Solana Seeker: The New Crypto Smartphone

Solana SOL -0.84% Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, unveiled its second crypto smartphone named Solana Seeker at TOKEN2049 in Singapore. This follows its previously announced device, Chapter Two, which launched presales in January 2023.

Presales and Demand

Solana Mobile reports that presales for the Seeker have surpassed 140,000 units across 57 countries. Expected to ship by mid-2025, the device is developed in collaboration with hardware firm Fxtec. Emmett Hollyer, Solana Mobile General Manager, described the strong community support as “remarkable,” indicating a unifying mission for web3 mobile.

Name Inspiration

The name “Seeker” draws from a quote by Alan Watts: “It is the seeker who understands there is more than what meets the eye…” Hollyer emphasizes that the name reflects both the device’s nature and its intended users’ mindset.

Pricing and Comparison to Saga

Initially, the Saga smart phone launched at $1,000 but was later cut to $599 after struggling with uptake. It gained traction when bundled with 30 million tokens of a popular memecoin. The new Seeker device is offered at a preorder price of $450, set to return to $500 post-September 21.

Token Incentives

Recent cat-themed memecoin airdrops contributed to a surge in demand, reminiscent of past sales spikes, as airdrop tokens covered the cost of the device.

Features of Solana Seeker

The Seeker includes features such as a Seed Vault Wallet, enabling streamlined transactions, and a new version of the Solana dApp Store for easy access to various applications. It also introduces the Seeker Genesis Token, a soulbound NFT that unlocks rewards and benefits within the Solana ecosystem, signaling VIP membership.

Community Response and Future Plans

Community engagement has led to a push for exclusive dApps and features ahead of launch. Anatoly Yakovenko, Solana co-founder, envisions Seeker as an accessible, integrated solution for web3, boasting enhanced hardware and software capabilities.

Conclusion

The expectations around the Seeker smartphone are high, with features aimed at making it a strong competitor in the web3 mobile space by its release in 2025.