Essential PH-1 smartphone from Android founder released soon
The Essential PH-1 smartphone could be released very soon. The company founded by the ex-Google exec is close to launching their own phone.
The founder of Android and former Google exec, Andy Rubin, has emailed those who have reserved their Essential with an update.
The Essential phone was announced back in May with the hopes of a June release.
Rubin has let all those eagerly awaiting their top-flight PH-1 Android-powered blower that it should be here “in a few weeks”.
Essential is working hard to complete the certification and testing process with various carriers in the US and around the world.
Here’s Rubin’s full message that he also Tweeted:
We’ve been working around the clock to get our first device in your hands. See this update from Andy. pic.twitter.com/bm5xm5XRKS
— Essential (@essential) July 21, 2017
Essential PH-1 details
The Essential Phone is not only exciting as it is coming from the same person who delivered Android, it has a few neat touches.
Not only will it feature high-end materials and an edge-edge display, but it’s designed to be modular.has a titanium body with Corning
PH-1 specifications
The Essential has a titanium body with Corning Gorrilla Glass 5 covering the display.
That 5.71-inch display spans the entire width of the chassis. It even stretches up to the top edge, with a small cutout for an 8-megapixel camera.
The only bezel is a small bit at the phone’s bottom end.
The touch display has a 2560 x 1312-pixel QHD resolution.
The Essential Phone will be available in black, grey, white and blue. More interestingly though, the phone will not sport any logos.
Around back is the main 13-megapixel camera and a fingerprint reader.
Other features include a 3,040mAh battery, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC and GPS.
It will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 octa-core processor, the same as found in the Samsung Galaxy S8
The Essential Phone will support USB Type-C but, à la iPhone, it will not have a standard headphone jack.
Modular
Up in the top right corner of the phone’s rear side are two magnetic ports for connecting accessories.
This is where the device’s modularity comes into being.
You’ll be able to add accessories such as a 360-degree camera and the ports will support data transfer and charging.
When attached, the 360-degree camera, which consists of two 12-megapixel fisheye lenses, will poke out above the top of the phone. The camera will be sold separately for $50 (about £40).
Trouble
Unfortunately, this delay could cause Rubin and co some issues.
The later the release of the PH-1, the closer to the launches of the latest from Samsung, LG and HTC.
Not only that, close behind them will be the new devices from Apple and Google.
This could be tricky for a new brand, even with someone like Andy Rubin at the helm.
Essential PH-1 price and availability
The Essential Phone will sell for $699 (£540) unlocked and should work on all carriers.
Essential Products‘ website has more details.
