After a couple of months of delay, Andy Rubin’s Essential confirmed that it would start shipping the Essential Phone to customers who pre-ordered it from later this week. Now, with the phone also hitting Sprint stores, the first batch of Essential Phone reviews are also out.
The Essential Phone is unlikely to sell in millions of units, with only hardcore Android enthusiasts being interested in it. The steep price of the handset alone is going to be a huge deterrent for many and will drive away many potential customers. Nonetheless, the Essential Phone is a very interesting phone. Not only is its design very unique, Essential promises a Pixel-esque like update policy for the handset. So, is it any good? Let’s see what the reviews say. Do note that most of the reviews of the Essential Phone have only been published after using the device for around 72 hours.
Android Central
The publication notes that the Titanium chassis and the ceramic back of the Essential Phone give it a very solid feeling in the handset. The materials used also ensure that the handset will easily survive daily use without a case without getting scuffed up or scratched. The highlight of the Essential Phone is its 5.7-inch LCD display at the front. Here’s what the publication had to say about it: It praises the software experience of the device as well which is as close to stock Android as possible — even more so than what OnePlus and Moto offer with their devices. The performance of the device was also top notch but that was a given considering its specs (Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM). The phone did lock up three times but that can likely be attributed to the device running a non-final software build. As for the rear 13MP cameras, while they are decent, they don’t stand a chance against the likes of Google Pixel and Galaxy S8. The lack of OIS and larger pixels definitely hurt the camera’s performance, especially in low-light. The barebones camera app is no good either. Review: Android Central
Android Authority
The publication praises the build quality of the Essential Phone and its ability to easily survive day-to-day falls without showing any signs of dents or scratch. They also praise its display which is without a doubt the highlight of the device. The review also praises the performance of the device and notes that the USB-C adapter bundled with the phone is capable of powering premium headphones as well. Below is what the publication says in the end for the Essential Phone: Review: Android Authority
The Verge
The publication praises the build quality and design of the Essential Phone and even says that it has the most appealing hardware design of any smartphone released in the last year. The tall 19:10 aspect ratio display of the handset is easier to use than the 18:9 aspect ratio display found on the likes of the LG G6 and the Galaxy S8 as it makes it easier to reach the top of the status bar. The dual-camera setup of the phone improved considerably with a last minute OTA update that even introduced a manual HDR mode. However, despite these improvements, the camera performance of the Essential Phone is nowhere near the likes of the Pixel XL. … Lots of phones feel like they’re derivative copies of other phones, but the Essential Phone genuinely feels like its own thing. There’s an old joke that all phones now are “big black slabs” that simply aspire to look like the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Near as I can tell, Essential decided to just up and own that joke. In the end, while the Essential Phone is great in many aspects, its camera performance and lack of waterproofing make it a tough buy. Review: The Verge So, what do you think about the Essential Phone based on the above reviews? Do you plan on buying the phone despite its high price and mediocre camera?
