Solana Labs faces backlash over Saga smartphone rollout issues
• Solana Labs accidentally oversold its Saga smartphone due to an inventory management issue with a third-party distributor, resulting in some orders being canceled and refunds issued. The exact number impacted was not disclosed.
• Saga phones started rapidly selling out after buyers realized they came with a valuable crypto airdrop worth over $800, far more than the $599 phone price.
• The Saga phone received the 2023 "Bust of the Year" award from popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee, who said "no amount of BONK or [Claynosaurz] could save this phone."
• Solana Labs attempted to spin the "Bust" award as a positive, referring to Saga as an "award-winning phone" in subsequent marketing.
• Some angry customers who had not yet received their Saga phones called out Solana Labs on social media to demand their devices be shipped immediately.