Finnish company Jolla started out 14 years ago where Nokia left off with MeeGo and developed Sailfish OS as a new Linux smartphone platform. Jolla released their first smartphone in 2013 after crowdfunding but ultimately the Sailfish OS focus the past number of years now has been offering their software stack for use on other smartphone devices. But now it seems they are trying again with a new crowd-funded smartphone.
Sailfish OS has supported a number of Sony Xperia smartphones and a variety of OnePlus / Samsung / Google / Xiaomi devices and more maintained by the community. Last year Jolla also announced an “AI computer” as part of the AI hardware craze. Now though they are apparently trying again at their own in-house smartphone.
I haven’t received any official announcement yet from Jolla, the Jolla.com news/press area hasn’t seen any updates since November 2024, and no other official communications, but several Phoronix readers today have pointed out indications of a new Jolla smartphone crowdfunding campaign.
Via the Jolla Store is a “Jolla Phone Preorder Voucher” for 99 EUR. This Jolla Phone is advertised as a “independent European Do It Together (DIT) Linux phone, shaped by the people who use it.”
The pre-order voucher page says Jolla will only be producing the phone if there are at least 2,000 units ordered in the next month by 4 January. As of writing, 383 units for this 99 EUR refundable voucher have been ordered.
The total device cost will be 499 EUR or 599~699 EUR as the “normal” price with the voucher deducting from the phone’s cost if/when available. The Jolla Phone is being focused on the EU, UK, Norway, and Switzerland regions.
The product page promotes this Jolla Phone as running Sailfish OS, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and expandable up to 2TB, user-replaceable battery, physical privacy switches, and more. The Jolla Phone will be powered by a “high performant Mediatek 5G platform” without naming any specific Mediatek SoC at this time.
Those wanting to learn more about this effort for a new Jolla smartphone can do so at commerce.jolla.com..
