Subj : Forget Android vs iOS this new privacy-focused Linux phone promi To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Dec 08 2025 11:15:07 Forget Android vs iOS this new privacy-focused Linux phone promises to be the alternative we need, but it still runs Android apps Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:12:35 +0000 Description: The Jolla Phone runs Sailfish OS 5 and puts privacy first, while still working with Android apps. FULL STORY ======================================================================There's a new Jolla Phone up for pre-order, running the Linux-based Sailfish OS 5 Despite not running Android, it still supports many Android apps It's privacy-focused, and has a privacy key and a user-replaceable battery If youre tuned in to the smartphone world, then you might have heard of Jolla a company that made a name for itself with Sailfish OS, which is its own Linux-based operating system and which originally launched with the Jolla Phone in 2013. Since then, we havent heard much from the company, but now its back with a new handset, also called the Jolla Phone. This device runs Sailfish OS 5, so its among the very few smartphones that dont run either Android or iOS, providing a refreshing alternative for anyone sick of the big two. Of course, competing with Android and iOS isnt easy, so to ease the transition, Sailfish OS 5 still supports many Android apps. But theres no Google Play, so youll have to download them from third-party app stores. After a long silence in X, @JollaHQ is back. And we're bringing something Europe desperately needs.The Jolla Phone: Europe's independent smartphone running #SailfishOS 5.In 2013, when we founded Jolla from @nokia MeeGos ashes, people called us naive. "You can't compete with pic.twitter.com/A4YV2bQA6s December 5, 2025 Putting privacy first So, why pick Sailfish OS 5 over Android? Well, privacy is a big focus of this operating system. Jolla notes that with Android and iOS, your data, habits, and conversations can be processed, stored, and analyzed on someone elses terms, but that with Sailfish OS, your data wont be siphoned. That focus on privacy is also built into the Jolla Phones hardware, as it has a physical privacy switch that will disable the camera and mic, so you can be certain no one is listening in or watching you. Or you can configure the switch to disable other things, like Bluetooth or Android apps. And this new Jolla Phone has other unusual features too, including a removable 5,500mAh battery, so you can easily replace it when it wears out, or carry a spare for long days away from a charger. Beyond that, the Jolla Phone has a MediaTek 5G chipset, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a microSD card slot, a replaceable back cover with multiple color options, a 6.36-inch Full HD AMOLED screen, a 50MP wide camera, a 13MP ultra-wide, and a fingerprint sensor built into the power button. That specs list sounds mid-range, but the Jolla Phone is priced accordingly, coming in at 499 (around $580 / 435 / AU$875) if you pre-order it. The retail price is not yet confirmed, but it's likely to be somewhere in the region of 100-200 (roughly $115-$230 / 85-175 / AU$175-AU$350) more. So, this sounds like a niche but exciting prospect, promising a level of privacy you cant get on a mainstream smartphone, paired with some features we rarely see. Sadly, though, its currently only available in the UK and other parts of Europe, making it all the more niche. But if you live in one of those markets, you can pre-order the Jolla Phone now , though it isnt expected to ship until sometime in the first half of 2026. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too. ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/forget-android-vs-ios-this-new-privacy-focuse d-linux-phone-promises-to-be-the-alternative-we-need-but-it-still-runs-android -apps --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .