Essential Phone

107 'Essential Phone' stories May 2017 - August 2018

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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

Essential Phone First Impressions: A fast, well crafted phone that might steal you away from the Pixel 2 [Video]
Essential vs Note 8: How does the newbie compare to Samsung’s latest & greatest
So, what’s the deal with the Essential Phone’s camera? [Gallery]
Review Roundup: Essential Phone has fast software, excellent hardware, but low-light camera performance as bad as the app icon

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

Essential Phone notch settings may return to Android Pie

Ben Schoon Aug 20 2018 - 6:45 am PT

Essential Phone users, as few as there may be, were among the first to get their hands on Android Pie. One thing that was lost in the upgrade, though, was the notch setting Essential had implemented in Oreo. Now, Essential says they may soon return.

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Revisiting the Essential Phone w/ Android Pie – A love letter to my favorite underdog

Ben Schoon Aug 16 2018 - 12:50 pm PT

In Android’s history, there’s really only been one place to go for steady software updates, and that’s Google’s own hardware. Whether under the Nexus or the Pixel brand, Google was the only place you could really go for reliable, quick updates to Android.

Fast forward to 2017 and Andy Rubin, the father of Android, launched the Essential Phone with the promise of timely updates, and oh boy did they deliver…

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Has your battery life been worse on Android 9 Pie? [Poll]

Ben Schoon Aug 15 2018 - 12:12 pm PT

Android Pie started rolling out to Pixel owners and the Essential Phone last week, and in the days since there’s been a lot of feedback floating around from users, including some battery woes. Has your device been affected?

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Android 9 Pie is already rolling out to the Essential Phone w/ August security patch in tow

Ben Schoon Aug 6 2018 - 10:33 am PT

essential phone

Android 9 Pie just went official and Google started to rollout the update to its Pixel devices. Right behind Google, though, is Andy Rubin’s Essential, which is already pushing out a final version of Pie for the PH-1.

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Android Oreo

Essential promotes software lead Rebecca Zavin to Chief Technology Officer

Abner Li Aug 3 2018 - 4:49 pm PT

Since launch, Essential has noticeably improved the software experience of its flagship Phone, while pushing out monthly security patches and Android P Betas in line with Google. The company today promoted the vice president tasked with software engineering to Chief Technology Officer.

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essential phone

Essential Phone picks up latest Android P update just an hour after Google Pixel

Ben Schoon Jul 25 2018 - 11:33 am PT

One of the few Android OEMs rivaling Google’s update schedule has been Essential. Now, just barely an hour after it dropped for Pixel devices, the Essential Phone is getting the latest Android P update.

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Why the $250 Essential Phone is the best Android phone you can buy today

Ben Schoon Jul 16 2018 - 12:02 pm PT

essential phone

There are Android smartphones on the market today at every price point. With Prime Day though, Essential is making a massive cut on its PH-1, and it makes it the best Android phone you can buy today.

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Essential Phone updated w/ July security patch, Android Auto improvements, new Android P Beta

Ben Schoon Jul 2 2018 - 11:34 am PT

While Essential might not be doing too hot in sales, the company is rivaling Google for the crown when it comes to updates. Just an hour after Google, the startup is already rolling out two new updates for Essential Phone owners.

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Essential Phone camera update improves camera roll, ‘Tiny Planet,’ etc

Ben Schoon Jun 13 2018 - 12:54 pm PT

One of the biggest deal breakers with the Essential Phone at launch was its poor camera performance. Over the phone’s lifecycle, though, Essential has made it a point to improve that in updates. Today, yet another update is rolling out.

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Essential Phone’s second module is a Hi-Fi headphone jack add-on, MQA certification

Ben Schoon Jun 7 2018 - 1:57 pm PT

The future of Essential is largely unclear right now, but the company’s latest actions wouldn’t make you think that was the case. Today, Essential is announcing new audio improvements for the PH-1, including a new module that adds a headphone jack.

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Essential Phone is receiving the latest Android P build w/ bug fixes & June security patch

Justin Duino Jun 6 2018 - 5:45 pm PT

The third Android P Developer Preview started rolling out to Pixel devices today with the final APIs, SDK, and Play Store publishing. Now, not even a day later, Essential has announced that this build of Android P will be making its way to the Phone with a handful of bug fixes.

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Essential Phone gets a camera update with new UI, editing features for 360-degree photos

Ben Schoon Jun 1 2018 - 7:19 am PT

While its future is somewhat unclear, Essential isn’t stopping its excellent track record of providing solid updates. Today, the company is releasing a new update for its camera.

