Solana Mobile is making waves after unveiling its second web3 phone, named “Chapter 2,” this week. While its initial handset, Saga, experienced a gradual surge in sales that eventually led to a complete sellout in the U.S. and European Union, the Chapter 2 is witnessing a significantly faster depletion.
The demand for Chapter 2 is so intense that Solana Mobile achieved its 7-day sales goal within the first 24 hours, as disclosed by Raj Gokal, co-founder of Solana and president of Solana Labs, in an exclusive statement to TechCrunch. Within the initial 24 hours of the phone’s announcement, Solana Mobile received over 25,000 preorders, and by the 30-hour mark, this figure escalated to 30,000 preorders. Consequently, this new device has already surpassed the sales of Solana’s first handset, Saga, over a period of 12 months.
Chapter 2 retains similar features to its predecessor; it is based on Android, equipped with a built-in crypto wallet, a Seed Vault, and a “dApp store” for decentralized crypto applications. Priced at $450, it offers a more economical option compared to Saga’s $599 price tag. The Chapter 2 is set to be shipped in the first half of 2025, according to a Solana spokesperson.
Raj Gokal emphasized the significant opportunity Chapter 2 presents for crypto app teams aiming to incentivize their users. It provides a concentrated distribution channel to dedicated users, enabling this without incurring prohibitive app store fees.
Reflecting on Saga’s journey, Solana’s first smartphone faced weak demand upon its mid-2023 launch at $1,000, prompting a price reduction to $599. Despite initially going unnoticed in the crowded smartphone market, Saga gained attention when a decentralized application (dApp) associated with the BONK memecoin offered 30 million BONK tokens to Saga owners for free. This resulted in a rapid sellout of Saga, attracting thousands of daily requests for more.
Solana now aims to replicate this success with Chapter 2, acknowledging that the Saga genesis token, a non-transferrable NFT accompanying every Saga for redeeming rewards, will not be available for Chapter 2 owners. The company plans to build on this experience in Chapter 2, focusing on wider distribution, greater accessibility, and leveraging insights gained over the last two years to enhance flexibility for developers and users. The new device, in development for over a year, aims to provide complete freedom for crypto developers and users by eliminating restrictions on tokens or NFTs and avoiding prohibitive fees. Chapter 2 has launched with sponsors including Backpack, Tensor, Phantom, Solflare, Magic Eden, and Drip, all planning to reward owners.