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Any Interest In Rubin's Essential Phone?
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Essential's constant updates are a blessing and a curse. It's good of them to keep working on the phone. However, it also means they released an obviously very unfinished product.
it does sound like their latest camera update and february OS update has made things a lot better. But I just don't think there's much they can fix with that camera hardware. I do hope they release a 2nd phone this year that fixes all the woes of the PH-1 but retains that gorgeous hardware.
https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/...pdate-adds-autohdr-mode-improves-performance/
EDIT: looks like today's 8.1 beta fixes the scrolling jitter. That was on of my main issues with this phone (outside of the camera performance)
https://www.droid-life.com/2018/02/...available-includes-slow-scrolling-jitter-fix/
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I'd be into a finely tuned Essential 2. However, as I stated previously, part of their selling point if they're gonna run stock Android is a *flawless* user experience. It's got to rival the Pixel for fluidity and speed. Camera has to up its game considerably as well. Even if they stay in the $500 range, they have OP to contend with for performance.
Ocean depths released today and 2 more colors to follow later in the month. But at a $100 increase. No thanks. I do hope these are the default colors for gen 2 of the PH-1. I'd buy the gray one if the performance and camera issues are fixed.
Essential Phone Arrives in Three New Limited Colors: Ocean Depths, Stellar Gray, and Copper Black
Essential Phone Arrives in Three New Limited Colors: Ocean Depths, Stellar Gray, and Copper Black
They've actually released them and increased the price over the existing models / colours?
Really?!
Stupid.
The look incredible though.
Really?!
Stupid.
The look incredible though.
Yup, I do still have my essential phone, it's my Android daily driver right now, and has been for the last couple of months. Still love this form factor, however not having wifi calling sucks, I live in a low signal area with at&t. I realize that's at&t's fault and not essentials, but it really hinders the experience.@Fernandez21 - do you still have your Essential?!
How is it treating you if you do?
The ship has long sailed for the phone now in my eyes, especially with no signs for the UK still, but wondered how it was performing after updates etc.
Shame, as this phone was very nearly there, it was just let down my a few major flaws.
My X though is my go to phone, its just so incredibly solid and polished, I can't really think of any faults with my X (other than it's running iOS and I prefer Android UI)
Edit: also, lookie what we have here....
The new teal color is beautiful. I wish the manufacturers would stop treating color like some fabulous feature worth paying an extra hundred dollars or waiting six month for. Gah! Oh well, not my circus, not my ponies. I like to read about the Essential but I am not in the market for it this go around.
Yup, I do still have my essential phone, it's my Android daily driver right now, and has been for the last couple of months. Still love this form factor, however not having wifi calling sucks, I live in a low signal area with at&t. I realize that's at&t's fault and not essentials, but it really hinders the experience.
My X though is my go to phone, its just so incredibly solid and polished, I can't really think of any faults with my X (other than it's running iOS and I prefer Android UI)
Edit: also, lookie what we have here....
Great to hear!!
I think the Essential and the X would be an ideal combo really. I too felt like the X did everything so amazingly well and was sad to see it go when I sold it.
Normally when I have an iPhone and sell it, I really don't miss it. With the X though I'd happily have one again tomorrow. Only difference is though, I feel the same about my Pixel 2. It's quickly becoming my favourite phone ever.
I think it's great that Essential are continuing to support the device with updates. Definitely feels like they announced and released too early. Hopefully they have learned their lessons here.
I still think it's the best looking phone on the market. US market, anyway.
that looks like a big brother to my space gray iPhone SE.
Edit to add: OMG it’s got Alexa integration on it. I love Alexa. She’s my bestie! Very cool deal. Thanks for passing this news along. Too bad I’m not made of money!
Has anyone else ever charged more for a color? I know they have been harder to get but I don't recall a color ever being more.
Just another horrible decision in my opinion. They have these shiny new colors and then kill the buzz around them by charging a premium. Had they sold them for the same price or even done something like a $50 cheaper price for a few days that would generate sales+buzz. This company needs to increase sales and buzz around them. This isn't best done by charging a premium for a new color.
Just another horrible decision in my opinion. They have these shiny new colors and then kill the buzz around them by charging a premium. Had they sold them for the same price or even done something like a $50 cheaper price for a few days that would generate sales+buzz. This company needs to increase sales and buzz around them. This isn't best done by charging a premium for a new color.
yeah, not sure why they did. some speculate that it costs more to create the new colors and/or it's more of a limited edition run.
Well, the jet black iPhone was only available in the higher storage configurations, so essentially if you wanted jet black you would have to get the more expensive model.
But that's much different than charging $100 more for the same exact model in a new color. Especially for a company in the position Essential is in.
I just got done reading somewhere in one of the link trails I ended up on that Essential reps said it cost them a lot of money to formulate the ceramics in the new colors. They said it’s not the same as when you change the color on paint or other kinds of materials. I guess the color is below the surface then, too, if that’s the case.
The hardware is extremely tempting. I just don’t know much about their software situation or customer support or any of the usual things I factor into buying a smartphone. I also want really good water resistance. I’m using my iPhone SE again and I keep forgetting it’s not water resistant. I’m out in the rain all the damn time. I kind of need water resistance. And good dust resistance too. Still for the price...not bad. Do people root these phones and put better custom roms on them?
The hardware is extremely tempting. I just don’t know much about their software situation or customer support or any of the usual things I factor into buying a smartphone. I also want really good water resistance. I’m using my iPhone SE again and I keep forgetting it’s not water resistant. I’m out in the rain all the damn time. I kind of need water resistance. And good dust resistance too. Still for the price...not bad. Do people root these phones and put better custom roms on them?
In a nutshell, the software situation isn't the best. It's stock android but suffers from scrolling jitters and other goofy performance issues that shouldn't happen with stock android. The 8.1 beta that's out now supposedly fixed the scrolling issues but some say they are still there. The camera is lackluster but apparently all the updates the camera app is getting is actually making it decent. It'll never be Pixel level but could get to a level of last year's (or maybe the prior year) flagship cameras.
The good is that their support seems to be good and they are getting software updates and fixes continuously. It just seems the phone was really a beta product and may finally get to "final release-like" status a year after release.
but for the hardware, I'm still a sucker for it. I've owned 2 of them and returned due to performance and camera issues. But that amazon color combo and price has me slightly intrigued.
It looks like a fun phone for crazy hobbyists. If I didn’t have my eyes set on the new Samsung S9+ I’d think about picking up that one with the Alexa integration. However I am home a lot and can talk to Alexa anytime I want so it’s not like I need to have Alexa on my phone. It’s just a cute perk.
The bummer about the S9+ is going to be the cost. But my husband is going to get one, too and he’s started putting the money aside for it. It will be a fun purchase for us to do together. He is still complaining that he doesn’t have a Pixel 2 and that I gave up my X. He wants us to be matchy matchy so we can compare and troubleshoot and talk about the same phones together. Yeah we are weird. But we’ve always geeked out together since we were in college/University and pooled our money together to buy computer and console games.
Agreed on all counts. I hope that price hike isn't a sign of things to come.
EDIT: It is nice to see one of those new colors on sale at Amazon.
Have the final version of 8.1 on my essential phone, and so far so good, the stutter while slow scrolling is about 90% gone. Outside of the Pixel, this is now the smoothest Android experience I've had.
It is down to $350 again
Slip an unlocked Essential Phone into your pocket for $350
https://www.androidcentral.com/thri...mpaign=Feed:+androidcentral+(Android+Central)
Slip an unlocked Essential Phone into your pocket for $350
https://www.androidcentral.com/thri...mpaign=Feed:+androidcentral+(Android+Central)
