Sirin Labs’s blockchain-centric Android smartphone Finney will launch on November 29 at an undisclosed location in Barcelona, based on a promotional image recently obtained by Android Headlines. According to the image, the launch will get some help from Argentine professional footballer Leo Messi and Kazakhstani middleweight world champion boxer Gennady Golovkin. The role of the two athletes in the launch isn’t explicitly stated but the pair appears to be acting collectively as brand representatives, at least for the launch. RSVPs for the event are currently being accepted with an official location set to be made known at a later date.
Background: However, there doesn’t really appear to be much more that can be revealed by the company with regard to its upcoming device, which has been up for pre-order since way back in May. For starters, the current ‘target price’ for the Android 8.1 Oreo-based handset is $999 but it is only purchasable with SRN – the company’s own cryptocurrency. For that cost, consumers are getting a premium set of components and sensors starting with the inclusion of a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 845 SoC backed by 6GB RAM and 128GB on the storage side. Bluetooth 5.0 is part of that package as well. Meanwhile, a single 12-megapixel camera with a f/1.8 aperture sits on the rear while an 8-megapixel snapper is used for selfies. Those are accompanied by a 6-inch fullHD+ display panel and underneath all of that is a 3,000mAh battery.
Of course, since this is a ‘blockchain’ phone, all of that is underpinned by customizations to the OS that enables features not found in standard iterations, encompassed under the SirinOS branding. That incorporates a cold storage wallet, decentralized app store, cryptocurrency conversion tools, and a plethora of security functions. For example, three-factor authentication is enabled on the Sirin Finney via biometrics, a lock pattern, and on-device behavioral analysis. Behavioral analysis is also used to power a unique intrusion prevention system. At the same time, blockchain-based technologies undergird other security elements, making the device less susceptible to tampering, securing communications through VoIP, SMS, or email, and more. All of that is packed into a modern metal and glass design, complete with the now uncontroversial top display notch and thicker center that moves toward thinner sections at the top and bottom edge.
Impact: Although this new announcement seems to indicate that Sirin Labs’s Finney will be among the to land in consumers’ hands, it is not the only handset that’s currently being marketed as a ‘blockchain’ smartphone or the only one headed that direction. With that said, HTC’s Exodus is likely to be the biggest competitor in that category and comes with a suite of features that would make it a worthy rival. However, the two mobile devices also seem to be catering to somewhat different audiences. While HTC has partnered with Cryptokitties to deliver a cryptocurrency gaming experience right out of the box, Sirin Labs seems to be taking a less all-inclusive approach. Both will likely appeal to those tech-savvy users that would already be interested in blockchain-inspired mobile hardware and all that entails. However, HTC seems to want to help educate less experienced users via a gaming experience while Sirin is favoring core features over frills.