Jolla is back — and this time the demand is real. The Finnish company has officially launched the new Jolla Phone, Europe’s only smartphone built on its own operating system, and the response exceeded every expectation. The initial pre-order target of 2,000 units was met in under 48 hours, reaching 2,500 orders by Monday morning. Final assembly is handled in Salo, Finland, the same city where Nokia once became a global mobile giant.
A standalone European smartphone platform
The Jolla Phone runs Sailfish OS, a Linux-based, independent operating system that sits alongside just three other commercial mobile platforms: iOS, Android, and HarmonyOS. This makes it the only European alternative in a landscape dominated by the United States and China. Jolla positions Sailfish as a privacy-centric OS that avoids background data collection and removes the need for a Google account.
Jolla’s leadership is framing this as the start of a broader European tech resurgence. In the words of Antti Saarnio, Chairman of the Board, the company hopes its momentum encourages others to help rebuild a fully European mobile ecosystem.
Built in Salo — a symbolic return to Finland’s mobile heartland
Every Jolla Phone undergoes final assembly, software installation, and quality checks in Salo, Finland. Jolla says the location is a deliberate tribute to the engineering heritage that defined the Nokia era. CEO Sami Pienimäki calls the device a statement of intent — that Europe can still build its own hardware and software stack without dependence on overseas platforms.
Privacy as a core feature
Sailfish OS 5 is the backbone of the Jolla Phone’s privacy-first pitch. The device avoids hidden analytics, keeps background data flows to a minimum, and introduces a physical privacy switch that can disable the microphone, camera, and key sensors instantly.
For everyday practicality, Jolla’s AppSupport layer lets users run Android apps, including banking services and messaging platforms, without tying the device to Google’s ecosystem.
Second pre-order batch opens after rapid sell-out
The first batch of 2,000 units sold out over the launch weekend, prompting Jolla to open a second run of equal size. The handset is priced at €549 with a €99 deposit required at checkout. Deliveries begin in the first half of 2026 across the EU, UK, Norway, and Switzerland.
Technical specifications
• Display: 6.36-inch Full HD+ AMOLED with Gorilla Glass
• Processor: MediaTek 5G smartphone platform
• Memory: 12 GB RAM, 256 GB storage (expandable up to 2 TB)
• Cameras: 50 MP main camera, 13 MP ultra-wide, wide-angle selfie camera
• Battery: 5,500 mAh, fully user-replaceable
• Extras: Physical privacy switch, replaceable back cover, Dual SIM
Key performance figures
• More than 2,500 pre-orders across the launch weekend
• Minimum 2,000-unit threshold reached in under 48 hours
• Over €1.2 million in confirmed sales
• Final assembly based entirely in Salo, Finland
Looking ahead
Jolla’s long-term ambition is to establish a sustainable, home-grown mobile platform for Europe. The company plans to grow the Sailfish OS ecosystem and expand its hardware portfolio, working with regional partners to reinforce Europe’s technological sovereignty.
While 2500 pre-orders isn't near what Samsung achieves, the Jolla Phone’s comeback could be more than nostalgic — it might mark the start of a meaningful European counterbalance in the global smartphone market. Baby steps, perhaps.
