Solana, the fast and scalable blockchain that is challenging Ethereum in the field of decentralized applications (dApps), has launched its first “crypto-ready” smartphone, called Saga. It is an Android device that integrates various features related to the world of cryptocurrencies and the Web3, and which promises to revolutionize the mobile experience of crypto users.
Saga is the result of a collaboration between Solana Labs and Osom, a startup founded by former employees of the defunct Essential, which deals with designing smartphones dedicated to privacy and security. The new phone costs $1,000, has 512GB of storage, dual rear camera lenses, a 6.67-inch OLED display, and a fingerprint scanner.
But what makes it unique is the “Solana Mobile Stack” (SMS), which is a series of add-ons and custom components that integrate the crypto utility into the phone hardware and software. SMS allows users to send, receive, exchange and store cryptocurrencies on the device safely and easily. To do this, it uses a "seed vault", which stores the user's private keys and keeps them separate from the rest of the phone's data, to protect them from being hacked or leaked.
Additionally, Saga offers a custom dApp marketplace, listing only applications related to the Solana ecosystem. At the moment, a dozen dApps are already available covering various fields, from trading to entertainment. These include Magic Eden, StepN, Jupiter and others. DApps do not charge any additional fees to users, unlike traditional marketplaces such as Google Play or the Apple Store.
Saga is also the first smartphone to include an exclusive NFT for the first 10,000 buyers. We are talking about the Saga Pass, a limited collection of NFTs that entitles you to receive your phone earlier than others, to participate in VIP events, to enter community forums and to receive free gadgets.
Saga is therefore a bet on the mobile future of cryptocurrencies, and represents the potential of a mobile phone that can function as a dedicated hardware wallet for storing cryptocurrencies, as well as a key product of the Solana ecosystem. The new smartphone will go on sale from May 8, 20232, and pre-ordered devices are already being shipped.
