What's good
- Crisp, bezel-free display
- Solid, attractive design
- Powerful performance
- Plenty of internal storage
What's bad
- No microSD support
- No headphone jack
- Camera software issues
- Questionable future of modular add-ons
It’s rare to see new faces in the mobile market. Especially new faces challenging the flagship behemoths on their first release. But Essential’s pedigree involves one of Android’s original founders and a handful of ex-Apple and ex-Google experts.
The phone’s received endless hype since it was announced and the spec sheet looks great. Despite a few release delays, this much-anticipated phone is now available.
How’s this disruptive, minimalist phone sitting with reviewers? Let’s dig in and see what everyone is saying!
The Essential Phone distinguishes itself from the pack out of the gate with a unique choice of materials. The phone doesn’t use the typical aluminum or glass, instead opting for ceramic and titanium.
It appears this decision paid off as reviewers raved about the stylish design and how the phone feels in the hand.
Android and Me declared, “The Essential Phone feels absolutely phenomenal without a single bit of exaggeration.” Engadget noted, “[The phone] feels dense, in a reassuring sort of way.”
Reviewers had no trouble with scratching or grip. Though some noted the ceramic back attracted fingerprints.
The only design complaint from reviewers was the lack of water resistance as this feature is common in today’s flagship market.
Heading around front, reviews continue to stay positive. The phone’s 5.7-inch 2560-by-1312 pixel LCD panel wowed reviewers for both color reproduction and clarity. The screen fills nearly every inch of the front of the phone—including the areas around the front-facing camera. Engadget noted, “It's almost impossible at first not to gawk at the PH-1's screen.”
Many reviewers questioned whether the camera floating in their notification bar would create problems. Fortunately, no one had any issues.
With an octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB of RAM, the phone sits on par with many of 2017’s most popular flagship releases. Paired with a near-stock version of Android 7.1.1, reviewers had no complaints about performance.
The Next Web said, “The Essential Phone feels faster than any phone I’ve used to date, except maybe the OnePlus 5 and Pixel.”
The phone is also confirmed to get Android 8.0 Oreo soon.
You won’t find a microSD slot to take advantage of Android’s adoptable storage. However, with 128GB of internal storage, you shouldn’t have much to worry about.
Reviewers had little trouble getting a full day out of the 3,040mAh battery either. Digital Trends noted, “Starting at 8 a.m., with medium to heavy usage including browsing the web, taking lots of photos, watching a few YouTube videos, and playing a game, the battery reached 30 percent by 6 p.m.”
Should you need to top off during the day, the 27-watt USB Type-C charger offers as much as 30% in only 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news. The camera left most reviewers wanting more. While the 13MP dual-lens rear camera and 8MP front-facing lens sound great on paper. Most reviews noted issues with shutter lag, poor low-light performance and muddy colors.
The Next Web said, “I’ve had better shooting experiences on midrange phones. Fortunately, it mainly seems to come down to software… I installed Google’s camera app for the Pixel, and the results are night and day.”
Many of the later reviewers noticed a considerable difference in picture quality as patches rolled out. In time, picture quality might improve. For now, most reviewers had trouble recommending the phone for those looking for a good camera experience.
Some reviewers also criticized the lack of 3.5mm headphone jack. However, those that tested the included USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter had no complaints.
Modular attachments are still a mystery. At release, only one is available and none of the reviewers tested it. However, general opinions seem to be that the design will leave greater flexibility in mod options once they appear.
Overall, reviewers were split on recommending the device. If you’re looking for a top-notch photo experience, the Essential Phone isn’t there yet. Otherwise, reviewers felt it brought a lot of value to the table.
Engadget summed up opinions well, saying, “It's an exceptionally crafted device and a stunning first effort from a company that didn't exist 18 months ago. While the PH-1 stands as a testament to Rubin's vision, a few shortcomings keep it from being as truly great as promised.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Ryne Hager, Android PoliceAs a backup or secondary device for pure Android fandom, it could be a fun buy, but I can't honestly recommend it to general consumers considering it has issues even getting a decent signal — that's pretty basic phone stuff. Coupled with the touchscreen problems and input jank, the PH-1 will always...
- Jimmy Westenberg, Android AuthorityIf you’re in the market for an Android phone under $500 with a design that truly stands out, I’d have no problem recommending the Essential Phone. However, it’s been almost a full year since it was first announced, so we may not have much longer until the Essential Phone 2 (PH-2?) arrives. Those loo...
- Josh Noriega, Android GuysThe Essential Phone easily pulls ahead of the mid-range smartphone competition. None are built like this, have an 85% screen-to-body ratio, and an up-to-date, stock Android experience. The gripes we have are now minor in the grand scheme of things.
- Sam Rutherford, GizmodoIt’s not perfect, but it now it finally feels like Essential has something to build on. With a gorgeous body that is somehow more impressive than before, a tidy UI, improved software, and a price that makes sense, the PH-1 has carved out its niche.
- Michael Simon, Good Gear GuideAs enticing as the new colors might be, don’t be fooled: Even without the $100 premium, the Essential Phone isn’t worth buying over the similarly specced OnePlus 5T. Heck, it barely beats the HTC U11 Life, which costs far less.
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Common Questions
Essential backs up the Phone with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Phone has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Essential support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Essential's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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