Basic Phone Edition: 5 Things to Know

The man who invented Android recently introduced the Essential PH-1, a new premium smartphone made of titanium and ceramic. This $699 Android phone is available for pre-order right now and will be released in the near future. It’s worth checking out for anyone considering a high-end phone with a big screen like the iPhone 7 Plus, Galaxy S8+ or Pixel XL. What sets the Essential PH-1 apart is that it’s almost all on the front and has some innovative accessories like a 360-degree camera.

While the Essential PH-1 is a remarkable device, it excites Android fans with Android co-founder Andy Rubin behind it.

While other manufacturers boast of maximizing the screen size by getting rid of the bezels on the sides of the phones, the Essential PH-1’s screen extends all the way to the top edge of the phone. The screen curves around the front camera, filling the space normally reserved for sensors and speakers. It’s the closest thing to a bezel-less phone we’ve seen yet.

The Essential PH-1 has dual rear cameras and a modular design with magnetic pins on the back for a 360-degree camera and other accessories that attach. The Essential PH-1 launches first in the US via Sprint but has 4G LTE support for all major carriers.

Essential Phone Release Date and Price

Pre-orders went live on May 30 and $699 with free shipping. Essential after the explanation approved devices would ship in June, then in July, but none of these dates were met.

Earlier this month, the Essential Phone Appeared at Best Buy in an unlocked variant and for sprint. Best Buy states that the phones are “coming soon,” but that’s all we know at the moment. In addition to Best Buy, you’ll be able to buy one from Amazon.

On August 17, the Essential PH-1 will be officially announced. Pre-order at Sprint with some great discounts. In addition to the 360 ​​camera for $50 you buy, Sprint is offering the phone around 50% off select plans. Sign up for 18 months of Sprint Flex and the Essential Phone costs $440 after 18 months of payments. At the end of that, you can either pay it off or switch to something else.

But buyers will have to order before they see anything but these press photos. There are no reviews or camera comparisons, and we’re not sure how fast software updates will come. However, Andy recently promised 2 years of major software updates and 3 years of monthly security patches. That’s a pretty good promise. Everything is a secret until the phone comes.

The only carrier to offer the phone in the US is Sprint, although it should work on AT&T and T-Mobile. We may see other partners in the future, but so far only Sprint, Best Buy and Amazon.

The only color available at launch is Black, but it should come right after White. Then, Gray and Ocean Green arrive at a later date. We’ve also been told to expect a release in the UK, Europe, and Japan. For the UK, customers will be able to purchase the phone from EE and select retailers in the near future.

Basic Phone Design

Essential uses a high-quality titanium frame, which is more durable than the aluminum used by most smartphone manufacturers. The same goes for the ceramic coating on the back instead of the fragile glass. This combination means it can “flawlessly” survive a drop test “unlike competing aluminum devices,” according to the company.

You’ll still find a familiar rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, power and volume keys on the sides, and a dual camera on the back, though. These do not offer wide-angle or telephoto zoom like Apple and LG and instead have a monochrome sensor similar to recent Huawei smartphones. This second sensor picks up more light and color for enhanced low-light photography.

The front has reinforced Gorilla Glass 5 which should be resistant to scratches and damage. Then there is a small bezel at the bottom where you can easily hold the phone without touching the screen and activating apps.

The star of the show is the screen. It comes in 5.71 inches with a Quad-HD LCD display. As you have probably already noticed, there is a hole at the top of the screen for the front camera. Basic tells Boundary Most Android phones have nothing in the middle of their status bar, so technically it shouldn’t cover any notifications or be a concern for buyers.

You will also find a USB Type-C port at the bottom for charging and enjoying music as there is no 3.5mm jack. Essential will pack a USB to 3.5mm dongle in the box that works with wired headphones.

It’s not hard to find premium phones in the Android ecosystem, so the company aims to offer a range of accessories that connect to pogo magnetic pins on the back. The 360-degree camera and charging mat are just two of the many products the company has planned. Andy Rubin claims this will act as a way to upgrade the phone over time so users don’t have to replace their phones once a year.

You will also notice that there is no logo on the phone to keep the design elegant and simple. Essential will also offer a matte ceramic coating at a later date.

Basic Phone Features and Features

With high-end phones from Samsung, Apple, and LG, the Essential phone will have to pack quite a bit to engage consumers, and it does. Here is a breakdown of features and features.

Most flagship phones in 2017 have water resistance and a microSD slot for storage expansion, but both are missing from the Essential PH-1. Not to mention wireless charging, it only works with the proprietary dock when it’s finally released. That said, it has pretty much everything you could want from a flagship smartphone.

Basic Telephone Modular Accessories

For accessories, Essential will present what they call the world’s smallest personal 360-degree action camera. This attaches to magnetic pins on the back of the phone and works instantly. No setup is required for the additional camera. It uses dual 12MP camera sensors and can record 4k video.

The 360-degree camera will sell for $199, but Get it for $50 if you pre-order Essential Phone today.

The other accessory shown above is a wireless charging pad that connects to magnetic pins on the back of the phone. There are other unique accessories planned by the company and will even allow 3rd party manufacturers to create their own accessories.

Those looking for more details can go to: Basic FAQ page. Essential also announced a new smart speaker called Essential Home, which looks like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Pre-order today and stay tuned for more details when the phones start shipping.