Solana has just launched its new smartphone, called Seeker. This device aims to be more affordable and packed with features compared to its predecessor, the Saga.

During the Token2049 event in Singapore, Solana revealed that Seeker is priced at half of what the Saga originally sold for. It offers a broader range of features, including an upgraded decentralized app (DApp) store, better hardware, a higher-quality screen, improved cameras, and a stronger battery. Plus, it’s lighter than the Saga, which Solana hopes will attract more buyers.

What’s really exciting is that Seeker comes with crypto-specific enhancements. It has a built-in digital assets wallet linked to a secure storage system called Seed Vault. Users can expect to engage with various experiences like DeFi, payments, gaming, and NFTs.

This is Solana's second attempt at entering the smartphone market. Emmett Hollyer, the General Manager, stated that they aren’t trying to compete with major mobile manufacturers. This comes after some users criticized the Saga for not measuring up to popular devices like the iPhone or Google Pixel.

Hollyer expressed their goal: “We want to make it easy for whatever the next trend in crypto is. There can be a dozen apps offering that same use case in our store within days.”

As Solana rolls out Seeker, it’s hard to overlook the criticism Saga faced. Its launch was marred by negative reviews from tech experts and crypto users alike. One major issue was that the Saga primarily supports Solana, making it difficult to use other chains. Security was another concern. As one user put it, “Would you carry your Trezor wallet around the world? Probably not.” They felt the Saga was just an average phone, especially with its initial price tag of around $1200.

Sales of the Saga struggled in the beginning. In August, Solana had to cut the price from $999 to $599 due to poor sales. Co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko even admitted he was unsure if they would sell 50,000 units by December.

However, things took a turn. Sales picked up when users rushed to buy the Saga to get an exclusive BONK airdrop. The BONK token saw a price surge of over 1000% in December, leading to a sellout of Saga phones in the U.S. Customers were eager to claim the token bonus.

Raj Gokal, another co-founder, shared, “Solana phone sales have increased more than tenfold in the past 48 hours and are on track to sell out before the new year.” In mid-January, Solana announced a second series of Saga phones called Solana Mobile Chapter 2, which quickly gained interest.

As of now, SOL is trading at $138.95, reflecting a nearly 7% increase in the last 24 hours. This aligns with the overall recovery of the market.