A New Solana Mobile with Crypto Integration
Announced by Solana Labs on Monday, the Seeker had 140,000 users putting down between $450 and $500 to pre-order the phone. Although the original phone from Saga launched to lukewarm fanfare, following up with Seeker seems like a smart play in more than just another attempt at a “memecoin phone” for Solana. This time it lines up new hardware, an open dapp store — think the App Store and Play Store only for decentralized apps — and broadens its appeal beyond just token rewards.
Solana Seeker: A Crypto For Everything Device
This is the successor to its predecessor, the Saga, which went on sale in May 2022 and has generally been greeted with a tepid response. But a big memecoin surge, brought on by the 1,000% rise of Bonk (BONK), drove sales and the thing sold out in December. So it is understandable why Solana Labs seemed to have learned from the previous experience. But with the Seeker, Solana Labs General Manager Emmett Hollyer said he hopes his company anchors a new “rewards magnet,” one that serves ambitions of DeFi and payments and gaming and beyond.
Seeker boasts the enhanced decentralized app store and we can see free-rein development opportunities. This will provide the proper conditions for developers to quickly deploy new apps, allowing us to explore new narratives without the constraints of traditional platforms. Hollyer added that through Seeker users will have access to the many innovative token launchpads, a subset currently unable to see much daylight due to this 30% app store tax Apple and Google demand.
Solana Mobile Hardware Upgrade: Lighter, Brighter & Better!!
It also comes with a number of key hardware upgrades over its predecessor, the Seeker smartphone. The use of the tech specs was one of the main criticisms for Saga vs. some major models like iPhone or Google Pixel. To answer these points of feedback, the Seeker has gotten a brighter display, better cameras and battery life over the past few years, with Solana dubbing it “lighter, brighter and better.” The idea is that these hardware enhancements can help make the device more useful and well-suited to the kinds of crypto-centric apps users are liable to download.
But Solana isn’t going after the Apples or Samsungs. As Hollyer put it, the emphasis is still on delivering the most crypto utility possible in a mobile form factor — not launching the next all-in-one smartphone for mass consumers.
What Makes the Solana Seeker Stand Out?
The Seeker is poised to be the preferred device for crypto aficionados by providing:
- Zero-fee app store: Solana DApp Store is permissionless and encourages frictionless innovation in crypto.
- Improved hardware enhancements: Better screens, cameras, complaints and a few more tweaks to improve user satisfaction.
- A focus on DePIN apps: DePIN apps such as Helium and Infield are going to be natively supported by the Seeker hardware, but more details on that later!
- Rewards integration: Reward integration for users is still a feature of the Seeker, but it is part of creating and maintaining a full DAG ecosystem rather than being the center point.
Solana Seeker: Not Just a ‘Memecoin Phone’
Seeker has been structured to not only entice an income that could generate soil but something more of a family for other crypto projects to live on. Seeker looks to become a key player on the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN). Seeker integrates with apps like Helium and Infield to provide support for real-world crypto infrastructure, enabling users to interact with decentralized networks directly from their phones.
As an open DApp store model, Seeker accommodates the desired flexibility for developers to adapt promptly to trends that present themselves in this fast-evolving landscape. Hollyer added, “Whatever that next story is, whatever the next use case is, there can be a dozen apps in our store in no time providing that same use case. Maintaining and nurturing a fast, innovation-driven space is going to be critical for Solana in its quest to grow within the mobile segment.
But Seeker rewards are an area that still needs time to evolve. For example, Solana airdrop checker TwoLoot data reveals that tokens airdropped to Seeker users are only worth around $265, while Saga users received airdrops worth approximately $1,350. Although Seeker has yet to reach the same level of widespread reward potential, Hollyer is confident that its utility will be self-explanatory.
Should You Buy It?
Well, it depends on the consumer’s demand. Whether or not you should buy a Solana Seeker Mobile depends on a few factors, like what you’re looking for in a mobile device and what your priorities are.
This blockchain-integrated mobile device offers innovative features like secure wallets, decentralized app (dApp) access, and seamless crypto transactions, making it appealing to crypto enthusiasts. However, being a niche product, it may lack the broader app compatibility, support, and reliability of mainstream smartphones. If you’re heavily involved in managing Solana tokens, NFTs, or crypto payments, the Seeker Mobile could enhance your experience. Otherwise, a more conventional smartphone may better suit your needs for everyday tasks and broader app support.
