Most people think there are only two ways to buy a mobile phoneThe choice is between accepting the entire Google package with Android or remaining within the closed iOS ecosystem. However, in recent years, independent European proposals have emerged, prioritizing privacy, user control, and free software over the convenience of having everything tightly controlled and controlled by Big Tech.
Within that movement, Volla OS and the Volla family of devices stand out. (Phones and tablets), a German project that combines Android without Google, Ubuntu Touch, and even multi-booting to run several operating systems on the same device. If it sounds like niche geekery, think again, because there's a lot of work behind it: custom hardware, multi-boot, microG integration, security modes, decentralized cloud, and a very active community.
What is Volla OS and how does it differ from a typical Android?
Volla OS is a mobile operating system based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) They've stripped it of everything that smells of Google: no Google Play Services, no Google apps, no need to log in with an account for the phone to work. You can still install Android apps via APKs or alternative stores, but the system doesn't depend on the American company's services at any point.
The proposal is based on three fundamental ideas: simplicity, intelligence, and security.Instead of cluttering the interface with icons, menus, and screens, Volla OS proposes a minimalist concept where the focus is on people, content, and the tasks you perform daily. The design is understated, with a clean and purist look that avoids the over-complicated interface of some skins like MIUI or One UI.
The heart of this experience is the so-called springboardA smart home screen lets you initiate calls, write messages, open apps, or search for information without having to navigate through multiple menus. The system anticipates your needs and reduces the number of taps required to perform any task. It's not a desktop cluttered with static icons, but a dynamic starting point.
Another key element of Volla OS's approach is its security modeDesigned to protect your device from trackers, unauthorized access, and malware, this mode activates additional restrictions, limits certain communications, and strengthens encryption, turning your phone into a kind of digital safe for when you need maximum protection.
All of this is built on an Android without Google, but with a compatibility option.If you need to use apps that depend on Google Play Services, you can activate microG, an open-source alternative that replaces a large part of Google's APIs, improving compatibility with banking or government apps without installing the official Google package.
Volla OS versus Ubuntu Touch: two paths on the same device
Volla's strategy doesn't stop at an un-Googled Android.The company also offers Ubuntu Touch, the mobile version of Ubuntu Linux maintained by the UBports community, as an alternative operating system on many of its devices. This makes the Volla Phone and Volla Tablet hybrid platforms where you can choose between the Android world and the mobile Linux world.
Ubuntu Touch focuses on convergenceIn other words, the phone or tablet can behave like a small computer when connected to an external screen and keyboard. The interface uses a sidebar for quickly switching between apps and a fan view for navigating between open applications. For those already using Ubuntu on their desktop, the environment will feel quite familiar.
One of the advantages of Ubuntu Touch is the absolute control over the systemYou have access to a terminal with superuser (root) permissions, allowing you to manage packages, modify deep settings, and treat the device practically like a small pocket PC. However, the catalog of native applications is much smaller than that of Android.
That's precisely why Volla offers a very unique multi-start optionThe multi-boot function allows you to install Volla OS and Ubuntu Touch on the same device and choose which system to boot when you turn it on. For some models, the community is working on adding other systems like Sailfish OS, Droidian, or Manjaro, turning the phone into a true mobile operating system laboratory.
The result is an interesting balance for different profiles.Those who want compatibility with Android apps and a smooth learning curve can stay with Volla OS; those looking for a pure Linux environment, with a terminal and desktop philosophy, can switch to Ubuntu Touch; and the advanced user can have both and switch as needed.
Volla OS in depth: simple, smart, safe and comfortable
Volla's official website describes the system with four very clear pillarsSimple, Smart, Secure, and Convenient. It's not just marketing; behind it are concrete functions that correspond to each of these labels.
In terms of simplicity, the goal is for you to spend less time glued to the screen.The minimalist interface, springboard, and reduced distractions aim to let you manage messages, calls, reminders, and content without getting lost in a sea of icons. The idea is for your phone to help you, not constantly demand your attention.
The “Smart” part translates to prioritizing people and activities over apps.Instead of thinking, “I’m going to open this app,” the system tries to take you directly to what you want to do: talk to someone, find a document, jot something down quickly, check an appointment. The springboard becomes a contextual panel rather than a drawer of static icons.
