Essential Phone: A Modular Android Smartphone

The Essential Phone is a game-changer in the world of smartphones. It's the first phone to come with a modular design, allowing users to easily swap out parts like the camera, battery, and storage.

This modular design is made possible by the phone's 3.5mm headphone jack, which doubles as a magnetic connector. This feature enables users to attach and detach modules with ease.

One of the standout features of the Essential Phone is its camera. The camera is a 13-megapixel single-lens camera with a 1.55 micron pixel size, making it capable of capturing high-quality photos in low-light conditions.

The phone's camera also features a 13-megapixel front camera, making it perfect for selfies.

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Andy Rubin, co-founder of the Android operating system, was preparing to announce a new hardware company called Essential, whose first hardware product would be the "Essential" Phone. This was reported by Bloomberg in January 2017.

The Essential Phone first appeared in a tweet by Rubin, posted on March 27, 2017. The phone was confirmed to run on the Android operating system by Alphabet executive chairman Eric Schmidt.

Essential tweeted an image of what appeared to be a 360-degree camera attached to the smartphone just days before the official announcement.

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Andy Rubin founded Essential Products in 2015 with a vision to revolutionize the smart device industry by combining cutting-edge technology with elegant design. This forward-thinking idea set the stage for Essential’s plans to develop an open-source and infinitely extensible platform called Ambient OS.

In 2017, Rubin declared that the future of technology would revolve around artificial intelligence (AI) as the next operating system and platform. He envisioned a future where an AI-powered virtual version of the user would operate within the phone itself.

The virtual version of you that's operating in this phone, that's the destination of this company. Andy Rubin's quote captures the essence of Essential's ambitious vision for the future of technology.

Essential Products unveiled its first product, the Essential Phone (or PH-1), in May 2017 and released it in August 2017, marking the company's entry into the hardware market.

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The Essential Phone was initially released without final software, which raised some concerns about its quality.

The company missed two promised ship dates in a row, which led to a decision to postpone the review until the phone was identical to the ones shipping to buyers.

The Essential Phone is now shipping for $699, which is roughly £545 or AU$935.

It's compatible with all major US carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

For now, it's only on sale in North America at Essential.com, Best Buy, Sprint, and Telus in Canada.

The phone will eventually be available globally.

Two months after launch, the price was cut to $499 -- roughly £360 or AU$635.

The Essential Phone's design is a true showstopper. It features a titanium and ceramic chassis that's both durable and stylish.

The phone's display is another standout feature, with an edge-to-edge design and an unusual 19.5:10 aspect ratio. This unique ratio is sure to grab attention.

Gorilla Glass 5 protects the display from scratches and drops, giving you peace of mind when using your phone.

The Essential Phone's display is a real showstopper. It features an edge-to-edge design that maximizes the screen-to-body ratio, providing users with an immersive viewing experience.

The display measures 5.71 inches and has a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1312 pixels. This results in crisp and clear visuals that are perfect for watching videos or browsing the web.

The unique aspect ratio of 19:10 adds to the phone's distinctive appearance and provides a more cinematic experience. I've noticed that this aspect ratio is particularly well-suited for watching movies or TV shows.

The front camera is cleverly housed in a small cutout (notch) in the upper area of the screen, allowing for an unobstructed view while still accommodating the necessary camera functionality. This design choice is a great example of thoughtful engineering.

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The Essential Phone's design was a masterclass in premium materials. A combination of three colors for the titanium frame and four colors for the ceramic back made it stand out.

The use of titanium and ceramic provided a durable and premium feel that many other smartphones couldn't match. This attention to detail made the Essential Phone feel like a high-end device.

The phone's color options were not limited to just a few choices, with three options for the titanium frame and four options for the ceramic back. This gave users a range of possibilities to suit their style.

An Amazon-exclusive version of the Essential Phone was also launched, featuring a unique "Halo Grey" color variant. This special edition came with built-in Alexa functionality, adding an extra layer of convenience.

The Essential Phone's modular design was a game-changer in the tech world.

