The Volla Phone Plinius is a smartphone with a 6.67 inch, 2400 x 1080 pixel, 120 Hz OLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, and a semi-rugged design.
It’s also the latest in a line of phones from Volla that ship with a choice of two different operating systems: a Google-free version of Android called Volla OS or the Linux-based Ubuntu Touch operating system. The company started taking pre-orders earlier this year and says that the phone is now shipping to customers who opted for an entry-level model. The Volla Phone Plinius Plus should begin shipping in June.
The base model features 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a transparent back cover with a glass coating and frosted finish. The Plus model has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, plus an “extra-durable back” with a pogo pin connector “for future accessories.”
Both models have displays with support for up to 550 nits typical brightness or 1000 nits peak brightness and support for 10-point multitouch input even if you’re wearing gloves or have wet hands.
The phones are rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, and have a 5,300 mAh battery that can be removed and replaced, although you’ll need a screwdriver to open the case to access the battery. The phone has a USB 2.0 Type-C OTG port with support with support for 30W wired charging, and there’s also support for 15W wireless charging.
Wireless capabilities include support for WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G NR , and GNSSS navigation. There’s a physical nano SIM card reader and eSIM support, allowing you to use this as a dual SIM phone. There’s also a microSD card reader with support for cards up to 1TB.
Other features include 64MP wide angle, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro cameras, gravity, proximity, and light sensors, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and two user-configurable buttons that you can use to quickly launch apps to perform frequently used functions.
The Volla Phone Plinius sells for €598 in Europe, while the Plinius Plus is €698.