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.
Read MoreHere are the Android Q Beta image links for third-party devices and some quirks to watch for
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.
Read MoreThe Essential Phone is officially discontinued, and a successor may be coming
Earlier today, Droid Life remarked that the Essential Phone was now sold out on Amazon, speculating that this might be "the end" for the PH-1. This was after the company's own storefront appeared to run out of stock last week and Best Buy's unlocked listing has the phone as "no longer available." Curious, we reached out to Essential for more info and were told the company "won't be adding any new inventory," while it focuses on its next mobile device.
Read MoreEssential Phone OTA for December security patch rolling out
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.
Read MorePopular
[Update: Back in stock] Essential reveals its Audio Adapter HD, a $150 machined titanium external DAC for the PH-1
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 $150, and a limited edition.
Read MoreEssential Phone re-review: Good software isn't good enough for most of us
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.
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 MoreLatest Deals
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Grab a pair of Bose SoundSport Free wireless earbuds in eye-catching Ultraviolet for $139 ($60 off)
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These premium Sony TVs are cheaper than ever, and you can still get one in time for the big game
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Midweek deals: Save on Bose noise-canceling headphones, Pixel 4, Echo Dot 3rd gen, and more
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32 temporarily free and 43 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday
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Grab the Anker Soundcore Life P2 wireless earbuds for just $43 ($17 off) from Newegg
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Latest Poll
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TicPods 2 Pro review: Good sound, but a fit that's not for everyone
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Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro review: For the few who prioritize mobile gaming over all else
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Latest Roundups
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16 new Android games from the week of January 20, 2020: Tetris, G.I. Joe: War On Cobra, and Zombie Football
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15 new and notable Android apps from the last three weeks including GesturePlus, Microsoft Launcher Preview, and GitHub (1/4/20 - 1/25/20)
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20 new Android games from the week of January 13th, 2020: Space Grunts 2, Draw Chilly, and Chamber
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18 new Android games from the last two weeks: The White Door, 60 Parsecs!, and Table Top Racing: World Tour
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12 new and notable Android apps from the last three weeks including Typewise Keyboard, FairEmail, and Knobby volume control (12/14/19 - 1/4/20)
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Recent Apps and Games
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Google is killing Google One Today, gives supporters only a week's notice
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Google's Area 120 team has created a Pinterest clone called Tangi
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Google app tests a darker shade of gray, shows a few signs of AMOLED black
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32 temporarily free and 43 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday
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Add to playlist button appears in Google Podcasts for some, but it doesn't work yet
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Blast from the Past
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1 Year Ago Today
[Update: APK Download] Blindingly bright Google Material theme starts rolling out to Gmail app today
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2 Years Ago Today
[Deal Alert] Verizon's discontinued Wear24 smartwatch is down to just $49.99 ($300 off) with coupon code [Update: Deal is done]
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3 Years Ago Today
Weekend poll: How much have you earned in Play Store credit from Opinion Rewards?
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4 Years Ago Today
Blu Vivo XL Quick Review: Breaking The Boundaries Of What A $99 Phone Should Be
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5 Years Ago Today
US Cellular Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, And Galaxy Note 4 Get New Dialer, Updated Camera App, And More In The Latest OTA
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6 Years Ago Today
Google Wallet App Update With Automated Loyalty Card Info And Location Alerts Coming Later This Week [Update: APK Download]
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7 Years Ago Today
Judge Koh Rules Samsung Did Not Willfully Infringe Apple's Patents (But Yes, It Still Infringed Them)
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8 Years Ago Today
15 Best Android 3.0+ Apps For Tablets From The Last 2 Months (12/7/11 - 1/29/12)
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9 Years Ago Today
Yet Another Android Data-Stealing Vulnerability Uncovered, Affects All Versions Of The OS
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