Even stock Android isn't perfect. While the lack of a heavy-handed skin is welcome, many users will find shortcomings (whether personal or widely acknowledged by the user base at large), that they'd like to tweak. Those users will be glad to know that the one and likely only Essential Phone, one of the few stock Android devices on the market, is now supported by TWRP.
Read MoreEssential Phone gets September security update immediately following Google's release
Even though a May report suggested that Essential has canned its second-generation phone (an assertion the company didn't fully contradict), the first Essential Phone remains a cult favorite. In large part, that's because the company pushes out Android updates in near tandem with Google — and that was no exception with the September 2018 Android Pie update released today.
Read MoreEssential Phone finally gets support for YouTube zoom-to-fill
Now that almost every major smartphone has a display with a ratio around 18:9, regular old 16:9 videos aren't looking too hot with their black bars. To combat this, YouTube added a helpful zoom-to-fill feature to its Android app, but that functionality only works on select, more mainstream devices. The Essential Phone is finally getting support for it, months after both its and the feature's release.
Read More[Deal Alert] Essential Phone in Halo Gray down to $280 ($220 off) on Amazon
Aside from its incredible build and lightning-quick updates, I'd argue that the most interesting thing about the Essential Phone is how low its price dropped in such a short time; this once-$700 phone hit an all-time low of just $249.99 on Amazon last month for Prime Day. Today's deal on the Halo Gray Essential Phone can't quite beat that, but at $279.99, it comes close.
Read MoreEssential Phone's Android 9 Pie update is rolling out, minutes after Google's announcement
Mere minutes after Google announced the Android 9 Pie name and official launch, Essential has tweeted that its own Pie update is rolling out to the PH-1 right now. Somehow, in spite of the serious financial problems the company is facing, it's still absolutely killing it in terms of updates.
Read More8 of our favorite tech deals this week: Phones new and old (and also some accessories)
When you're following tech deals, you never quite know what you're going to get. Some weeks it feels like all you're seeing for sale are smart-home devices, or sometimes it's Bluetooth speaker after Bluetooth speaker. And while we really appreciate all those offers, they just can't quite compete with the allure of saving serious money on really big-ticket items — and in this scene, that means discounts on smartphones themselves. If that's what you're craving, we're happy to deliver, as this past week has been straight-up inundated with deals on some of the biggest smartphones around.
Read More[Deal Alert] Essential Phone being offered with free Earphones HD, 360 Camera, and camera case for $399
The Essential Phone has seen some pretty crazy deals over the past few months, but the best one we saw came last month during Prime Day. Today's deal isn't quite as good, but if you're interested in picking an Essential Phone up, Essential will toss in a pair of its Earphones HD, a 360 Camera, and a protective camera case for free.
Read MoreEssential drops latest Android P Developer Preview within minutes of Google
The only OEM faster to update its devices these days than Google is Essential. Although the company may be running up against rough times, it has consistently offered timely OTAs for security patches and Developer Previews. Like last month, the company is rolling out its own spin on the release candidate-ready DP5 (Beta 3, so far as Essential's numbering goes) less than an hour after Google.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
[Update: Refunds for pre-deal purchases] Deal alert: Essential's 360-degree camera is an insane $19 right now
Essential and Amazon busted out one of the biggest deals this year when they dropped the PH-1 to an all-time low price of $250 for Prime Day. But, it turns out that's not the end of the Essential deals. Right now you can pick up the Essential 360 Camera accessory for a mere $19.
Read MoreEssential Phone likely to receive Android Q update... someday — frequent camera tweaks due in the short term
Deemed just “essentially okay” by Ryan shortly after its launch, when it was still selling for $700, the Essential Phone was essentially a must-buy earlier this week, at a discounted price of $250. Bargain hunters who are only starting to get accustomed to the divisive Andy Rubin-created device may want to know the company answers questions every month on Reddit.
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