The back of the phone featured a magnetic connector system that enabled the attachment of various accessories.

One of the most notable accessories was the Essential 360-degree camera, which added a new level of functionality to the phone.

This modular approach allowed users to customize their phone to suit their specific needs and preferences.

The magnetic connector system made it easy to swap out accessories and upgrade the phone's capabilities.

The Itself is where design and hardware intersect. A well-designed product is one that is intuitive and easy to use, but it's also crucial that the hardware is robust and reliable.

In the case of the latest smartphone, the processor is designed to handle demanding tasks with ease, thanks to its 64-bit architecture. This allows for faster performance and improved multitasking capabilities.

The sleek design of the device is not just for show, it's also a result of careful engineering to reduce weight and increase durability. The device's body is made of a high-quality metal alloy that provides excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

The Itself is where the boundaries between design and hardware blur, and it's this intersection that allows for innovative products to emerge. By combining form and function, designers can create products that are not only beautiful but also highly functional.

The device's battery life is a notable example of how design and hardware work together to provide a seamless user experience. With a large capacity battery and power-efficient processor, users can enjoy up to 12 hours of continuous use.

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The Essential Phone's camera has two 13 MP Sony IMX258 Exmor RS sensors, one of which is monochrome, which can improve detail reproduction in low light. This is especially useful for black-and-white photography.

The primary rear-facing camera has a 3.4mm f/1.85 lens and provides an 82° angle of view on the diagonal. The sensor is a 1/3.06" 4:3 aspect ratio backside illumination stacked image sensor.

The front-facing camera has an 8 MP sensor with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 3.1mm f/2.2 lens. It's perfectly competent and reasonably sharp, but don't expect any smoothing or filters to make your skin look more attractive.

The camera app has improved significantly since its launch, with fewer issues such as shutter lag and poor autofocus. However, it still lags behind other top-notch camera phones in terms of image quality and features.

The Essential Phone's camera struggles in low light, producing dark, noisy, and blurry images. It's recommended to download a separate camera app to get the best out of the phone's camera capabilities.

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The camera's limitations include slow shutter speeds, no optical image stabilization, and poor HDR mode. These can result in blurry photos in low light and shaky videos.

Here are some of the key camera features and their limitations:

The Essential Phone has a complex network situation. The phone is compatible with the four largest wireless carriers in the United States, but it's primarily associated with Sprint, which is its exclusive carrier partner.

In Canada, the phone is available through Telus, another exclusive carrier partner. This exclusivity was a significant misstep, according to Stephen Baker, a mobile analyst at NPD, as it limited the phone's accessibility and exposure to potential buyers.

The phone's bands support a wide range of frequencies, including CDMA EV-DO Rev. A, GSM, UMTS, LTE-FDD, LTE-TDD, and TD-SCDMA. This means it can operate on various networks and frequencies.

Here's a breakdown of the phone's bands:

The phone's network compatibility is a crucial aspect to consider when deciding whether to buy it.

The Essential Phone's software is a unique blend of stock Android and customization options. It runs on Android, without any modifications, and has an unlocked bootloader that allows developers to further customize its software.

One of the standout features of the Essential Phone is its commitment to software updates. Rubin promised two years of Android updates and three years of monthly security patches, which is impressive for a non-Google device.

The phone has received Android 9.0 "Pie" and Android 10 updates, and some users have even managed to install degoogled ROMs that bring the phone up to Android 15. This level of customization is a major draw for developers and power users.

The Essential Phone's performance is also noteworthy. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, which provides top-tier performance even with multiple apps running in the background. In benchmarks, it matches the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, which is a significant achievement.

Here are some key specs that highlight the phone's performance:

The phone's battery life is also impressive, lasting nearly two hours when it had only 1% remaining. However, it does struggle with lengthy sustained use, lasting around 10 hours in looping video tests.

The Essential Phone received generally positive reviews, but not without its criticisms. The camera performance was a major point of contention.

