Technology Jolla Sailfish pitches a "European phone" for users wary of Google and Apple

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Content source

https://www.techspot.com/news/111540-jolla-sailfish-pitches-european-phone-users-wary-google.html

Jolla is attempting something few smartphone makers pursue anymore: launching a new handset built around a non-Android, non-iOS operating system and tying it to a broader push for sovereign European technology, modular hardware, and privacy-centric AI. The new Jolla Phone and the still-in-development Mind2 AI computer form the core of that strategy. The initiative is squarely aimed at users who want modern performance without relying on US-based cloud platforms.

Jolla's return to the smartphone market follows a turbulent decade during which the company nearly collapsed, pivoted to licensing its Sailfish OS platform, severed business ties with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, and later reorganized under the new corporate structure Jollyboys. The reset produced a device assembled in Salo, Finland that combines mid-range mobile silicon, a Linux-based operating system with optional Android app compatibility, and a modular back cover system designed to encourage hardware customization.

 

[ForgottenSeer 114717]

Tried before. Failed utterly.

Purism - – Librem 5 USA

Introducing the – Librem 5 USA by Purism

puri.sm

$2,000 USD - "Made in USA"

The "failure" narrative generally stems from four specific areas:

1. Purism’s reputation took a massive hit due to how they handled early backers. Many users who pre-ordered in 2017–2019 didn't receive their devices until 2022 or 2023.​

• The Refund Trap: For years, Purism’s policy was to only issue refunds after the phone reached its "shipping parity" (meaning all backorders were filled). This effectively trapped people's money in a multi-year, interest-free loan to the company, leading to widespread "scam" accusations and even legal threats.
• Communication: Many users felt the company was evasive about why delays were happening, blaming supply chains long after other manufacturers had recovered.

2. Hardware: "A Brick from 2014"​

By the time the Librem 5 reached most hands, its specs felt ancient compared to modern flagships.

• Bulk and Heat: To avoid using proprietary "blobs" (closed-source firmware), Purism used an NXP i.MX 8M Quad processor. It runs hot and is physically large. The phone is thick, heavy, and has been jokingly compared to a "battery bank with a screen."
• Battery Life: Even in 2025–2026, getting a full day of "normal" use is a struggle. While software updates like PureOS Crimson have improved "suspend" modes, the phone still drains significantly faster than an iPhone or Android because it’s running a desktop-class Linux kernel.

3. The "App Gap" and Daily Friction​

Purism advocates for a world where you own your software, but that world is missing the apps most people need.

• No "Big" Apps: No native banking apps, no official WhatsApp/Instagram, and no specialized work tools. While you can use web versions or Waydroid (to run Android apps), the experience is often buggy and slow.
• Carrier Issues: In the US, major carriers like AT&T and Verizon have frequently "blacklisted" the Librem 5 or refused to support VoLTE on it, despite the phone having the physical hardware to handle it. This has relegated it to being a T-Mobile-only device for many.

4. The "Success" Argument (The Flip Side)​

To be fair to Purism, they achieved something no one else has: a phone with physical hardware kill switches and a 100% open-source software stack that actually ships.

• Upstreaming: Purism has done the "heavy lifting" for the Linux mobile community. Much of the code they wrote for the Librem 5 (like Phosh and libhandy) now powers other Linux phones like the PinePhone.
• Longevity: Purism’s software updates are intended to last a decade. They aren't practicing planned obsolescence; they just haven't mastered "planned delivery." However, Apple iPhones already exceed ten years of updates at a much lower cost per unit.

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The Verdict: If you wanted a polished alternative to a Samsung, it’s a failure. If you are a privacy activist who wants a device that cannot be tracked or bricked by a corporation, it's a flawed but unique success.

 

[Halp2001]

Attempts to break free from the duopoly always stumble upon big stones. Sometimes they don’t reach their destination, but they leave footprints that show where one can walk and where one cannot.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

LOL privacy phones, I have some magic beans to sell you. Just buy a iPhone or Pixel and use E2EE of choice, best you can do! Have people learnt nothing?

 

[LinuxFan58]

While Sailfish OS can execute Android applications through a compatibility layer, performance and stability are not guaranteed, and some apps may behave unpredictably.

Mhh looks like a deal breaker to me

Ultimately, the project serves as a real-world experiment testing whether a Linux-based mobile operating system with partial Android compatibility, modular industrial design, and a privacy-first AI companion can achieve meaningful market penetration in a sector dominated by two major ecosystems.

Android is Linux-based (as far as I know), so technically any Android device running a de-googled ROM is running a Linux kernel, so why bother?

 

[Zero Knowledge]

Mhh looks like a deal breaker to me


Android is Linux-based (as far as I know), so technically any Android device running a de-googled ROM is running a Linux kernel, so why bother?

All you need is Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp & a VPN all of which will be compatible no doubt.

The target market for this phone is not us, but other people who's life depends on secure comms such as some of your notorious NL brothers & kinfolk

But it doesn't matter really, a few developers (probably cheap contractors) up against entire nations intelligence and security apparatus? It's not going to end up well, never does.