A name you haven’t thought about in years is back with a new phone

Jolla, a name familiar to those with long memories, has reemerged, bringing with it a new smartphone it says is designed to take on the might of Android, iOS, and Huawei’s HarmonyOS.

Who is Jolla?

Jolla (pronounced Yolla, a Finnish word for boat) first arrived on the smartphone scene in 2011, after breaking away from Nokia, with a device operating system called Sailfish OS, which could trace its roots back to Nokia’s short-lived MeeGo platform.

Since then, Jolla the company has had a tough time, with some failed projects, financing issues, and a bankruptcy. In 2023, Jolla’s management and staff, including one of the original founders, took control of the business with a view to continuing the development of Saifish OS.

Today, Jolla is based in Finland, and sees Sailfish OS as a potential alternative to Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS for Europe. In its press release, Jolla says:

New Jolla Phone

Jolla quietly announced the new Jolla Phone at the beginning of December 2025, and the restricted device count of 2,000 units sold out over the initial weekend. A further 2,000 phones have now been put up for pre-order.

The Jolla Phone runs Sailfish OS, which is based on Linux, with a focus on privacy. It doesn’t send background data, and doesn’t need a Google account, but can run Android apps through a proprietary system, much like the Murena version of the Fairphone 6.

The phone has a 6.36-inch AMOLED touchscreen and is powered by an unnamed MedaTek processor with 5G connectivity. There are two cameras on the back, a 50-megapixel main and a 13MP wide-angle camera.

A physical switch turns off the camera and the microphone, there’s a replaceable 5,500mAh battery inside, dual-SIM support, and a swappable rear cover in case the bright orange isn’t for you.

How much does it cost?

The Jolla Phone costs 549 euros, which converts to about $640, but a deposit of 99 euros (about $115) secures one of the 2,000 phones available in the second run of devices.

Unfortunately, Jolla has restricted sales of the phone to EU countries, the UK, Switzerland, and Norway. It’s expected to ship during the first half of 2026.

However, it does indicate it’s working on releasing the phone in the US and Canada for the future. It adds that the modem inside the new phone will support US networks.

If the idea of a Google-free phone which still has the ability to run Android apps appeals, and you’re in the US, the Murena Fairphone 6 is a very similar proposition. It’s a little more expensive at $899, but is significantly more repairable than the Jolla Phone.