Jolla Phone Pre-Order

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Hardware & Design Choices

  • Many like the specs, user-replaceable battery, and “Linux phone” positioning.
  • Lack of 3.5mm jack is a deal-breaker for some; others say cheap USB‑C dongles are fine and can even have good DACs.
  • Size (~158×74mm) is considered too big by small‑phone fans, who lament that the supply chain no longer supports high‑end small panels.
  • Camera bump and notch are disliked by some (“HMD/Nokia made the same mistake”), though others say most people use cases anyway.
  • Based on a MediaTek SoC, which turns off some technically minded buyers.

SailfishOS / “Real Linux” Appeal and Limitations

  • Enthusiasts praise SailfishOS as a real Linux distro (Wayland, glibc, rpm, zypper, ssh, root toggle), great for tinkering and terminal use.
  • Others argue “real Linux on a phone” implies worse UX and weaker security model than hardened Android (e.g., GrapheneOS).
  • Sailfish’s mixed open/closed nature is contentious: middleware largely open, but some UI/“Lipstick/Silica” parts and driver blobs remain proprietary. Jolla has recently started open‑sourcing more core apps and components.

Apps, Android Layer & Real‑World Compatibility

  • Android app support is seen as essential but imperfect: historic issues with an outdated browser engine and aging Android runtime made SFOS feel like a “sub‑standard Android phone.”
  • Users report many Android apps (incl. WhatsApp) work via AppSupport/Aurora, but:
    • Bluetooth passthrough to Android apps and some NFC use cases are missing or hacky.
    • Some banking/ID apps (e.g., BankID, transport, 2FA) don’t work, which is a deal‑breaker for many.
  • There’s debate whether Jolla is “ignoring” such requests versus simply being too small to implement all edge‑cases.

Privacy, Kill Switches & “No Phoning Home”

  • A configurable “privacy switch” (software‑controlled) is viewed as a nice idea but misleadingly named; some want true hardware kill switches per sensor like PinePhone/Librem 5.
  • “Governed by European privacy” is viewed skeptically; some want explicit user‑centric principles instead.

Market, Business Model & Availability

  • Jolla’s target audience is debated: page heavily emphasizes “Linux,” which resonates with power users, yet hardware/marketing seems aimed at a broader consumer base.
  • Some argue Jolla should stick to software and partner with major OEMs instead of low‑volume own hardware; others note they already offer Sailfish X for certain Sony Xperia models.
  • Initial market is Europe only; US/Canada excluded for now, with spectrum and litigation risk cited as reasons. Some Americans would import anyway if bands work.

Trust, History & Risk (Tablet Fiasco)

  • The failed 2014 Jolla Tablet crowdfunding looms large:
    • Some backers say they never got devices, refunds, or even vouchers and call this a “rug pull.”
    • Others report partial or full refunds, sometimes years later, funded after new investment.
  • This mixed experience leads several commenters to refuse pre‑orders, while others feel the company has learned and improved.

Form Factor, Keyboards & Alternatives

  • Desire for a hardware keyboard (N900 nostalgia) is strong among some Linux fans; others argue the keyboard market is too small and most users prefer thin touchscreen slabs.
  • Comparisons and trade‑offs are discussed vs. Librem 5, PinePhone, Fairphone, GrapheneOS Pixels, and modular/cyberdeck‑style projects; some are excited by experimentation, others feel burned out by underpowered, unreliable “enthusiast” devices.