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Essential Phone

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essential phone

After hinting at a new device, Andy Rubin’s start-up, Essential, announced the Essential PH-1 (Phone). Unlike other OEMs, Essential is all about keeping only the essential aspects of a smartphone. This means almost-stock Android, no pre-install bloatware, and quality materials such as titanium and ceramic to make up the handset.

Learn More About the Essential Phone

Full hardware specifications for Essential’s Phone:

Essential Phone Specification
Android version Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Screen size 5.7-inch LCD
Resolution  2560×1312 pixels
PPI 505 ppi
Primary camera Dual 13MP cameras (color + monochrome), f/1.85, phase-detect + laser auto focus
Front camera  8MP, f/2.2
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 2.45GHz octa-core Kyro 280 CPU, Adreno 540 GPU
Storage 128GB
Expandable storage up to N/A
RAM 4GB
Battery 3,040mAh (nonremovable)
Ports USB Type-C
Weight 185 g
Dimensions 141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8 mm
Other features Rear-facing fingerprint sensor, modular accessories
Color options Black Moon, Pure White, Stellar Grey, Ocean Depths
Carrier availability Sprint, Unlocked
Base price off-contract ~$699
In-box accessories USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone adapter, USB-C charging/data transfer cable, fast charging wall adapter

A look back at Essential Phone, the Android phone that beat iPhone 15 Pro to titanium

Apple this week launched the iPhone 15 Pro, its first smartphone made with a titanium frame. That launch will bring the material to the masses, but it also reminds us of 2017’s Essential Phone, the short-lived Android phone that had a premium build that was so far ahead of its time.

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OSOM details how it’s building the Essential Phone’s spiritual successor; upgrades to newer chip

osom ov1

The Essential Phone is dead, long live the Essential Phone! That seems to be at least part of the sentiment behind OSOM, the privacy-focused smartphone startup that’s soon to unveil its first device. This week, OSOM offered a peek into what the OV1 will bring to the table, a few ways it will learn from and live up to the Essential Phone’s legacy, and a delay spawned from a chip upgrade.

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Former Essential Phone team creates OSOM, plans privacy-focused Android hardware in 2021

essential phone

I loved the Essential Phone as it was built up following a rocky launch, but nothing could save Andy Rubin’s doomed hardware startup before it closed its doors early this year. Now, members of the team who helped create the Essential Phone have formed OSOM Privacy, and now they’ve got a bit to say, including a teaser for hardware coming in 2021.

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Essential Phone ends software support, Android updates after over two years

essential phone

The Essential Phone — PH-1 — debuted back in 2017 with the promise of premium hardware and clean software. Quickly, though, that vision started to fail as initial reviews were negative and prices were slashed as a result. Now, as the company shuts down, the Essential Phone is getting an abrupt end to software updates.


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essential phone

Essential Phone adds support for Google’s Digital Wellbeing w/ March security patch, available now

Despite the fact that the device is no longer being made, Essential is keeping its promise when it comes to software updates. This afternoon, the company is just a couple of hours behind Google with its latest security patch, as well as delivering support for Digital Wellbeing on the Essential Phone.


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Essential fires 30% of employees, focussing on ‘game changing consumer product’

The Essential Phone found success only after various fire sales and price cuts that made the device a true bargain. It comes as the company reportedly canceled development of its second phone in May and paused its smart home product. A new report today reveals that the Andy Rubin company is cutting 30% of its staff.


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Essential reportedly working on a new phone that uses AI to respond to texts and emails on your behalf

essential phone

Despite its flaws, the Essential Phone is still by far one of my favorite devices to come out of the past year or so. While previous reports claimed that Essential was done and had scrapped plans for future devices, a new report from Bloomberg claims that the company has a new device in the works, this time with a twist.


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