Essential cuts 30% of its workforce

18 October 2018
The information comes several months after the Essential PH-2 was canceled.

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AhmedShaikh, 20 Oct 2018Yeah, I said that essential made a mistake on their pricing... moreI got that. But at the current price they're selling, they just try to cut their losses. I mean, the price of course is great for a customer, but You can't ask for someone to give something away that costs less than everything that lead to it's creation.

    Xypleth, 19 Oct 2018Wow, dude, how can You be so ignorant. The reason they drop... moreYeah, I said that essential made a mistake on their pricing. It was overpriced.
    Meant to say that their current price is pretty good, regardless of the reason behind it.

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      • Anonymous
      • 6p$
      • 19 Oct 2018

      Domestoboto, 19 Oct 2018Those kids' parents use iPhones because they can FaceTime t... moreAndroid has at least 20 apps that are as good or better than facetime.

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        • Anonymous
        • U2T
        • 19 Oct 2018

        cant compete with nokia

          AhmedShaikh, 18 Oct 2018Essential made mistakes only on price, quality control, cam... moreWow, dude, how can You be so ignorant. The reason they dropped price was because they weren't selling the devices as well as expected. And making the devices with all the issues and worse components than competition had, probably cost more than any of the big makers.

          That being said, many of the big makers are selling their devices for a quite high profit per device, and in today Apple has made it seem like the norm. Which brings many of the companies selling their phones for less seem like cheap alternatives, quite handy. But Essiential definitely over rated their potential, and the hardware issues didn't help.

            Anonymous, 18 Oct 2018Ouch! It's proof that fast Android software updates alone a... moreThose kids' parents use iPhones because they can FaceTime them easily. And they don't want to deal with apps crashing or stuttering for no f---- reason...

              bug, 18 Oct 2018Since the start of Android One, you can get those for ~$300... moreApart from Android one, other phones usually got 1 major update. That too not as soon as the OS was released by Google. Essential has given 2 major updates, and will give 1 more (android Q). And essential ph-1 got pie hours after it was officially announced by Google.

              If you want to get a phone that will certainly get good updates and not be from essential, Nokia might be your only bet.

                RS, 18 Oct 2018Android One phones can't compare to Essential. They don't g... moreI agree with you. But you see, big fish eating small fish.

                  When will essential sell their phone for $200. Wanna buy a gift for someone.

                    • R
                    • RS
                    • EP%
                    • 18 Oct 2018

                    Android One phones can't compare to Essential. They don't get updates as fast as Essential. Many of them are yet to get Pie. Anyway, it is sad to see them take a step back. As a consumer, we need more competition, more OS platforms, less dependence on an app eco system. This current two pronged Apple Samsung, Android iOS, and flooding of the market every day with similar, unrecognisable hardware with zero software support (in Android) is doing no good in the long run. The death of Blackberry, Windows Phone, the failure of minor platforms like Firefox, Sailfish, Fire may please fanboys, but isn't good for consumers and innovation.

                      Essential made mistakes only on price, quality control, cameras and a bad screen digitizer.
                      They nailed price (i.e. current pricing of $300), build and design (still the best looking and feeling phone imo), the customer service as well.
                      If they released ph-2 as just an iterative update improving upon things ph 1 lacked, and priced it right ($500), and I'm saying that they keep the design as is (also include headphone jack), then it'll certainly be one of the best phones of that year.

                        AnonD-598579, 18 Oct 2018Doubt that Essential phone was considered innovation. And t... moreUsing this (news) as context and saying that no one cares about stock android and fast updates, is inaccurate to say the least. Ask people actually using the phone how they feel about the fast updates.
                        Essential's design was at least a year ahead. Now you can see phones with so called "water drop notches", essential did it first.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • 0BG
                          • 18 Oct 2018

                          AnonD-598579, 18 Oct 2018If you want to make it in this times as a new phone manufac... more3.5mm Jack, slots and big batteries don't cost money. Money wasn't their problem, it's...well, insanity.

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                            • bug
                            • pXm
                            • 18 Oct 2018

                            Anonymous, 18 Oct 2018Proof that majority dont care about stock androkd and fast ... moreSince the start of Android One, you can get those for ~$300, you don't need an Essential phone. Plus, phones in that price range were already pretty good with getting updates.

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                              • Anonymous
                              • kJD
                              • 18 Oct 2018

                              Speaking from a US prespective:

                              The Good: Software improvments and updates a pleanty.

                              The Bad: They overpriced the phone on release and have LTE reception issues

                              You cant enter the US market with an unknown brand and expect to sell a lot of phones at $800.

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                                • AnonD-797904
                                • UD{
                                • 18 Oct 2018

                                Obviously, they're going to fall apart.
                                Cutting down the number of workforce is a sign of bankruptcy.

                                  Anonymous, 18 Oct 2018Nailed it. The device was a looker, but everything else was... moreYeah, the device lacked way too much. It's good at it's current price

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                                    • bloop
                                    • y5k
                                    • 18 Oct 2018

                                    It's crazy that these guys had a billion dollar valuation when they hadn't done anything; HMD even took a while to get that valuation and they had already had a successful year of releases behind them. People really misjudged the market for a new luxury phone brand I guess.

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • Nuk
                                      • 18 Oct 2018

                                      The only reason they failed is because of the horrendous camera performance, was no way flagship level but the price tag was flagship level.

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                                        • AnonD-598579
                                        • S12
                                        • 18 Oct 2018

                                        AhmedShaikh, 18 Oct 2018^ proof that majority phone users are a barrier to smartpho... moreDoubt that Essential phone was considered innovation. And the price was not attractive either. Similar devices like Pixel and One Plus, were already on the market at that time.
                                        The majority of people will not invest in something new to the market unless it can come with something different (P20 Pro camera setup, Samsung edge design, Note series) or very cheap (Poco F1, Meizu 16th, Honor devices).

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