One of the biggest complaints was the omission of a headphone jack, which was a deliberate design choice by the company. This lack of a headphone jack was criticized by multiple reviewers, including Engadget.

The phone's design, however, was widely praised, with Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee awarding it "Best Design" in his 2017 Smartphone Awards series. The phone's build quality and edge-to-edge display were also praised by several reviewers.

Here are some specific criticisms and praises from various reviewers:

The Essential Phone received generally positive reviews from critics. However, some reviewers had significant issues with the device.

The camera performance was a major point of contention, with many reviewers noting its subpar quality. Wired was particularly harsh in its criticism, giving the camera a low rating.

On the other hand, the phone's design, battery life, and performance were widely praised. Engadget noted that the phone's build quality and edge-to-edge display were standout features.

However, the phone's repairability was a major concern, with iFixit giving it a score of 1 out of 10. This was due to the phone's extremely difficult to open design, which made repairs nearly impossible.

Other reviewers noted that the phone's screen was prone to cracking, even with normal use. CNET noted that the phone's claims of toughness were exaggerated, and that it could still suffer from dents and screen cracks.

Despite these issues, the phone did receive some positive recognition. Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee gave the phone an award for "Best Design" in his annual "Smartphone Awards" series in 2017.

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Essential was working on a successor to the PH-1, but it was cancelled.

The cancelled project was a phone that operated primarily under voice control, automating tasks such as responding to emails and text messages or making appointments.

Essential's founder Andy Rubin shared a concept for the successor, called Project Gem, which was a tall smartphone running on Android.

Gem was showcased in videos, but Essential ultimately decided it couldn't deliver the phone to customers.

Here are some key features that were planned for Project Gem:

The Essential Phone is a standout device in the Android market, but how does it stack up against some of its competitors? Let's take a look at the specs comparison with the Moto Z2 Force, OnePlus 5, and Galaxy S8.

The Essential Phone's processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, which is the same processor found in the Moto Z2 Force. The OnePlus 5, on the other hand, uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 as well, making it a strong contender in terms of processing power.

The Galaxy S8, however, uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 with a slight variation in clock speed, but it's still a powerful processor. The Essential Phone's processor is paired with 4GB of RAM, which is the same amount found in the Moto Z2 Force and OnePlus 5.

Here's a comparison of the cameras on these devices:

The Essential Phone's rear camera is a 13MP dual sensor setup, which is slightly lower than the 16MP dual sensor setup found on the OnePlus 5. The Galaxy S8's rear camera is a 12MP single sensor, while the Moto Z2 Force's rear camera is a 12MP single sensor.

The Essential Phone's battery life is excellent, with the author reporting over 7 hours of screen time before the battery dies. This is a great advantage over the Moto Z2 Force, which has a similar battery capacity but doesn't last as long.

The Essential Phone received generally positive reviews from critics, but it also faced criticism for its camera performance and lack of a headphone jack. Many reviewers praised its design, battery life, and performance, with some even awarding it "Best Design" in their annual awards.

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The phone's build quality was also praised, with some reviewers noting its edge-to-edge display and clean build of Android 7.1.1. However, others criticized the screen's brightness and the lack of water resistance. iFixit gave the phone a poor rating for repairability, citing its difficult-to-open design.

Here's a breakdown of some of the reviews:

The Essential Phone faced numerous challenges in the market.

The phone sold fewer than 90,000 units in its first six months on the market, according to industry research firm IDC.

Manufacturing issues were a major problem for the Essential Phone.

Entering the smartphone market was also a significant challenge for Essential.

The Essential Phone's design is a major selling point, with many reviewers praising its sleek and modern look. It even won an award for "Best Design" in a 2017 smartphone awards series.

However, the phone's camera performance is a major letdown. Early reviews were almost unanimous in their criticism of the 13-megapixel dual camera, calling it "terrible".

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The phone's lack of a headphone jack is also a significant drawback. And if you drop it, the screen may crack, which could be a major concern for some users.

Here are some of the phone's major competitors that offer better cameras and more features:

The Essential PH-1 was initially a worthy first effort, but it had some serious flaws that kept it from fulfilling its promise to die-hard Android enthusiasts.

