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Jolla Phone Returns with Sailfish OS 5, Real Linux and a Hardware Privacy Switch

by ytools
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After years of near silence, Finnish company Jolla is stepping back into the smartphone game with something very few brands even try to build anymore: an independent Linux phone that openly puts privacy, control and long term support ahead of flashy benchmark charts. Simply called the Jolla Phone, it is presented as a European, community driven device for people who are tired of being locked into the usual Android and iOS choices and want a handset that treats their data as something to protect, not to harvest.

At the heart of the project is Sailfish OS 5, the latest generation of Jolla’s mobile operating system.
Jolla Phone Returns with Sailfish OS 5, Real Linux and a Hardware Privacy Switch
Unlike mainstream Android builds that come stacked with proprietary services and background connections to remote servers, Sailfish OS 5 is built as a privacy focused Linux environment where the user is meant to stay in charge. Jolla promises no hidden tracking, no silent analytics pipelines, no mysterious telemetry talking back home in the background. If you still depend on Android apps, Sailfish OS 5 can run them, but the company stresses that you can strip away Google services and use the phone as a fully de Googled device if you want a cleaner, more self sufficient setup.

This launch is also symbolic for longtime fans. Jolla was created in 2013 by former Nokia engineers who refused to let the MeeGo vision disappear, and many enthusiasts see the new Jolla Phone as a spiritual sequel to that story. A small European team, once again, is trying to prove that mobile platforms do not have to be defined only in California or Shenzhen. Judging by the early reactions from the community, people are not just excited about the hardware; they are excited that a company is brave enough to ship a different software stack and give users real levers of control again.

Hardware built for longevity and user control

On the spec sheet, the Jolla Phone aims for balanced, future proof hardware rather than chasing the latest spec war headline. The company talks about a high performance MediaTek system on chip paired with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Unlike many current flagships that quietly drop expandable storage, Jolla keeps a microSD slot in the design, which is important for anyone who prefers to store photos, videos and documents locally instead of renting more cloud space each year.

The front of the device is dominated by a 6.36 inch Full HD AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass. It is not chasing ultra minimal bezels at all costs, and early visuals show a noticeable notch and thicker borders than what you see on typical premium Android phones. That has already sparked debates in comment sections. Some people welcome a sturdier, more practical front that is less likely to crack, while others complain that the facade looks like something from a few years ago. It is a reminder that this is not a fashion phone; it is a niche Linux handset built first around function and repairability.

On the back, the Jolla Phone offers a 50 megapixel main camera supported by a 13 megapixel ultra wide camera. The selfie camera resolution has not been detailed yet, and there are no wild promises about beating the latest camera flagships. The message instead is that imaging should be solid enough for everyday use without pushing the price into thousand euro territory. Fans in the Sailfish community are already crossing their fingers that Jolla will not skimp on processing and tuning, because nobody wants to carry a second phone just to take decent photos.

Powering everything is a 5,500 mAh user replaceable battery, which in 2025 feels almost rebellious. Most phones today glue their batteries in and expect you to replace the entire device when capacity drops. Jolla goes in the opposite direction: you can open the back, swap the battery and keep the same phone for years. The rear cover itself is replaceable too, with announced color options including Snow White, Kaamos Black and a bold orange version, plus a special edition cover reserved for early supporters who join the preorder campaign.

Physical privacy switch and the enthusiast checklist

One of the signature features of the Jolla Phone is a hardware privacy switch that can physically cut power to sensitive components such as the microphones, cameras, Bluetooth and other radios. For users who do not fully trust software toggles or permissions dialogs, this kind of hard kill switch is a huge reassurance. It matches perfectly with the Sailfish philosophy of local, transparent computing, where you should always have a clear way to shut things off.

On top of that, Jolla includes modern connectivity basics: 5G, dual SIM support, NFC and a side mounted fingerprint scanner. Enthusiasts are still waiting for confirmation on details that matter a lot to them, such as a 3.5 millimetre headphone jack, FM radio support and full USB OTG capabilities. In online discussions you can already see checklists emerging: no useless two megapixel macro, dedicated microSD slot is a must, removable battery is a big win, give us sensible bezels and maybe a higher refresh rate if it does not destroy battery life. Some readers say they would prefer LTPO or a 120 hertz panel, while others are very clear that they would rather sacrifice visual gimmicks to keep endurance and privacy as the main priorities.

Performance doubts and community expectations

The biggest question mark right now is the exact MediaTek chip that will sit at the heart of the device. Jolla’s mention of a high performance processor has sparked a lot of speculation. Power users argue that anything below a strong mid range Dimensity from the 8000 family would feel underwhelming for a phone that is meant to remain responsive over at least five years. They do not want to pay near flagship money only to end up with a chipset that struggles with heavy web apps or future versions of Sailfish OS.

At the same time, many long time Sailfish users say they are willing to accept slightly less raw horsepower if it means a cleaner system and better long term support. Jolla is promising a minimum of five years of operating system updates, which already puts the Jolla Phone ahead of most mid range Android devices that quietly stop receiving attention after two or three major releases. For people who are fed up with disposable phones and short update cycles, the promise of extended software support on a privacy first Linux handset is a strong hook.

Preorders, pricing and availability

The Jolla Phone is being launched as a community funded production run. The company is very direct about the conditions. The phone will only be manufactured if at least 2,000 units are preordered by early January 2026. At the time of the announcement, more than half of that goal had already been reached, which suggests there is a real audience for a European, privacy centric smartphone that dares to be different.

To reserve a unit, buyers currently place a 99 euro refundable deposit. For those early backers, the full price of the phone is set at 499 euro. Jolla expects that the normal retail price, if and when the device goes into broader sales, will land somewhere between 599 and 699 euro. If the community goal is not met and the production run cannot go ahead, the company says the deposit will be refunded, which reduces the financial risk for people who decide to support the project now.

Initial availability covers the European Union, the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland, with deliveries currently estimated for the end of the first half of 2026. Jolla notes that the hardware itself will work outside of Europe and that additional markets may be added later if there is enough interest. In typical internet fashion, some commenters are already joking that a phone with no built in trackers and a hardware kill switch is exactly the kind of device certain authorities will dislike, but those jokes only underline how rare it has become to see a handset that takes privacy this seriously.

Whether the Jolla Phone becomes a small cult classic or remains a limited edition curiosity, its message is clear. There is still room in the smartphone world for devices that prioritise user agency, repairability and data protection over chasing the latest trend. For Linux fans, open source advocates and privacy conscious users who have been waiting for something different, Jolla’s return with Sailfish OS 5 and a hardware privacy switch feels surprisingly close to a modern Christmas miracle.

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1 comment

Registrera dig December 27, 2025 - 3:58 am

Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!

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