Android creator Andy Rubin unveils Essential smartphone

[Arthur]

Almost bezel-less!

 

Website: essential.com (via The Verge)

 

The Essential Phone, brought to us by the person who created Android, is finally ready for the spotlight. It’s an incredibly audacious and ambitious project, with an outlandish screen and the beginnings of a modular ecosystem.

 

First, the Android phone basics: the Essential Phone costs $699 with top-of-the-line specs and features. As you can see above, it prominently features an edge-to-edge display that one-ups even the Samsung Galaxy S8 by bringing it all the way to the the top of the phone, wrapping around the front-facing selfie camera.

 

It’s a unique take on a big screen that makes the phone stand out — and it’s smart, too. Often, the status bar at the top of an Android phone doesn’t fill that middle space with icons, so it’s efficient. The screen does leave some bezel at the bottom of the phone, but nevertheless it’s as close to the whole front of a phone being display as I’ve seen.

 

Essential is launching the phone in the US to start, and it’s filled the phone with radios that should make it work on all major carriers, alongside usual Android flagship internals like a Qualcomm 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. And because Essential seems to be hanging its hat on the idea of shipping phones without extraneous junk (the designers don’t even put a logo on the exterior), chances seem good that there won’t be a ton of extraneous software laded on to slow the phone down.

 

[ZeroHour]

Its a very nice looking phone I have to say.

[jthompson]

I can't help feeling that they should have made the front camera pop up out of the top, or something. It looks like such a cheap compromise to have it just sitting there.

No mention of software updates, support, etc. so I'm not sure what this brings to the party. Other than another super low iFixit repairability rating.

[Arthur]

It's a shame about the camera.

 

Edited August 31, 2017 by Arthur

[Arthur]

Too little, too late IMO.

 

https://twitter.com/essential/status/989913985347567616

 

 

Essential now direct selling to Canada, UK, France, Germany, and Japan

 

The Essential Phone and 360 Camera are in demand around the world — according to Essential. So the company is responding by selling its phone and accessories directly to consumers in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan. If you live in one of those five countries, it's time to get mildly excited.

 

A quick test toggling shipping-address countries during the checkout process shows that standard prices apply: The Black Moon and Pure White variants of the PH-1 are the equivalent of $499, while the Stellar Gray and Copper Black variants are the equivalent of $599. The 360 Camera remains $199.

 

Essential notes that shipping charges outside of the US vary by country and are calculated during the checkout process. Orders made via Essential.com will arrive for delivery in approximately five business days for customers outside the US.

 

The company also reminds international customers that they are responsible for taxes, fees, and duties, and that Essential is not responsible for "risk of loss or failure of delivery due to customs or related issues."