Even as the Solana mobile phone is gearing up to hit the market by the end of 2022, it looks like not many are eager to grab one. According to the on-chain analyst, NFTherder, only 2,851 people have pre-ordered the phone so far.
While Solana hasn’t announced a price yet, the device won’t exactly be cheap. The phone’s estimated cost of around $1,000 hasn’t worked in Solana’s favour either. So let’s take a closer look at what the Solana mobile phone is all about.
Solana Mobile announced its flagship Android mobile phone last month. Credit: Solana
What is the Solana mobile phone?
Last month, Solana Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, announced its plans to launch Saga, a flagship Android mobile phone for Web3. It offers unique features closely integrated with the Solana blockchain. Essentially, the phone will make it easier to make Web3 transactions as well as manage digital assets, the company claims.
“Saga sets a new standard for the web3 experience on mobile,” said Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana.
OSOM, a leading Android development company, designed and manufactured the Solana mobile phone. Its features include a 6.67″ OLED display, 12 GB RAM, 512 GB storage, and the latest flagship Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform. In addition, the phone will have an in-built Secure Element to secure private keys, seed phrases, and secrets separately from the application layer.
Do we really need a Web3 mobile phone?
This is a question that many are asking, including NFTherder.
“Maybe I don’t get it but does a blockchain need its own phone?” they tweeted.
For one, users had to pay $100 as a fully refundable deposit to pre-order the Solana mobile phone. Those who pre-order may also get a Saga Pass, an NFT “accompanying the first wave of Saga devices”. Then, the phone itself is likely to cost around $1,000. All things considered. Solana phone’s fate is anybody’s guess.
