Jolla Returns With a New Linux Phone Focused on Privacy

Jolla is making a quiet but interesting comeback to the smartphone world with a new device simply called the Jolla Phone. Instead of chasing trends, the company is doubling down on something most phones barely talk about anymore, privacy.

At the center of the device is Sailfish OS 5, a Linux-based platform that Jolla has been refining for years. The company says it is Europe’s only commercially successful mobile operating system and, unlike most modern platforms, it runs without trackers, background data collection, or Google Play Services. Even so, it still supports Android apps, making the switch much less intimidating for anyone curious about trying something different.

One of the more unusual features is the physical privacy switch on the side. Flip it on, and the phone instantly cuts off the microphone, camera, Bluetooth, and several other sensors. In a world where everything feels connected all the time, having a manual kill switch feels oddly refreshing.

The hardware matches the minimalist idea. The phone comes with a 6.36 inch Full HD AMOLED screen protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. It also carries a 50MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide lens. Inside, it supports 5G, includes 12GB RAM, 256GB storage with microSD expansion up to 2TB, dual nano SIMs, and even a removable battery, something almost extinct today.

Jolla is taking a community-driven approach to sales. The phone is now open for pre-orders at a €99 deposit, and early supporters get a special edition back cover. The discounted full price is €499, while the regular retail price is expected to sit somewhere between €599 and €699. However, there is a catch. Production will only begin if Jolla reaches at least 2,000 pre-orders by January 4, 2026.

Whether it becomes a niche success or just a curious moment in smartphone history, it is nice to see a company take a different route in a market filled with the same ideas.