Any Interest In Rubin's Essential Phone?

[symphara]

I was really looking forward to buying the green one. But with the camera, no way. On my P9 I love the camera and particularly the camera app, I can't imagine going to something mediocre and with an unstable, buggy app.

A price drop won't do anything for me, I just want something good. It's like the iPhone - I wouldn't get one if they were half the current prices.

In any case I doubt a $499 price is on the books right now. Perhaps $599 around Christmas time. And it sounds like the green one won't be out until perhaps next year.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I mean what will happen with this phone in the near future ? If sales continue to be lackluster and very low, what's their next course of action ?

I know they are just now getting around to releasing the kernel source in image files, which is needed for the development community to root and ROM this phone. Look at XDA and there's no activity for this phone, and this phone should be super popular on XDA for the nerd modders, but it's not. That's a bad sign for Essential.

If I was Andy Rubin, I'd just throw towel in sort of, and lower the price of this phone, and push it more as a Nexus type of a phone, meaning affordable price with near flagship spec's, but also a developer phone. That way you can slowly build up a fan base on this phone. But keeping it at $700, and with the known issues or lower quality stuff, people will just avoid this phone.

 

[slitherjef]

Is it just me or does it seem like this device was quickly swept under the rug? Things got really quiet right after the "official" release. The whole deal went with a whimper and not a bang. I suppose that's because the whole ordeal and hype and controversy surrounding this thing.

It was almost like a Kickstarter campaign.

Maybe they went back to the drawing board?

 

[AustinIllini]

Is it just me or does it seem like this device was quickly swept under the rug? Things got really quiet right after the "official" release. The whole deal went with a whimper and not a bang. I suppose that's because the whole ordeal and hype and controversy surrounding this thing.

It was almost like a Kickstarter campaign.

Maybe they went back to the drawing board?

The timing was not awesome in the first place but perhaps the worst thing was the delay after they announced the phone would exist. When Google and Apple plow through with their devices, that's it for developers like Essential. If the Essential phone were a $400-$500 device, it would have a hole in the market in which to fit, but there's no reason to buy an Essential Phone instead of an iPhone or Pixel.

 

[Tig Bitties]

This phone would be perfect if it filled the old Nexus phone role meaning an affordable Flagship geared towards developers and the Nerds. Put this in the $500 price range and this phone will fly off the shelf, but of course have an unlocked bootloader and make it easy to root and push it on developers and the phone will slowly start to build a following, and then build upon it year after year and eventually maybe in 3 or 4 years it could become a big hit.

But do not bring out a new phone, charge $700 for it, and not have it truly 2017 flagship spec'd, as in missing IP67/68 water resistant certification, no wireless charging, no OLED display, an average to poor camera, a somewhat small battery, would love it if it had like a 3,500mAh battery. And then for being a stock Android type OS, it should have ZERO hiccups or stutters, stock is supposed to be buttery smooth, like the Pixel and even OnePlus 5 phones, you can't launch a brand new stock Android type phone, and have it stutter here and there, that's a good way to turn people away.

This phone almost seems as if it was rushed out before it was complete.

The thing is, this phone is a real beauty, stunning looking phone, and the size very compact and can be one handed, but it's overpriced for what your getting, and they need to iron out the bugs A.S.A.P. And they need a price drop, but how do they reduce the price of the phone, without pissing off the people that already paid full retail for it ? But they need to drop the price to get sales moving, unless they just don't care, and will wait for the Essential 2 next year ??

 

[Tig Bitties]

How many Essential's are sitting in Sprint warehouses ?

 

[AustinIllini]

I can't imagine their being an essential 2. Maybe like an Essential mid range device, but Essential isn't just going to be Samsung, they should start with OnePlus and grow from there.

 

[Fernandez21]

Just got my gear 360 gift from Samsung, and man, first impressions the 360 camera for the essential phone was much nicer, it was easier to use, and the stitching was better.

Glad I kept the 360 camera from my essential, at $50 it was a steal, now I just got to wait for a price drop on the essential phone.

 

[Zackmd1]

Well I just got my notification that the white model is ready for order.... Not going to go through with it unfortunately but interested to see what the company can do with its second gen device (if there is one).

 

[tbayrgs]

Got to handle an Essential phone in person for the first time, at an Apple Store of all places . Really stunning hardware--love the heft, very premium feel in the hand, and the near edge display is really eye catching. I asked the owner what he thought of it--said it was really nice hardware and pretty smooth performance-wise but consistent with just about every online account (and without any prompting from me), he said camera performance was pretty lackluster.

Such a shame the software isn't up to par with the hardware because the Pixel experience (UI and camera performance) on the hardware would be a match made in heaven.

 

[JaySoul]

I reckon in about 10 months time, there are going to be a lot of these floating around. There is a lot going for it.

The price will have dropped significantly, the camera should have improved to average, and it would be a good device for a lot of people (particularly as a cheaper secondary device).

But that price must fall, and the camera must rise.

 

[Aneres11]

I won't lie, I still really want it. Sick of saying it haha.
Damn no UK release yet.

 

[Fernandez21]

It's a really nice phone and I'm missing right now. Hoping for a sale soon, maybe for Black Friday.

Anyone see any cases yet? I saw one on Amazon but it says not available.

