Jolla Phone debuts with SailfishOS, Android app support, microSD, and a removable battery

Finnish company Jolla has officially unveiled its new Jolla Phone, a device that stands out with several features that have all but vanished from modern handsets: a microSD slot, an LED notification light, a hardware privacy switch, and a removable battery. The headline difference, though, is the absence of Android. Instead, the phone runs Jolla’s own SailfishOS, built on Linux and positioned as a spiritual successor to Nokia’s MeeGo.

While Jolla has moved away from Android as the primary platform, the phone still runs Android apps. The company says SailfishOS avoids Google services, doesn’t collect hidden analytics, and works without requiring a user account. The device ships with SailfishOS 5, which brings improved Android app compatibility (up to Android 13), a refreshed browser, and expanded settings and security features.

On the hardware side, the phone uses an unnamed 5G-capable MediaTek chipset, a 6.36-inch FHD+ OLED display, 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a 5,500 mAh battery that users can swap out themselves. The camera setup includes a 50 MP main module and a 13 MP ultrawide lens.

It’s a configuration that’s rare today—particularly the removable battery, microSD slot, and notification LED, which most manufacturers have quietly dropped. Interest has followed suit: Jolla reports that its minimum target of 2,000 preorders was surpassed even before sales began, with total reservations reaching 2,500. The company has already opened a second preorder phase. Placing an order requires a €99 deposit, deducted from the final price of €549 (about $639). Given the current market, this response hints at a clear appetite for phones that hand more control back to their owners.

For those who aren’t ready to buy new hardware just to try SailfishOS, Jolla notes that the system can also be installed on select Sony Xperia models.