Murena Volla is a 12.6-inch privacy-focused tablet running /e/OS and designed for users seeking a Google-free experience. While the hardware is developed in collaboration with German-based Volla, the Murena edition comes preloaded with the Android-based /e/OS and integrated Murena cloud services for users who want full control over their personal data.
The tablet is built around a MediaTek Helio G99 octa-core processor paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. The device also features a USB Type-C port, Wi-Fi 6, 4G LTE support (Europe only), and 13MP rear and 5MP front-facing cameras. Applications include secure business use, education, and family environments for privacy-first media, communication, and document management workflows.
Murena Volla Tablet Specifications:
- SoC – MediaTek Helio G99 (Most probably a MT8781)
- CPU – Octa-core processor with 2x ARM Cortex-A76 cores @ 2.2 GHz, 6x ARM Cortex-A55 cores @ 2.0 GHz
- GPU – ARM Mali-G57 MC2
- VPU
- Video Encoding – H.264, H.265 / HEVC up to 2K 30fps, FHD 60fps, HD 120fps
- Video Playback – H.264, H.265 / HEVC, VP-9 up to 2K 30fps, FHD 60fps, HD 120fps
- Memory – 12GB RAM
- Storage
- 512GB internal flash
- Presumably microSD support based on typical Helio G99 implementations and the original Volla tablet, though not explicitly listed
- Display – 12.6-inch display with 2560 x 1600 resolution; 240 ppi pixel density; 400 nits brightness
- Cameras
- Rear (Primary) – 13 MP
- Front (Selfie) – 5 MP
- Audio – USB-C audio or Bluetooth required (no 3.5mm headphone jack)
- Connectivity
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 – 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax; Wi-Fi Direct supported
- Bluetooth v5.2 (SoC specs)
- Cellular – Single Nano SIM slot with 4G LTE/ 3G/ 2G support
- Note: Outside of Europe, the device functions primarily as a Wi-Fi tablet.
- USB – 1x USB Type-C port for power and data
- Sensors – Compass, Proximity (via accessories only)
- Security – No fingerprint reader; privacy-hardened OS
- Power – 10,000 mAh non-removable Li-Polymer battery rechargeable via USB Type-C port
- Dimensions – 291.1 x 189.3 x 8 mm
- Weight – 500 grams
The tablet runs /e/OS based on Android 14 without Google Mobile Services (GMS), which is not ancient, but it’s a bit on the older side considering Google just released a public beta for Android 17. It uses “MicroG” to provide limited compatibility with apps that require Google services without actually sending telemetry to Google. It includes the “App Lounge,” which provides a privacy score for every app, and “Advanced Privacy” features that allow users to spoof their GPS location or block trackers at the system level. For ease of use, various open-source default applications, such as a browser, mail, maps, calendar, and file manager, are available. The system supports most standard Android APKs, provides regular security patches (targeting updates at least every two months), and integrates optional Murena cloud services for synchronized email, contacts, calendar, and file storage.
Previously, we wrote about similar Linux-based, privacy-focused tablets such as the PineTab2, Juno Tab 3, and Purism Librem 11, but the Murena Volla is designed for users who prefer a Google-free Android environment over a pure Linux-based system.
The Murena Volla Tablet costs US$798.00 or 698 Euros, but it is currently out of stock. You can join the waitlist, and new units usually ship within two weeks once available. Murena ships to the EU, USA, UK, Switzerland, and other regions.
Via Liliputing
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress. We also use affiliate links in articles to earn commissions if you make a purchase after clicking on those links.
I’m still honestly wondering what people are doing with their tablets. There was a bit of hype around this 10 years ago, with vendors claiming these would replace computers. Everyone bought one, and now it’s super hard to find anyone still having one. All those I know who once got one have either trashed them because they were already dead or obsolete, or kept them discharged in a drawer because their kids grew and stopped playing childish games on them. I bought one and never found any single use case for it. I once thought about using it to read chip datasheets while I’m hacking hardware stuff, but browsers are too painful and download the datasheet which you then have to find in download directories to launch via a PDF reader, etc. Not to mention the fact that it’s much harder to maintain in a proper view angle than an articulated laptop screen. Finally after several years not using it I found a single use case: I installed an X server on it, etched a wood stand with my laser engraver, and am using it as a remote screen to continuously display my maillog in rxvt in order to see when I’m getting e-mails. I doubt people spent $700 for that sort of ridiculous use case. My analysis is that such devices are just doing a little bit of everything but nothing completely. There’re not completely computers, not completely mobile devices, not completely book readers, etc. Having a laptop, a smartphone or a book reader totally voids the benefits of these devices by being more convenient, more suitable, faster or more mobile. That’s why I’m still wondering what people can still do with such half-assed devices…
While not the target of this specific tablet, students in Thailand don’t seem to use notebooks (paper + pen style), but they take notes on iPads or similar tablets.