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Android Oreo

Essential reaffirms Pixel-like update policy for PH-1 despite rumors of company sale

Ben Schoon May 30 2018 - 6:56 am PT

The Essential PH-1 was one of the devices I really wanted to love last year, but it fell flat at launch leading to massive price cuts and a lot of updates to try and fix the issues. Now, it’s a pretty solid device.

Lately, the company’s outlook has taken a turn for the worse with reports of the company being in trouble and considering sale. Despite that, though, Essential is sticking to its guns when it comes to updates.

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Essential Phone gets updated Android P Beta build w/ cellular and dark mode fixes

Ben Schoon May 28 2018 - 6:40 am PT

Google surprised us all back at I/O when it revealed that several third-party devices would support the Android P Beta program. Essential was on that list and now, the company is updating its build to squash some bugs.

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Essential cancels development on second phone, company potentially up for sale [Update]

Justin Duino May 24 2018 - 2:34 pm PT

Essential, a company created by the co-founder of Android, Andy Rubin, wanted to create not only a phone but also an ecosystem that would best any smartphone manufacturer out there. Unfortunately, likely due to poor sales, a report has emerged that states the second-generation Essential Phone has been canceled and the company might be up for sale.

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Essential Phone and several Sony Xperia phones already picking up May’s Android Security Patch

Ben Schoon May 7 2018 - 2:15 pm PT

Android Oreo

One of the biggest things I’ve been looking at with Android smartphones, especially in the past several months, is security updates. When OEMs are open about not even trying to deliver these on a monthly basis, I’ll completely write-off those devices. However, there are some shining exceptions is this sea of late updates…

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Essential Phone camera update improves photo capture speed and burst mode

Ben Schoon May 4 2018 - 7:01 am PT

Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone wasn’t the hit many hoped it would be, but it brought a lot of good things to the table. One of those good things, however, definitely wasn’t the camera. At launch, the camera was pretty bad, but Essential has made it much better through updates, and now another update is working on capture speed.

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Essential Phone update quietly adds support for ’embracing the notch’ in full-screen apps

Ben Schoon Apr 9 2018 - 8:54 am PT

While basically everyone is adopting a notch in smartphone design at this point, the Essential Phone was the device that kicked off this trend last year by cutting out a spot for the front-facing camera in the nearly bezel-less design. Now, in its latest update, Essential has delivered some new options for how the software plays with that cut-out.

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Essential admits the PH-1’s camera was bad, promises it will ‘do better’ on second-gen

Ben Schoon Apr 7 2018 - 10:04 am PT

As far as hardware goes, I’ve yet to find a phone I love more than the Essential Phone. Unfortunately, like for many others, its biggest deal breaker was the sub-par camera. This week, Essential admitted how poor that camera was, and made a big promise for the second-generation of the PH-1.

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Android Oreo

Essential Phone update brings April security patch, Bluetooth 5.0, performance gains

Ben Schoon Apr 6 2018 - 1:44 pm PT

Essential may be a bit slow to major system updates, but the company has always been pretty quick to monthly security patches. After landing on Pixel devices earlier this week, the Essential Phone is now picking up April’s security patch.

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Essential Phone picks up official Android Oreo 8.1 update, available now for all users

Ben Schoon Mar 13 2018 - 10:46 am PT

Android Oreo

Android Oreo has seen minimal expansion since its debut last year, and the newer Android 8.1 has made an even smaller dent in the market. Today, though, Essential is making good on a promise and rolling out an official Android 8.1 update to the PH-1.

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Essential granted patent last year for ‘pop-up’ selfie camera that could eliminate the ‘notch’

Ben Schoon Mar 5 2018 - 7:05 am PT

The “notch” is a controversial topic for the Android world. Some absolutely hate it, others don’t, but we’re all clear on one thing — it’s not something we necessarily want to have on our phones. At MWC 2018 this past week, Vivo showed off a device that managed to avoid a notch, but still offer the sensors one would typically hold. As it turns out, Essential was actually the first company who was working on that same idea, though…

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If the ‘notch’ is inevitable, do you prefer Apple’s or Essential’s take? [Poll]

Justin Duino Mar 1 2018 - 5:45 pm PT

During MWC 2018, we saw a growing number of Android OEMs announcement new phones that feature the “notch” popularized by the iPhone X. While the Essential Phone did have one first, it wasn’t as prominent and didn’t include as many sensors as Apple’s.

With it seeming inevitable that more companies will use a notch in future Android handsets, do you prefer the small Essential Phone notch or the larger one in the iPhone X?

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Essential Phone owners can now join Oreo beta program w/ an OTA update

Ben Schoon Feb 21 2018 - 1:12 pm PT

The Essential Phone still remains my favorite Android hardware to date, but the company still has a ton of work to do in the software department. Over the past few months, Oreo has been in development for the phone, and now, it’s a lot easier to try out that beta.

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