Skip to main content

Essential Phone

107 'Essential Phone' stories May 2017 - August 2018
See All Stories
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

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

Avatar for Ben Schoon Aug 16 2018 - 12:50 pm PT
0 Comments

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…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Android Oreo

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

Avatar for Ben Schoon May 30 2018 - 6:56 am PT
0 Comments

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.


Expand
Expanding
Close

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

Avatar for Justin Duino May 24 2018 - 2:34 pm PT
0 Comments

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.


Expand
Expanding
Close

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

Avatar for Ben Schoon May 7 2018 - 2:15 pm PT
0 Comments
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…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Essential Phone camera update improves photo capture speed and burst mode

Avatar for Ben Schoon May 4 2018 - 7:01 am PT
0 Comments

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.


Expand
Expanding
Close

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

Avatar for Ben Schoon Apr 9 2018 - 8:54 am PT
0 Comments

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.


Expand
Expanding
Close

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

Avatar for Ben Schoon Mar 5 2018 - 7:05 am PT
0 Comments

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…


Expand
Expanding
Close

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

Avatar for Justin Duino Mar 1 2018 - 5:45 pm PT
0 Comments

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?


Expand
Expanding
Close