Essential will launch in UK, Japan and Continental Europe

17 July 2017
Andy Rubin's phone won't be a North America exclusive.

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  • AnonD-683536
  • qJP
  • 18 Jul 2017

Essential missed it's sweet spot. It would have dominated smartphone news in late June or early July. Now, it will be released at a time where it has to compete with some heavy hitters: iPhone 8, Samsung Note 8, LG V30, Nokia 8, Google Pixel 2, Huawei Mate 8 and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2. By late July, people will legitimately ask whether they should take a chance and spend $700 on a start up or wait 30 days for a proven winner?

I am looking forward to the phone, but this delay could be real trouble for Essential, especially if the release is marred by any other hiccups. At this point, every day is costing them customers and that's not something you can afford when you have 0% market share going in to the most competitive smartphone market of the year.

    • K
    • Kangal
    • 7s3
    • 18 Jul 2017

    Anonymous, 17 Jul 2017Some of the things you raise are clearly design choices, e.... moreThanks for the response.

    Yeah, I agree with you...some things I mentioned are actual improvements while others are just design differences. I just hoped someone would make a phone with a similar design, as it would appeal not just to me but the majority and hopefully would stick.

    The closest I've seen was the TCL Alcatel myTouch 3 5.5 and the Nexus 5X. I'm rocking the latter.

    I'm also in the same camp as you, I'm probably going to skip the Pixel2 and consider this one instead (in that Deep Sea colour), if the reviews hold up.

      Alien , 17 Jul 2017I like the design but the lack of SD card slot makes me say... moreWell, regarding the (unfortunately) lack of the SD slot, I'm with you 100%.

        The more they will plan big the better it will be. And obviously yes it is a good news that it will be launched outside of the US too.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • StU
          • 17 Jul 2017

          Kangal, 17 Jul 2017I kind of agree. But it certainly looks better than the Pi... moreSome of the things you raise are clearly design choices, e.g deciding they wanted a dramatic "right to the top" screen rules out stereo speakers (apart from "bottom+earpiece" arrangement some are using) and forces the camera intrusion (or a camera in the bottom bezel as Xiaomi did). So you can disagree with them, but they aren't things you can pick and mix.

          IP rating? We're told there will be one, though not what.

          AMOLED? Actually Rubin says he's interested in longevity of the device, and AMOLED is weaker than LCD in that respect - it loses luminosity, colours shift, and if you are unlucky you suffer burn-in. So it's possible this is a technical choice motivated by that priority (or not, I've no inside information).

          As for the camera choice, I can see how an additional sensor with luminance information and appropriate software can enhance general imaging, which probably matters more to more people than stereo cameras (which haven't been hugely successful when tried before).

          So overall it's a device with a number of choices, some unconventional (good, we need some of that), and a somewhat individual idea of what a phone should be. Won't be to everyone's taste, but that's fine. If the smaller Pixel 2 really is a re-tread of last year's uninspiring design then this device, which is more interesting, similar specs and likely similar or lower price (for same storage), could be an interesting option for those of us who don't want a large phone or all-glass plus heavy software. Just have to see what the execution is like.

            • K
            • Kangal
            • uCX
            • 17 Jul 2017

            AnonD-192048, 17 Jul 2017That looks horrible.I kind of agree.
            But it certainly looks better than the Pixel phones. And that Green-Bronze colour is unique and cool.

            Although there's some design choices they made which I disagree with.
            Here's my list:
            - Front, why no Stereo Loudspeakers (!!)
            - Why remove 3.5mm headset jack, put it on the bottom-side left like iPhone 6S
            - Why is the back fragile Ceramic? Use leather, or a High-end Metal Alloy
            - Why no ingress protection, give us IP68 dust/water resistance
            - Why go IPS-Super LCD, go AMOLED and have Always-On screen feature
            - Why a cutout for the front camera, place on top slither like the LG G6 next to speakers
            - Side-button placement is okay, improvement would've been Power, Volume, Custom button
            - Symmetrical design now allows you to use the phone upside/downside
            - Why a monochrome camera? Have two identical colour cameras on each corner like the STEREOO concept, perhaps each unit with a flash and laser-focus above the camera lens... this can allow for some great photography plus great aspects for 3D, AR, and VR
            - Why place the accessory pins on one corner, place these underneath each camera's corner, thus allowing 3rd-party to make accessories that can affect both cameras. Or even better, a snap-on keyboard on the bottom. Maybe even a gamepad if the pins/magnets are strong enough.
            - Why not put a lanyard hole on the bottom-side right, can be used as a photography strap
            - Just in case, allow community support by making it rootable and all documentation and driver support
            - Last but not least, improve the battery life; 3,040mAh isn't competitive, we'd love to see 4,000mAh on a flagship handset

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              • Alien
              • ndn
              • 17 Jul 2017

              I like the design but the lack of SD card slot makes me say N.O.
              Next!

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • nw}
                • 17 Jul 2017

                It will fail in the UK people don't buy brands they don't know especially high prices items.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-192048
                  • SXf
                  • 17 Jul 2017

                  That looks horrible.

                    • D
                    • AnonD-683536
                    • qJP
                    • 17 Jul 2017

                    Haha! Sure it will!

                      • r
                      • raz
                      • iBF
                      • 17 Jul 2017

                      we will see if there will be a launch at all.

                      the whole thing looks like a failure if not some kind of a ghost product

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • A@M
                        • 17 Jul 2017

                        First positive bit of news in several weeks, speaking as someone who doesn't want a phablet-sized phone no matter what the display aspect ratio.

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