There are phones that can run "true Linux" out there, and there even are ports of Sailfish OS for some of them, but Jolla phones were never part of those and rely on Android drivers instead.

But even the full software stack isn't European as it runs on a Mediatek platform (ie. all the cellular stack and platform software is from Mediatek, which is from Taiwan). It's the apps software stack on top of the Linux kernel that is potentially "European".

There are no longer any cellular chipset vendors based in Europe, afaik, so there's really no alternative. It's also hard to see how they will ever again be one.

https://forum.sailfishos.org/t/jolla-c2-out-of-stock/27573/5

Let us clarify here as it is very different indeed.

The Jolla C2 Community Phone is done in collaboration with Reeder, who is the HW vendor. This means Reeder sources the components, plans the production and does the manufacturing in Turkey. Jolla provides the complete software stack (Sailfish OS) which is installed by Reeder in the manufacturing.

In the new Jolla Phone everything is different. Jolla is the vendor, has designed the product itself, done the component sourcing and pays directly to the component vendors. We control the pipeline. Further, we have secured our position for the initial memory batch with advance purchase.

Also, to be clear: Reeder has no involvement in the new Jolla Phone.

Thank you for asking, very good points to clarify!

From what I understand it's the opposite, an android compatibility thing layered on top of a linux base.