HTC last week launched the Exodus 1s smartphone as a cheaper version of its Exodus 1 ‘blockchain phone’ as it continues to focus on niche features like cryptocurrency to drive its smartphone sales. Described as a ‘Cryptophone’, the handset is claimed to be the “first ever mobile device with Bitcoin Full Node support”, as per the product page on the company’s official website.
Like its more powerful sibling, the Exodus 1s also comes with built-in cryptocurrency-related features that will let users exchange, lend and borrow digital assets. The device has a new crypto wallet, as well as the ability to run a full Bitcoin node, although, users will have to invest in a high-capacity microSD card for the purpose, given that the Bitcoin ledger is already more than 250GB in size and growing at around 60GB a year.
The Exodus 1s has been launched in several European countries, alongside Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It is priced at €219 (around Rs. 17,000), which can also be payed via a number of cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, LTC, BNB or BCH.
