A rugged phone with a replaceable battery and no Google

German company Volla has unveiled its latest Plinius smartphone series, which bucks the current trend of closed-back designs. With the "Made in Germany" label, it brings a robust design, a replaceable 5,300 mAh battery, and a choice of two operating systems that prioritize user privacy. The device is already available for pre-order in the manufacturer's official online store.

Photo: Volla

They introduced two new mid-range models, the Volla Phone Plinius and Volla Phone Plinius Plus, designed for those looking for durability and greater control over their hardware and software. Although the phone is equipped with modern components, it retains some practical features that have long disappeared from larger manufacturers.

The device boasts a 16.94 cm OLED display, offering a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, ensuring a smooth user experience. The display reaches a brightness of up to 1,000 nits, and an integrated fingerprint reader is hidden under it. The housing is made with an emphasis on robustness; the IP68 certification ensures water resistance, and the phone is also shockproof. Due to its modular and durable nature, the device is slightly more massive, measuring 10.5 millimeters thick and weighing 230 grams.

Under the hood, we find a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, which powers the system without Google services. Buyers can choose between Volla OS, which is based on Android, or the Ubuntu Touch system. One of the biggest advantages is definitely the 5,300 mAh battery, which the user can replace themselves in just a few steps. Charging is possible via a USB-C interface with a power of 30 W or wirelessly with 15 W. Photography is taken care of by a 64 MP main camera (f/1.79 aperture) and an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera.

The pricing policy is clear. The basic Volla Phone Plinius with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage is already available for 598 euros. The more powerful Plinius Plus version, which offers 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of internal memory and additional pogo pin connectors on the back, will be available in June for 698 euros. The manufacturer currently only allows shipping within Europe and the United Kingdom.