Jolla Sailfish Mobile Phone and OS Review

Approximately one year ago, I started using Jolla Sailfish Mobile Phone after my not so great previous endeavour with Firefox OS. Thankfully Jolla Sailfish Phone indeed improved my confidence about alternate Mobile Phone Operating Systems. Experience of using a device with Gesture based user input is sleek and refreshing.

Sailfish OS is a Gnu/Linux based Mobile Phone Operating System by Jolla Ltd, from Finland. Sailfish OS is not a clone of Android OS. Its complete different and independent Project. It is a combined effort of Jolla Ltd and Sailfish Community. Some previous Nokia Engineers took forward the MeeGo Project to create Jolla Phone and Sailfish OS. Unlike Android OS, Sailfish OS is not 100% Open Source even though its based on Gnu/Linux.

Highlights:

• Full backward compatibility for Android Apps
• Gesture Based Input
• No Physical Buttons on phone except standard buttons for Volume and Main Power On/Off
• Jolla Store
• Sailfish OS Native Apps Ecosystem
• Minimalistic Nordic Design

Looks:

Jolla Phone Configuration:

• 5″ Screen with Gorilla Glass
• 2 GB RAM
• 16 GB ROM
• Sailfish OS (Current version 2.0.5.6 Haapajoki)
• Dual SIM – GSM + GSM
• SIM Type: Micro SIM
• WiFi
• Bluetooth v4
• 4G LTE / 3G / 2G Connectivity
• MicroSD Card Slot
• Micro USB for data and charging
• Audio Jack
• GPS
• FM Radio
• Front Camera 2MP
• Rear Camera 8MP with Flash

In India, Jolla partnered exclusively with Intex – an Indian Phone Hardware manufacturing company. Intex Launched Jolla Sailfish phone in India with brand name “Intex Aqua Fish”.

Screen-shots of the OS:

List of pre-installed third party apps

• Here Maps – Maps and Navigation
• Indian Intex version has Ganaa App preinstalled.
• Google Play Store Integrated
• Foreca Weather App

Native Apps you should install for better experience

• File Browser
• Processes Monitor
• Screenshot
• Firefox Browser

Official Video

Pros:

• Nordic Design
• Swipe based Gesture Input
• Sailfish Community Support and Contribution
• Full backward compatibility for Android Apps
• Native Sailfish Apps Ecosystem
• Live Multitasking of Apps
• Gnu/Linux Based Mobile Phone OS
• Good Non English Interface and Non English Typing Support
  I am using the Phone interface in my mother tongue – Maraathi and all the internationalization is quite good.
  I have configured it using inbuilt out of the box input method to type effortlessly in Maraathi anywhere in OS. Changing input language is done by holding down space bar gesture.
• 2GB RAM
• Android Support and Android Processes can be stopped completely!

Cons:

• A little slow performance for Android Apps since they are not native here
• Even though there are many Native Apps, Jolla Store still lack the richness of Google Play Store – but don’t worry All Android Apps are Supported on Sailfish OS out of the box and runs reasonably well.
• Photo quality not good when zoomed and clicked
• Video recording has some glitch frequently and video hangs for a fraction of a second.
• Contact Info can not be viewed directly inside Call App. We have to use People app to view full contact details. Not sure how its done in Android.
• Call App can be improved for features such as better history and management of multiple numbers

Overall Rating 8/10.

Credits:

Jolla and Sailfish are Trademarks of Jolla Ltd, Finland
Other respective Trademarks belong to their legal owner.

“The Taj Mahal at Sunset” Photo by Nedim Chaabene, is part of the Sailfish OS Gallery App and is available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic License.