9 ms·

Essential Phone review: An arcane artifact from an unrealized future

90 points by dhd415 9y ago

mfoy_ 9y ago
In contrast to the author's main complaint: For me, the camera is one of the least important features on the phone, and I'd actually appreciate a phone that did not have a front-facing camera. I really wish it was waterproof though... that would have made the transition a very tempting value proposition...
- ashark 9y ago
  The only two features that keep me on high-end smartphones are the cameras (I have kids—Apple's live photos are basically magic) and GPS. If it were only the latter I could probably drop to a dumbphone and just use physical maps, and/or scribble directions from a Maps search before leaving.
- Markoff 9y ago
  why not just use sticker or some good quality marker pen?
- Eridrus 9y ago
  Sadly you and I are in the minority here.
AdmiralAsshat 9y ago
Having held off so far on getting a Galaxy S8 to look at its competitors (HTC U11, upcoming Pixel, Essential, etc.), the S8 still seems to blow them all away as far as what I want, namely: - bezel-free screen - headphone jack - SD slot The only thing keeping me from buying it right now is Samsung's history of slow updates. Which makes me think what we really, really need is to bring back the Google Play Edition devices. Looking back on it, they absolutely nailed what the smartphones should be: flagship devices, stock Android, guaranteed updates free from carrier holds. The problem was they cost the full price of the phone at a time when most people were still paying $200 upfront for subsidized phones--so the perception was that the cost was higher. Now that the full price of the phone is advertised upfront, I think we're due for a refresh of the GPE line-up.
- fumar 9y ago
  Do want to add that the S8 has wireless charging. I had a Nexus 6 and a Note 5, both with wireless charging - I can't go back. It is one those changes that impacts how I use the phone. I never need to plug into anything.
  - valuearb 9y ago
    But you have to charge it in a special spot, while a regular phone can be plugged in anywhere to charge. I still don't get the wireless charging benefit, and I have an apple watch.
    - ulber 9y ago
      Wirelessly chargeable phones can typically be charged normally. What it buys you is convenience in that special place or two where you always charge your phone (bedside, work desk, etc.). I really liked it when I did have it and wish Apple offered it too.
      - valuearb 9y ago
        That's a good point that I didn't consider.
- enobrev 9y ago
  I really appreciate the S8. Also, Samsung has some sort of trade-in deal going for $150 off the price of the phone†, which is what convinced me to grab it. I'll offer a warning I wish I'd received a week ago. I've had mine for a week, and the shortest of drops (about a foot) resulted in a badly cracked screen. This is after two years with an S6 with hardly a scratch. I've read that it's one of the most fragile phones on the market[1], which doesn't make me feel any better, but does make me wish I didn't switch until I got my screen protector the next day. Due to the shape and how new the screen is, I'm likely to have to pay about half the discounted price of the phone to get it fixed. Otherwise, it's an excellent phone and a fantastic upgrade from the S6. Just make sure you get a screen protector. 1: http://www.techradar.com/news/hold-the-phone-samsung-galaxy-s8-dubbed-most-fragile-handset-ever http://www.techradar.com/news/hold-the-phone-samsung-galaxy-... † I have absolutely nothing to do with Samsung or any phone company.
valuearb 9y ago
I'm actually impressed by the design focus they kept to. Rejecting bloatware not only a user benefit, but it probably removed a lot of outside dependencies from their project and likely was a significant reason they were able to get to market so quickly.
Fej 9y ago
I haven't seen a single reason to buy this phone. I mean, perhaps a few people might really love the design, but that's a matter of taste. Does this thing do anything that makes it special? Motorola already did modularity better. In a world where Samsung dominates Android phone sales, another contender has to do something to stand out. It can't be just a good phone. (And to make things worse it's missing some killer features, like water resistance and a headphone jack.)
- amiga-workbench 9y ago
  I wish shipping unbastardized software was enough to do so, but people keep going back for more TouchWiz. Baffling.
aphextron 9y ago
I can't understand the hype, will someone explain why this isn't just another mediocre $700 Android phone?
- freeone3000 9y ago
  There's a novel wireless accessory system allowing for functional phone accessories, such as cameras. This is like the moto-z system, but wireless. The screen has a smaller bezel and there's no 3.5mm headphone jack. Truly, the future.
  - josteink 9y ago
    > there's no 3.5mm headphone jack All I need to hear. No thanks.
- izacus 9y ago
  Maybe you should read the "ad copy" because it gives the answer to your question.
- izacus 9y ago
  Maybe you should read the "ad copy" because it gives the answer to your question.
dguo 9y ago
I wish smartphone manufacturers would shift the focus from making better cameras to improving battery life. The performance of every phone becomes zero once the battery runs out. This review claims excellent battery life, but for me to really find the phone compelling, the battery life needs to be more than excellent so that I can believe it will still be able to last a full day two years after I get it. Are magnetic accessories really that great if I'll have to get a new core phone anyway once the battery gives out (from what I understand, the Essential Phone's battery is not replaceable)? Before 360 degree pictures, VR, or a better AI assistant, I just want a phone that I'm actually willing to use as much as I'd like to instead of dimming down the screen to the point that I can barely see it when I know I'm going to be away from a charger for most of the day.
- Artistry121 9y ago
  I got a phone last week that has "more than excellent" battery life: Asus Zenphone 3 Zoom. With two days of heavy use I still had 15% left. It also is good or great in just about every other category.
  - dguo 9y ago
    Nice. I'll definitely be looking for a phone like that when my current contract is up.
    - izacus 9y ago
      I also mentioned the Moto Z Play (not the Z2 Play) which easily does 2-3 days of standby (I'm looking at my GFs phone right now and it's sitting on 73% after a full day). You can add a moto mod with additional battery capacity further boosting that to probably something like 5-6 days.
  - overcast 9y ago
    Why does one need more than a single day of heavy use? Is charging while you sleep an issue?
Multicomp 9y ago
Yeah so can I get a phone with the thickness of the old Motorola Milestone/Droid but with current guts and a proportionally higher capacity battery? Edit: grammar
- phonon 9y ago
  https://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-mods/moto-turbopower-pack-battery https://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-mods/moto-turbopow... https://www.androidheadlines.com/2017/07/motorola-moto-turbo-power-pack-moto-mod-review.html https://www.androidheadlines.com/2017/07/motorola-moto-turbo...
fractallyte 9y ago
Android? Ugh! What's with all the hardware worship, while totally ignoring the software? Hardware is cheap, low-hanging fruit. If you're going to push technology boundaries, try a more interesting, forward looking OS to start with. Both Sailfish and QNX really are 'arcane' and 'futuristic'. Android apps can run alongside Sailfish, so why aren't these glitzy manufacturers aiming just that little bit higher?
- amiga-workbench 9y ago
  That would be like trying to sell the average consumer on a laptop running Gentoo.
  - fractallyte 9y ago
    Chrome OS is based on Gentoo... ;-)
dandare 9y ago
I made a promise to myself that my next phone will be waterproof - especially for a device this expensive.
anotheryou 9y ago
My semi-budget android phones just get worse, appart from the camera. My first smartphone, the desire-z had a physical keyboard. My current, the moto-g 1st gen still fits in my pocket comfortably. My next will have a screen far bigger than I asked for, specs would still be upper middle-class and just the camera is better. There is no semi-budget android that is not large. I'll probably get the moto g5+ when prices drop with the g5s+ coming out.
- whowalrus 9y ago
  I feel your pain. My all-time favorite phone was the Moto E2 (4.5-inch screen), and would still be using it if I hadn't dropped it in water. I don't think I'll ever get a budget or semi-budget phone that is as comfortable to use.