In terms of security and privacy, Volla OS completely dispenses with a mandatory Volla account or proprietary cloud.There is no central brand login or forced synchronization with external servers. The system is based on open Android without Google Apps, Google Play Services, or Google Cloud. User data encryption and security mode further reinforce this philosophy.
If at any point you need extra compatibility with apps that use Google servicesYou can enable microG from your system settings. This open-source component mimics many of the functionalities of Google Play Services, allowing apps that perform integrity checks or rely on push notifications to work better without installing the official Google package.
Finally, the “Convenient” section comes with Volla Cloud and Volla MessagesThe Volla Cloud doesn't rely on a large, traditional data center, but rather on Holochain technology, where the network is built between connected devices. Volla Messages allows for the exchange of highly encrypted messages between contacts and groups, creating a specific network for each conversation to maximize security.
Volla Tablet: specifications and dual operating system
Volla's commitment to going beyond mobile phones is embodied in the Volla Tablet, a 12,3-inch tablet designed for both content consumption and light productivity, with the unique feature that the user can choose between Volla OS and Ubuntu Touch as the main system.
In terms of hardware, the Volla Tablet features a 12,3” screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixelsMore than enough for working with documents, watching high-definition video, or viewing multiple windows simultaneously. Under the hood, we find a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, an efficient mid-range SoC that performs well in everyday tasks.
Memory is not lacking: 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storageThis allows you to have multiple apps open simultaneously and save documents, multimedia content, and applications without any hassle. Furthermore, the tablet can be complemented with a backlit keyboard case and a digital pen, making it much closer to the "2-in-1" concept.
In terms of connectivity, the Volla Tablet is quite complete.It features WiFi, Bluetooth, and support for 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE mobile networks via SIM card. The 10.000 mAh battery promises many hours of use, and the sound system relies on four speakers to enhance the multimedia experience.
The photography section includes a 13 MP main rear camera with autofocusIt features a secondary 5MP fixed-focus sensor and a 5MP front-facing camera for video calls or basic selfies. It's not intended to compete with advanced photography tablets, but it's adequate for scanning documents, video conferencing, and other occasional uses.
The tablet is initially being funded through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.Shipping is expected to begin in October 2024, with an entry price of €528 for backers in the European Union. International shipping costs can vary significantly depending on the destination country, so keep this in mind if purchasing from outside Europe.
An interesting detail is Volla's compliance historyThe company has already successfully delivered Android + Ubuntu phones to its customers since 2020, which provides some reassurance when supporting a crowdfunding campaign.
Volla phones: Quintus, X23 and company
The Volla family of mobile phones is designed in Germany and partly assembled in Asia., with the final production steps, firmware installation and packaging carried out in the country of origin, in addition to part of the manufacturing in facilities such as those in Bocholt.
The Volla Phone Quintus has become the brand's flagship device For those seeking a balance between powerful hardware, refined design, and a Google-free experience. It features a 6,7-inch AMOLED display, a triple rear camera system headlined by a 50MP sensor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor with 5G support.
Beyond the numbers, the Quintus is designed to look good in the handWith a striking camera module and a premium haptic feel, it uses Schott Alpha tempered glass on the screen, according to the company. The goal is to offer a device that is not only private but also physically pleasant to use.
One of the biggest selling points of Quintus is its multi-boot supportIt can come with Volla OS, Ubuntu Touch, or both via dual boot, allowing the user to choose which system to use upon startup. For those already accustomed to obtaining apps from F-Droid or the Aurora Store, the switch to Volla OS on this model is relatively smooth.
In terms of price, the Quintus is priced at around 719 eurosIt's not a cheap phone, but it's aimed at users who value privacy and software as much as the quality of the device itself. You can get discounts using promotional codes in the official store.
The Volla Phone X23, on the other hand, aims for a different profile: extreme robustness and a dual operating system.This is a rugged smartphone that meets the MIL-STD-810H military standard and IP68 certification for dust and water resistance, ready to withstand shocks, demanding temperatures, and harsh conditions.
The X23 features a 6,1-inch IPS display with HD+ resolution (1560 x 720 pixels)Sufficient for most everyday uses, although far from the sharpness of some high-end panels. Inside, we find a MediaTek Helio G99, 6 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage expandable up to 1 TB via microSD card.
In terms of photography, the device offers a 48MP main rear camera It features an 8MP rear camera (wide-angle) and a 16MP front camera housed in a notch at the top of the screen. It's not a phone designed for professional photography, but it's perfectly adequate for everyday photos and outdoor shots.
