experience, this phone may just ring true.