90 points by dhd415 9y ago

In contrast to the author's main complaint: For me, the camera is one of the least important features on the phone, and I'd actually appreciate a phone that did not have a front-facing camera. I really wish it was waterproof though... that would have made the transition a very tempting value proposition...

ashark 9y ago
The only two features that keep me on high-end smartphones are the cameras (I have kids—Apple's live photos are basically magic) and GPS. If it were only the latter I could probably drop to a dumbphone and just use physical maps, and/or scribble directions from a Maps search before leaving.
Markoff 9y ago
why not just use sticker or some good quality marker pen?
Eridrus 9y ago
Sadly you and I are in the minority here.

AdmiralAsshat 9y ago

Having held off so far on getting a Galaxy S8 to look at its competitors (HTC U11, upcoming Pixel, Essential, etc.), the S8 still seems to blow them all away as far as what I want, namely: - bezel-free screen - headphone jack - SD slot The only thing keeping me from buying it right now is Samsung's history of slow updates. Which makes me think what we really, really need is to bring back the Google Play Edition devices. Looking back on it, they absolutely nailed what the smartphones should be: flagship devices, stock Android, guaranteed updates free from carrier holds. The problem was they cost the full price of the phone at a time when most people were still paying $200 upfront for subsidized phones--so the perception was that the cost was higher. Now that the full price of the phone is advertised upfront, I think we're due for a refresh of the GPE line-up.

fumar 9y ago
Do want to add that the S8 has wireless charging. I had a Nexus 6 and a Note 5, both with wireless charging - I can't go back. It is one those changes that impacts how I use the phone. I never need to plug into anything.
- valuearb 9y ago
  But you have to charge it in a special spot, while a regular phone can be plugged in anywhere to charge. I still don't get the wireless charging benefit, and I have an apple watch.
  - ulber 9y ago
    Wirelessly chargeable phones can typically be charged normally. What it buys you is convenience in that special place or two where you always charge your phone (bedside, work desk, etc.). I really liked it when I did have it and wish Apple offered it too.
    - valuearb 9y ago
      That's a good point that I didn't consider.
enobrev 9y ago
I really appreciate the S8. Also, Samsung has some sort of trade-in deal going for $150 off the price of the phone†, which is what convinced me to grab it. I'll offer a warning I wish I'd received a week ago. I've had mine for a week, and the shortest of drops (about a foot) resulted in a badly cracked screen. This is after two years with an S6 with hardly a scratch. I've read that it's one of the most fragile phones on the market[1], which doesn't make me feel any better, but does make me wish I didn't switch until I got my screen protector the next day. Due to the shape and how new the screen is, I'm likely to have to pay about half the discounted price of the phone to get it fixed. Otherwise, it's an excellent phone and a fantastic upgrade from the S6. Just make sure you get a screen protector. 1: http://www.techradar.com/news/hold-the-phone-samsung-galaxy-s8-dubbed-most-fragile-handset-ever http://www.techradar.com/news/hold-the-phone-samsung-galaxy-... † I have absolutely nothing to do with Samsung or any phone company.