The battery is one of its most striking features: 5.000 mAh, 30W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging.And, very importantly, it's removable. This significantly extends the device's lifespan, as you can easily replace the battery without relying on a repair service or advanced tools.
Like other Volla devices, the X23 can be used with Volla OS or Ubuntu Touch.The official website also leaves the door open to other operating systems like Sailfish OS, Droidian, and Manjaro. The device is clearly aimed at open-source software enthusiasts, privacy advocates, and users who want to experiment with different ROMs without sacrificing a rugged device.
The dimensions of the X23 (160,9 x 80 x 12,2 mm) and its weight of 270 grams They place it in the category of phones that feel substantial in the hand; it's not a delicate or lightweight smartphone, but in return it offers durability and repairability, something rare in today's industry.
Volla's production, philosophy and accessories
The CEO of Hallo Welt Systeme, Dr. Jörg Wurzer, has publicly explained the complexity of the supply chain of their devices: from chip manufacturer MediaTek in Taiwan, through board designers and component suppliers in Asia, to the final assembly and firmware programming phase in Remscheid, Germany.
The final stages of production take place in Germany.Final assembly, burning, system installation, testing, packaging, and sealing are all part of the process. For some models, facilities in Bocholt are also used. Volla OS is developed on self-managed servers located in Germany and Finland, and the company also provides over-the-air (OTA) updates from its own infrastructure.
The brand is gradually expanding its local manufacturing capabilitiesStarting with accessories produced in Germany: felt cases made in Bavaria, cables from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and screen protectors made in North Rhine-Westphalia. Some of their suppliers are literally "down town," following a logic of sourcing as locally as possible.
This combination of partially Asian hardware, European assembly and development Volla joins other manufacturers like Fairphone or SHIFTphone in a trend that seeks to offer fairer and more transparent alternatives to the classic model dominated by giants from the United States and China.
Volla OS in the context of non-Google mobile phones in Europe
Volla is not alone in its mission to offer smartphones de-GoogledIn Europe, several key names have emerged: Fairphone, SHIFTphone, Murena, and Punkt, all with different strategies to escape the Google ecosystem and, in many cases, also the Apple ecosystem.
Fairphone, for example, has gained fame for its focus on sustainability and repairability.Their latest model, the Fairphone 6, stands out for its modular design with 12 easily replaceable parts and a long-term update policy. It can be used with Google's standard Android or with /e/OS pre-installed, an alternative operating system without Google and its own app store, App Lounge.
/e/OS offers access to a large part of the Google Play catalog through App Lounge, as well as open-source alternatives and popular apps packaged from secure repositories. However, not all apps work perfectly, especially banking or government apps that rely on specific Google APIs or DRM mechanisms.
SHIFTphone follows a similar approach, with devices designed in Germany and manufactured in China under supervised production policies.Their models are modular and repairable, and can be used with different operating systems: ShiftOS-G (Android with Google), ShiftOS-L (Android with less Google and F-Droid pre-installed), or /e/OS, among others. The SHIFTphone 8.1, for example, features a Qualcomm QCM6490 SoC, 12 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, a 6,67” AMOLED display, and a universally replaceable battery.
Punkt, from Switzerland, raises the flag of privacy with Apostrophy OSPunkt MC02, an Android-derived operating system focused on minimizing tracking and data collection, offers mid-range hardware with a MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, long battery life, and a focus on "less data, less tracking."
Murena, for its part, is the company behind /e/OS And it sells phones from brands like Fairphone, SHIFTphone, and even Volla with the operating system already installed, ready to use without Google right out of the box. Its App Lounge is one of the most integrated offerings in Europe for those who want to maintain compatibility with many Android apps without having to deal with the entire Google ecosystem.
GrapheneOS also appears in this scenario as a must-mention.It's an ultra-security-focused system that officially only works on Google Pixel phones. It offers memory hardening, exploit mitigation, and a benchmark level of privacy, but it relies on hardware manufactured by Google itself, which is why many consider it an incomplete solution if the goal is also to move away from the brand at the device level.
App stores, banking, and limits on de-Googled systems
One of the big questions when talking about Volla OS or any ROM without Google is what happens to the applications.As we have already seen, Volla OS can run Android apps, but it does not include Google Play or the official Google libraries out of the box.