When I was working in aviation most of our US suppliers’ sales guys came with ipad+BT keyboard+a bag full of adapter cables
In supermarkets, you can also regularly observe food industry representatives (e. g. from Lindt, Mars, Coca Cola) checking their products’ presence in the shelves and informing the markets about price or product changes. They are usually equipped with tablets.
No way I would pay $800 for a tablet.
But I do keep a cheap $75 Amazon Fire tablet on the coffee table and use it to surf the web (like right now) and as a remote extension of my desktop using RDP. I can do “real work” in a more comfortable way than is possible with a phone.
And the grandkids also like to use it to play Roblox.
I loved my 3G capable tablet but a south Korean supplier decided not to support it after a couple of months. Outdated android 4, what a pleasure…
This killed my motivation for tablets sustainably.
Nowadays I use again a laptop more often than when I had my tablet.
I ignored tablets for a long time, before picking up a Galaxy Tab A7 Lite for $25. So you can guess my level of interest in an $800 boutique tablet.
What it’s great for is vertical reading and scrolling, such as comics/manga and news articles. That’s where it shines. It’s a better web browsing device than a phone simply from having a larger screen. Video is ok, but bigger is always better. I can use it to remotely connect to another computer if I’m lazy, but there’s lag and using touch to replicate mouse actions on a PC isn’t great.
I prefer laptops for providing a real keyboard, larger screens by default, and you’re right on the money about the hinge maintaining a comfortable view angle. You can add a keyboard to a tablet, usually for a decent chunk of money, and is it ever as good?
I think foldable smartphones are likely to kill the high-end tablet for many people in the future. Suddenly, you can get tablet size benefits with the device you already carry everywhere. But they need to become cheaper and/or more reliable.
There will always be a place for budget tablets as a cheap reading device or as a distraction device for children, as horrifying as the implications of that are.
I personally watch videos, surf and read books/manga in bed. Sometimes I use it on the go to fix some code “in the field”. Used to have Samsung tablet with ad blockers before, now I use a Windows one, with BT keyboard cover.
My wife uses her Android tablet to keep all kinds of study materials, references and books (she is a lecturer in Uni), so she can look up or show something quicky. Also, she can review papers, add notes, this kind of stuff, with a pen.
Depends on lifestyle, basically. I have same question for people with smart watches: I have notifications disabled even on the phone and can’t understand why someone wants it on their wrists. And I bought my first (and only) smartwatch in 2010 and wanted to make one since 2007 thinking it will be convenient. But say people with kids or with a lot of face-to face meetings find it very useful.
Thanks for the feedback. Regarding watches I agree. I know a few people having one, I asked them what they find interesting there, and each time the response was a fuzzy “oh it’s not that bad”, basically meaning to me “I put too much money into this gadget and now I have to invent use cases to convince me it was not wasted”. Not sure they will renew them once the devices die.
I really appreciate my smartwatch when I need to receive OTP notifications. I don’t always know where my phone is in the house, and the notification just pops up on my smartwatch. I also like to have a quick way to check the time (a regular watch would do too), and I use it as a fitness tracker as well. I also use it almost daily to find my smartphone :). I’m using an Amazfit GTS4 Mini smartwatch.
according to the last report from my ipad mini, i’ve used it approximately 4 hours per day last week. mostly for watching movies/tv shows and browsing/reading various articles. it’s much more convenient/comfortable for me to do that on the ipad than sitting at the desk. I’ve been delaying buying a TV for 2 years now because of the ipad.
i take notes on ipad.
The problem i have with tablets and electronics in general , is the long term support.