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Former Essential employee reveals designs for unreleased PH-2 and PH-3 phones
Essential's second Android phone seemed to be nearly complete
Earlier this year, the Andy Rubin-led smartphone startup Essential closed its doors. The company only ever released one product, the PH-1 Android phone, but it had plenty of canceled endeavors. We already knew about the 'Project GEM' phone-like prototype, but it seems Essential was also working on two more regular phones.
Essential will let you flash Android 11 on the PH-1 thanks to generic system images
The dead don't die?
The Essential Phone was one of a few devices that managed to keep up with Google's Pixel handsets when it comes to system updates, but with the company behind shut down after issues with its quirky GEM phone and the sexual harassment allegations surrounding its founder, we assumed development was completely halted. That doesn't seem to be the case just yet, though — Essential has published a Github repository aimed at making the phone fully compatible with Google's Android 11 generic system images (GSI).
Essential is in a strange place right now as a company. Its latest phone is still its first model, the 2017 PH-1, with no direct replacement in sight. Still, Essential is keeping its remaining users happy, as it has once again rolled out monthly security patches at the same time as Google's Pixel phones receive the OTA.
The Essential Phone is among the first devices outside Google's Pixels to pick up Android 10. We can confirm the OTA is rolling out as we speak for devices running both the previous Android Q betas and the last stable release of Android 9 Pie.
Essential might not have a new phone to sell you, but it does have a free OTA update today. Google has started rolling out the latest Android patches, and Essential has them ready for the Essential Phone, as tradition dictates. Don't expect new features, but security is pretty important, too.
For a company that laid a third of its staff off last year and whose future in smartphones seems uncertain, Essential is doing incredibly well with updates. Even though the Essential Phone has been officially discontinued, Andy Rubin & co continue to pump out security patches the same day as Google, and nothing's changed in that department for July.
By all accounts, Essential doesn't have a whole lot going on right now. It launched one phone about 18 months ago and has been cutting staff ever since. If Essential is working on another phone, it hasn't seen fit to talk about that. So, what is there to do other than keep the Essential Phone updated? Another month, another instant update for Essential Phone owners.
If you don't have a Pixel phone to get into that sweet, sweet Android Q Beta business, you've got more than a dozen third-party phones that can help you get there. But with each phone comes its own catches, so we'll patch you through to the resources you need from the OEMs.
Following the Pixels getting theirs today, Essential has pushed out the May security patch to the Essential Phone, right on time. This is quite typical for the company to be the first third-party OEM to update their phones, and unlike others, these patches are applied for everyone, not just those who opt into beta programs.
No, this is not an April Fool—Essential is still updating the Essential Phone with remarkable speed. The phone, which launched in 2017, is getting its April OTA update at the same time as Google's phones. There are some minor tweaks to functionality, but this is mostly about security patches.
Things have slowed down for Essential, which launched its only phone about 18 months ago. The company is at least doing a good job of keeping that phone up to date. After a shockingly quick Pie update, Essential has stayed on top of monthly patches. In the latest OTA, the Essential Phone is getting Google's Digital Wellbeing.
Hot on the heels of Google pushing the latest update to the Pixel devices, Essential shows it still means business and has issued its February security patch for the Essential Phone PH-1.
Look, Essential has been trying to sell you phones and 360-degree cameras for like a year. The original price was a little high, but it's been discounting them over and over, and there are still some left. For a limited time, you can get the Essential 360 Camera for just $24. This device cost a whopping $200 at launch.
Essential's PH-1 was criticized at launch for some valid reasons, like a mediocre camera, high price tag, and lack of a headphone jack. But great software and a falling price have earned it a small but impassioned cult following. Now the high-end niche phone from 2017 has a high-end niche audio accessory to go with it: the Audio Adapter HD. But a single-device, $150 external DAC/amp might be a bit too niche.
Essential has a habit of beating even Google when it comes to rolling out updates, and that trend continues today. An OTA including the December security patches for Android is rolling out to PH-1's everywhere as we speak, download at your leisure.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are as much a way to clear out old stock as they are about big door-buster deals. Shocker: Essential still has some phones to unload. We've seen this device go on mega-sale a few times, but the Cyber Monday bundle is still rather compelling. You can get the phone, 360 camera, and more for $329.
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Essential's Audio Adapter HD has finally been announced. The company has been talking about the existence of this new external headphone jack/DAC since June, and this month's security update indicated we'd see it soon. But there are a few twists: It's 0, and a limited edition.
The cycle of monthly security updates continues. As expected, Essential has just pushed out its November patch OTA on the same day as Google. There is a twist this time around, though: Essential's changelog includes notes that reveal the Audio Adapter HD could be coming soon.
While Essential's first device has a cult following among those who prioritize quick Android updates, it became clear in May that it would never see a follow-up. A report from Bloomberg revealed that the company had canceled a second Essential Phone and put itself up for sale. However, over the past several months, the company has quietly chugged along, continuing to push out lightning-fast security patches. Now, a new report from Bloomberg states that the company is indeed working on a second device — but it's not at all like its first product. According to the publication's tipsters, the handset is an anti-smartphone with a small screen that relies primarily on voice commands.
When it was first released, Essential's entry into the phone market was a bit of a flop. Reviews for the PH-1 weren't profoundly negative, but the phone's almost $700 price was humorously high considering its features and problems at the time. A bit over a year later, many of its early issues have been fixed or improved, the phone is one of just a handful to be updated to Android 9 Pie, and it's dropped down as cheap as $250 for Amazon Prime Day — though it's closer to $330 now.There's a lot to like about the Essential Phone, especially when it comes to its physical design and software. While the IP54 rating doesn't protect against accidental dips, the titanium and ceramic body exudes a character of quality very few phones can rival. Although problems like the scrolling stutter/jitter and signal strength issues seemingly can't be fixed, the PH-1 has a stellar update history. A drastic reduction in price can change dealbreakers like that into compromises for many.[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Ft64zEiMA[/EMBED_YT]