The main alternative in this environment is F-Droid[Company Name], a repository of free software for Android, offers messaging, email, browsing, office, multimedia, utility apps, and much more, all with open source code. It's the first recommended stop for filling your Volla phone with reliable applications.
For apps that are only available on Google Play, many users turn to stores like Aurora Store.These act as alternative clients for downloading APKs without going through the official Google client. It's also possible to obtain installers directly from developers' websites, sometimes called "sideloading."
The biggest obstacle usually comes with banking apps, public administration apps, or services heavily linked to Google Play Services.Some may work with microG and a few extra tweaks, but others rely on integrity checks that can fail in a non-Google environment. In those cases, sometimes there's no alternative but to use the web version in a browser or look for workarounds.
Another sensitive point is push notifications.Many apps rely on Google's Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) to manage background notifications. On a phone without Google services, this infrastructure doesn't exist, so some apps might stop sending real-time notifications. Therefore, it's recommended to use tools that manage their own notifications or don't depend on Google Push, such as Tuta Mail or Signal.
Anyone seriously considering living without Google needs to be aware of these limitations.It's not impossible, but it does require reviewing which apps you use, looking for alternatives, and accepting that there may be cases where the experience isn't as seamless as on a standard Android device. In return, you gain control, privacy, and a less cluttered system.
Operating system alternatives: beyond Volla OS and Ubuntu Touch
The ecosystem of alternative mobile operating systems, including the Linux smartphonesIt goes far beyond Volla OS and Ubuntu TouchMany open source projects have relied on LineageOS, a community ROM that serves as the basis for projects like /e/OS or certain versions of Murena, and which is maintained thanks to the efforts of developers spread throughout the world.
LineageOS offers a relatively clean and up-to-date Android experience.However, it requires manually flashing the device, which isn't trivial for those unfamiliar with bootloaders and ADB tools. For those who are willing to try it, it's a powerful way to recover phones abandoned by their manufacturers and give them a second life without bloatware.
In the Linux field, in addition to Ubuntu Touch, projects like Sailfish OS stand out.With a very fluid gesture-based interface and a focus on technological sovereignty, or Droidian and Manjaro adapted to certain models. Some Volla devices are listed in these communities' compatibility lists, allowing experimentation without having to change hardware.
It is important to understand that many of these systems are still in a relatively early stage Compared to Android and iOS, they don't have the same app catalog, driver support can be inconsistent, and updates depend heavily on volunteers. Even so, they represent a crucial counterweight to the trend of increasingly closing mobile ecosystems.
For whom does it make sense to invest in Volla OS and Volla devices?
The ideal user profile for Volla OS and a Volla Phone or Volla Tablet is not someone who just wants a "cheap mobile phone for WhatsApp"We're talking about people who value privacy, distrust large platforms, and are willing to invest some time in setting up their digital environment.
If you're comfortable using F-Droid, try out alternative messaging and encrypted email options.And if you don't mind giving up some super-specific apps that are only available on Google Play, then Volla could be a great fit for your daily life. The system offers a fairly user-friendly experience compared to a pure mobile Linux, and the option to enable microG helps overcome some compatibility issues.
The multi-boot option turns Volla devices into a kind of "testing ground" For anyone who wants to learn about mobile operating systems without constantly changing hardware. Starting up today with Volla OS, tomorrow with Ubuntu Touch, and with some work, even trying Sailfish OS or Manjaro, is something few manufacturers allow so openly.
It is true that the prices of models like the Quintus or the X23 are in ranges close to the affordable high-end.Although some specifications, such as the X23's screen resolution, are typical of a mid-range device, the added value each manufacturer places on privacy, hardware robustness, repairability, and the development of an alternative ecosystem comes into play.
For many users, combining a Volla Phone with European email, cloud, messaging, and banking services is ideal. It represents an important step towards shifting their digital lives away from revolving so heavily around Google and Apple. It's not the most common or the most convenient path, but it is a coherent option that aligns with a different way of understanding everyday technology.
Volla OS and Volla devices represent one of the most complete proposals within the movement of mobile phones without Google.They combine a clean Android with advanced privacy features, the real possibility of using Ubuntu Touch and other mobile Linux distributions, hardware designed to last, and a more transparent production philosophy, offering those who are interested the opportunity to step off the path set by Big Tech without completely sacrificing compatibility and daily usability.