valuearb 9y ago

I'm actually impressed by the design focus they kept to. Rejecting bloatware not only a user benefit, but it probably removed a lot of outside dependencies from their project and likely was a significant reason they were able to get to market so quickly.

Fej 9y ago

I haven't seen a single reason to buy this phone. I mean, perhaps a few people might really love the design, but that's a matter of taste. Does this thing do anything that makes it special? Motorola already did modularity better. In a world where Samsung dominates Android phone sales, another contender has to do something to stand out. It can't be just a good phone. (And to make things worse it's missing some killer features, like water resistance and a headphone jack.)

amiga-workbench 9y ago
I wish shipping unbastardized software was enough to do so, but people keep going back for more TouchWiz. Baffling.

aphextron 9y ago

I can't understand the hype, will someone explain why this isn't just another mediocre $700 Android phone?

freeone3000 9y ago
There's a novel wireless accessory system allowing for functional phone accessories, such as cameras. This is like the moto-z system, but wireless. The screen has a smaller bezel and there's no 3.5mm headphone jack. Truly, the future.
- josteink 9y ago
  > there's no 3.5mm headphone jack All I need to hear. No thanks.
izacus 9y ago
Maybe you should read the "ad copy" because it gives the answer to your question.
izacus 9y ago
Maybe you should read the "ad copy" because it gives the answer to your question.

dguo 9y ago

I wish smartphone manufacturers would shift the focus from making better cameras to improving battery life. The performance of every phone becomes zero once the battery runs out. This review claims excellent battery life, but for me to really find the phone compelling, the battery life needs to be more than excellent so that I can believe it will still be able to last a full day two years after I get it. Are magnetic accessories really that great if I'll have to get a new core phone anyway once the battery gives out (from what I understand, the Essential Phone's battery is not replaceable)? Before 360 degree pictures, VR, or a better AI assistant, I just want a phone that I'm actually willing to use as much as I'd like to instead of dimming down the screen to the point that I can barely see it when I know I'm going to be away from a charger for most of the day.

Artistry121 9y ago
I got a phone last week that has "more than excellent" battery life: Asus Zenphone 3 Zoom. With two days of heavy use I still had 15% left. It also is good or great in just about every other category.
- dguo 9y ago
  Nice. I'll definitely be looking for a phone like that when my current contract is up.
  - izacus 9y ago
    I also mentioned the Moto Z Play (not the Z2 Play) which easily does 2-3 days of standby (I'm looking at my GFs phone right now and it's sitting on 73% after a full day). You can add a moto mod with additional battery capacity further boosting that to probably something like 5-6 days.
- overcast 9y ago
  Why does one need more than a single day of heavy use? Is charging while you sleep an issue?

Multicomp 9y ago

Yeah so can I get a phone with the thickness of the old Motorola Milestone/Droid but with current guts and a proportionally higher capacity battery? Edit: grammar

phonon 9y ago
https://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-mods/moto-turbopower-pack-battery https://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-mods/moto-turbopow... https://www.androidheadlines.com/2017/07/motorola-moto-turbo-power-pack-moto-mod-review.html https://www.androidheadlines.com/2017/07/motorola-moto-turbo...

fractallyte 9y ago

Android? Ugh! What's with all the hardware worship, while totally ignoring the software? Hardware is cheap, low-hanging fruit. If you're going to push technology boundaries, try a more interesting, forward looking OS to start with. Both Sailfish and QNX really are 'arcane' and 'futuristic'. Android apps can run alongside Sailfish, so why aren't these glitzy manufacturers aiming just that little bit higher?

amiga-workbench 9y ago
That would be like trying to sell the average consumer on a laptop running Gentoo.
- fractallyte 9y ago
  Chrome OS is based on Gentoo... ;-)

dandare 9y ago

I made a promise to myself that my next phone will be waterproof - especially for a device this expensive.

anotheryou 9y ago

My semi-budget android phones just get worse, appart from the camera. My first smartphone, the desire-z had a physical keyboard. My current, the moto-g 1st gen still fits in my pocket comfortably. My next will have a screen far bigger than I asked for, specs would still be upper middle-class and just the camera is better. There is no semi-budget android that is not large. I'll probably get the moto g5+ when prices drop with the g5s+ coming out.

whowalrus 9y ago
I feel your pain. My all-time favorite phone was the Moto E2 (4.5-inch screen), and would still be using it if I hadn't dropped it in water. I don't think I'll ever get a budget or semi-budget phone that is as comfortable to use.