 

[tbayrgs]

It's a really nice phone and I'm missing right now. Hoping for a sale soon, maybe for Black Friday.

Anyone see any cases yet? I saw one on Amazon but it says not available.

That’s one phone I wouldn’t put in a case. So much of the appeal of the Essential, at least for me after holding it, is the look and even moreso, the feel in hand of the hardware. For me personally, if would feel far less special hidden behind a case.

 

[Fernandez21]

That’s one phone I wouldn’t put in a case. So much of the appeal of the Essential, at least for me after holding it, is the look and even moreso, the feel in hand of the hardware. For me personally, if would feel far less special hidden behind a case.

I agree, I would only use a case for work, I do a/c work which involves working on roofs, attics, kitchens, garages, and construction sites. So I always have a case in the truck and slip it on while at work. I did manage to get micro scratches on my original essential phone in my time with it, so I would like to have one for those occasions.

 

[tbayrgs]

I agree, I would only use a case for work, I do a/c work which involves working on roofs, attics, kitchens, garages, and construction sites. So I always have a case in the truck and slip it on while at work. I did manage to get micro scratches on my original essential phone in my time with it, so I would like to have one for those occasions.

Oh I completely understand how one’s individual use case would warrant the use of a case and I’d never tell anyone to not use one. I just found the look and feel of the hardware to be by far the most compelling aspect of the device and I’d hate myself if I covered it up.

 

[Fernandez21]

Couldn’t wait, just got back from Best Buy. At least as an elite member, they said I had 45 days return/price match guarantee. Made them write it on my receipt just in case.

2 quick differences between this and my original, this one doesn’t have a hole in the top earpiece, and the sim tray is uniform with the body.

 

[that be me]

Couldn’t wait, just got back from Best Buy. At least as an elite member, they said I had 45 days return/price match guarantee. Made them write it on my receipt just in case.

2 quick differences between this and my original, this one doesn’t have a hole in the top earpiece, and the sim tray is uniform with the body.

Completely off topic, but photo taken with iPhone?

 

[Fernandez21]

Completely off topic, but photo taken with iPhone?

Yup, iPhone 7 4.7"

 

[Aneres11]

Do post pics and thoughts Fernandez. I love the Essential design so much.

 

[KingslayerG5]

I would have been interested in it if it had a way better camera and wasn't on crappy Sprint. I tried all four major carriers and Verizon is the best for coverage and T-Mobile is the best for value ($70 One Unlimited, tax included, 50gb data until throttled down).

Sprint was by far the worst carrier I ever used. Data is slow. Least compatible 4G bands to the others. Difficult to just pop a sim. That's why I don't want eSim/ESN. I want freedom and ease of use.

I like Android father, Andy Rubin. But I truly, truly hate Sprint. Stuck to T-Mobile because I get bill credits from my og Pixel phone, my phones are more compatible to it than Verizon, and don't care if they ever merge with Sprint or not.

No carrier is perfect just like no brand is perfect. It's like following your favorite team that pulls off dumb trades and draft busts. But friends don't let friends join Sprint.

 

[co.ag.2005]

I would have been interested in it if it had a way better camera and wasn't on crappy Sprint. I tried all four major carriers and Verizon is the best for coverage and T-Mobile is the best for value ($70 One Unlimited, tax included, 50gb data until throttled down).

Sprint was by far the worst carrier I ever used. Data is slow. Least compatible 4G bands to the others. Difficult to just pop a sim. That's why I don't want eSim/ESN. I want freedom and ease of use.

I like Android father, Andy Rubin. But I truly, truly hate Sprint. Stuck to T-Mobile because I get bill credits from my og Pixel phone, my phones are more compatible to it than Verizon, and don't care if they ever merge with Sprint or not.

No carrier is perfect just like no brand is perfect. It's like following your favorite team that pulls off dumb trades and draft busts. But friends don't let friends join Sprint.

The essential phone works on all carriers, FYI. I used it with T-Mobile just fine when the phone first came out.

 

[Tig Bitties]

https://www.reddit.com/r/essential/comments/770rdc/biweekly_ama_with_essential_team_oct_18_from/

 

[Aneres11]

Hmm so I just searched on Amazon US and it says the phone ships to UK and they have the white colour.

Why, cruel world.

It's funny, in the UK the Pixel 2 XL is nearly out, the iPhone X is nearly out, the V30 is nearly out, the Mate 10's are nearly out and the only phone I actually want to own is this Essential.

I often go for hardware design over software smoothness (Priv and KEYone say hey haha) and I loved those two devices despite them being laggy, underpowered and having teething problems. Sometimes I prefer the excitement of a great looking device over settling for great performance and a boring phone.

Much to think about...

 

[Tsepz]

I think they can still turn it around, seriously the hardware is amazing to hold. If they can do a price cut of around $200 ($499), and have the software figured out (they were saying some great things in their AMA), then I think they have chance. At $499 you can excuse so-so customer service and an ok camera. Plus at the price the other flagships are coming out at, this would make an incredible alternative.

I don't know hey. There are 2016 flagships that are going for a lot less now that would seem to be a better choice than this even at $499. One could get a Galaxy S7 Edge, HTC 10, ZTE Axon7, Huawei P9 Plus, OnePlus 3 or 3T.