Think building a successful smartphone like the iPhone or Galaxy is tough?
You're right!
Thanks to fierce competition, technological complexity, and evolving consumer expectations, it seems almost impossible. But dissatisfaction with the Apple App Store and Google Play Store is driving users towards alternatives.
Enter Chapter 2, Solana Mobile’s second device after Saga, that's about to shake things up.
Not familiar? Read on to learn how Chapter 2 plans to redefine the smartphone market and how you can buy your own.
The smartphone landscape
Today, building successful smartphones such as the iPhone and Galaxy is more or less impossible.
This is due to several factors.
First, the competition in the smartphone market is fierce. Established brands like Apple and Samsung have set high standards for quality, design, and user experience, making it difficult for new entrants to differentiate themselves. These companies also have substantial resources for research and development (R&D) and marketing, which are critical for maintaining their competitive edge.
Second, the technological complexity is immense. Smartphones integrate numerous advanced technologies such as high-resolution displays, powerful processors, extensive battery life, sophisticated operating systems, and seamless connectivity features. Achieving this integration while maintaining high performance and reliability requires significant expertise and innovation.
Third, the global supply chain for smartphone components is complex and can be susceptible to disruptions. Securing a steady supply of high-quality components, managing relationships with suppliers, and ensuring timely production are all critical challenges. Companies must also navigate varying regulations and standards across different markets, adding another layer of complexity to the production and distribution process.
Lastly, consumer expectations are continuously evolving. Users not only demand the latest technological advancements, but also excellent after-sales support, regular software updates, and a robust ecosystem of apps and services. Meeting these expectations requires a deep understanding of market trends and consumer behavior, as well as the ability to rapidly adapt to changes.
As you can see, competing with Apple and Samsung on their terms will most likely yield unsuccessful outcomes. Having said that, developers and users are increasingly dissatisfied with the Apple App Store and Google Play Store due to high commission fees, restrictive policies, and lack of transparency.
More specifically, developers feel constrained by the stringent app review processes and large commissions on in-app purchases, while users are frustrated with the lack of choice and flexibility, as well as the inconsistent enforcement of policies.
This is why crypto-centric devices such as Solana Mobile's Saga and Chapter 2 are gaining popularity.
Redefining expectations with Chapter 2
In May 2023, Solana Mobile launched crypto’s first-ever smartphone, the award-winning Saga.
Since then, crypto users around the world have scrambled to get their hands on it, leading it to sell out in under a year, and spawning a lucrative secondary market.
As an Android device, Saga ships with an additional dApp Store that broadly follows the policies of the Google Play Store, yet surpasses the restrictions and fees implemented by both Apple and Google.
Additionally, Saga comes with Seed Vault, a native self-custody feature that safeguards the wallet’s seed phrase within a secure environment on the phone. Even the Android operating system doesn’t have access, and it’s tied to your biometric signature via Saga’s fingerprint sensor.
Also, when purchasing a brand-new Saga, you receive a device-bound, non-transferable NFT—the Saga genesis token. This way, Saga owners can be identified and specifically targeted for benefits and rewards, but more importantly, for exclusive Solana airdrops.
Here's the interesting part: In most cases, the value of token airdrops was higher than the purchasing price of the Saga itself.
The combination of the dApp Store, Seed Vault, and airdrops has allowed Saga to redefine expectations and create a new smartphone category—the crypto phone.
On the heels of this success, Solana Mobile announced its second device: Chapter 2.
Upon purchase, Chapter 2 comes with a pre-order token. The circulating supply of this pre-order token has reached ~140,000, highlighting that Chapter 2 purchases will significantly outperform those of Saga.
If you'd like to get your hands on a Chapter 2 device, pre-order yours now.
How to use Phantom on Chapter 2?
Phantom is available in the Google Play Store and will be available on the Chapter 2 dApp Store as well.
In the meantime, if you're still thinking of buying a Chapter 2 and are new to Solana—download our app and follow the setup instructions.
You can fund your Phantom wallet by selecting the “Buy” button on your asset tab. Our onboarding partners are MoonPay, Coinbase, PayPal, Robinhood, and Meso, enabling you to fund your wallet effortlessly.
Once you do that, you're ready to go.
How to bridge tokens to Solana with Phantom?
If this is your first time using Solana, you might have most of your assets on other blockchains, such as Ethereum and Polygon. With our Cross-Chain Swapper, you can bridge tokens across Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon right in your Phantom wallet. Here’s how:
Disclaimer: This guide is strictly for educational purposes only and doesn’t constitute financial or legal advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.