The phone's camera was a major issue, but Essential was able to improve it over time, making it totally usable.

The Essential Phone's camera still wasn't great, even after five months of maturity, and there were still a number of glitches the company had yet to work out.

The phone was a remarkable device with three key exceptions and a few wrinkles, but these issues kept it from being a top contender in the market.

The Essential PH-1 was a remarkable phone, but it was in shambles due to its rushed development.

The company's second phone was reportedly canceled, and Essential may put itself up for sale, which is a concerning sign for the company's future.

The Essential PH-1 was available for a lower price of $500 after a $200 price cut, making it a more attractive option for some buyers.

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The Essential Phone was a game-changer in the smartphone market, and I'm excited to share some key facts about it.

It was priced competitively, with a cost that was comparable to other high-end smartphones of the time.

The phone's design was sleek and durable, thanks to its titanium frame that meant it wouldn't need a case.

One of the most innovative features of the Essential Phone was its modular design, which allowed users to attach accessories like a 360-degree camera with ease.

This modular design also meant that users could customize their phone to fit their specific needs and interests.

The phone's hybrid dual camera system promised better pictures in low light, making it a great option for photography enthusiasts.

Essential Phone PH-1 was a product that was shipped unfinished, with the company later apologizing to its first wave of customers after a privacy scandal.

It's worth noting that Essential has secured $300 million in funding, so it's unlikely to disappear overnight.

The company's hubris was astounding, with a small 100-person team losing its heads of marketing and PR in July, but it's done a decent job turning around its reputation since then.

The Essential Phone PH-1 still had software quirks five months after its release, but the company has shipped over a dozen software updates since then.

It's interesting to see how Essential has learned from its mistakes, with employees now actively engaging with customers on Reddit and other platforms.

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Andy Rubin's company, Essential, took a long time to apologize to its first wave of customers after a privacy scandal.

Heck, it took a privacy scandal, with the potential for serious identity theft, before Essential apologized to its first wave of customers at all.

Essential has secured $300 million in funding, so it's unlikely the company will disappear overnight and leave buyers out in the cold.

But, I'm not really sure I'd take a chance on this company's first phone, the PH-1, either.

Essential reminds me more of OnePlus, which eventually began making excellent phones, but owners of the original dealt with a variety of hardware and software quirks.

Andy Rubin's company has done a pretty decent job turning around its reputation for acknowledging and interacting with its customers.

The company has shipped over a dozen software updates, held multiple Reddit AMAs, and its employees can be found answering customer concerns.

The Essential Phone PH-1 was a game-changer in the tech world. It was announced in May 2017 and released in August of the same year. The phone was discontinued, but its impact on the industry can still be felt.

The PH-1 was a sleek device with a glass front, ceramic back, and titanium frame. It measured 141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8 mm and weighed 185 grams. The phone had a nano-SIM slot and came in four colors: Stellar Gray, Ocean Depths, Black Moon, and Pure White.

The display was a 5.71-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 1312 x 2560 pixels and a density of 504 pixels per inch. It had a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, which made it durable and resistant to scratches.

The phone's processor was a Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835, which provided fast performance and efficient battery life. The octa-core CPU was clocked at 2.45 GHz and 1.9 GHz, while the Adreno 540 GPU handled graphics processing.

The PH-1 had a dual-camera setup with two 13-megapixel sensors, one of which was black and white. The cameras featured laser autofocus, LED flash, and HDR capabilities. The phone could record 4K video at 30 frames per second, 1080p video at 60 frames per second, and 720p video at 120 frames per second.

The front camera was an 8-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. It could record 4K video at 30 frames per second.

The phone had a 3040 mAh non-removable battery, which provided long-lasting power. It supported 27W wired charging and had a USB Type-C 2.0 port.

Here are the key specs of the Essential Phone PH-1:

The PH-1 was a remarkable device that set a new standard for smartphones. Its features, design, and performance made it a standout in the industry.