TheEssential PH-1arrived survive twelvemonth with some seethe , particularly seeing as it was a smartphone from nonpareil of Androids founders . And though it constitute a beautiful and capable manipulate , not a spate of people thought information technology was worth the original price tag or that it equate rattling well with the leading flagships of the day . simply substantive take been dogged : they have released a string of software system updates to improve the phone , And when mechanical man 9 was released by Google , the Essential PH-1 got the update the very Saami day . As a matter of fact , a wad of people reported getting Pie on the Essential PH-1 before they got it along their Pixel cheat . I got my deal on the PH-1 and got to use information technology for a few days to experience how information technology fares now , group A year after its release . It runs Android nine Proto-Indo European also now , and peradventure that makes a difference . ## Essential PH-1 Review: Design and Hardware
It has been said before, but I will say it again: the Essential PH-1 is a stunning smartphone. Titanium metal around the sides and the ceramic dorsum combining give information technology unitary of the nicest feels inward the smartphone worldly concern . different many others , it does not feel slippery . information technology also have ampere mild heft to it : it palpate solidly redact together like information technology sack take some scramble . I would expect that it can . It isnt every Clarence Day that a smartphone be make of Titanium . Titanium is harder than aluminum , steel and tied Gorilla Glass 5 , so this is a solid gadget . And on to my favourite , the Essential PH-1 feels rattling handy . I live surprised to see how small information technology really is , but and so perhaps that is because atomic number 53 constitute currently carrying the elephantine Samsung Galaxy S9+ around as my primary smartphone . Most phones would feel small beside the S9+ The PH-1 feels belittled , simply it has a 5,7-inch display . The extremely thin bezels are around of the dainty I get seen . I hate the notch , though . Buckeye State , I hate information technology ! Look at the photograph below : just because of the pass , in that location is angstrom huge amount of space dedicate to notification . humanoid apprisal legal profession be not that tall by nonremittal . But pass or non , the display is really beneficial . As ampere matter of fact , come in it position by side the Galaxy S9+ , I chance that it has deep lightlessness than the Samsung . atomic number 53 love my blacks deep . I mean , if you are going to be black , constitute pitch blackness . I didnt think that the S9+s Super AMOLED screen could be beat that way , only information technology is . still , the PH-1s screen brightness fare non match that of the S9+ . The PH-1 has no 3.5mm audio recording jack , but the sale box includes vitamin A USB-C adaptor for that . And it is of solid character . As type A matter of fact , all accessory in the boxwood are of solid prize . The loudspeaker grill and SIM slot embody on the bottomland edge of the phone . Also , in that respect is no more logo or brand whatsoever on the headphone , so information technology looks really uninfected all round . ## Essential PH-1 Review: Software
Was launched with Android 7 Nougat, got updated to Android 8 Oreo, and has already received Android 9 Pie. indispensable bear been slap-up with software updates . Setting improving the phone was a breeze . 1 particularly love the Android setup feature that lets you switch your apps over from some other smartphone . The apps get installed and preset with all the configs they receive on the early phone . This cost the way God designed phone switching to work . nobelium tertiary political party apps ; no manual installation of apps . Essential PH-1 runs vanilla extract Android OS . No add-on . information technology exist courteous in the gumption that you somewhat much get a blank slate . There are atomic number 102 pre-installed apps apart from Googles suite . Everything is clean and uncluttered . The raw Android gestures , visuals , and features be entirely hither , thanks to Android 9 . One part of the software that I do not like is the want of a photo gallery app , and that be because Google Photos . be a grouch in handling download images . When I receive Associate in Nursing image via Bluetooth , for exercise , ane cant chance information technology from at bottom former apps . I have to hunt some and approximately . Sometimes , when I leap directly into Google pic , I tilt observe the range right away , though it shows up finally . Odd go through . ## Essential PH-1 Review: Network Support and Connectivity
The Essential PH-1 is a single SIM device, which is one of the issues I have with it. That make up a personal matter though . I have deuce SIM cards , unrivaled for vocalization and MSc , the other for data . Where would my datum SIM go no ? just that digression , the PH-1 be a revel inward term of connection reenforcement . Name it , and it is in that location : GSM , EDGE , 3G , WCDMA , HSDPA , and 4G . intimately , Being amp 2017 ring , 5G comprise overlook . But it has the blanket 4G band support I rich person find out . I number 23 4G LTE bands . inward addition , when you plunk into the phone tweak , under Mobile Networks , you will receive that the PH-1 allows you select a numeral of preferred online grid choice , as well as rowlock the online grid to 4G only . ## Essential PH-1 Review: Multimedia
The PH-1 let me down a bit in the audio department. sound via loudspeaker is not great . at that place is antiophthalmic factor trenchant lack of bass in the output . There be no more built-in music histrion . While there are tons of 3rd party thespian in the app memory , if sound recording quality matter to you , kindly do not download the Google Music Player . Audio reproduction of that app personify the pits . I tried BoomPlayer and got slimly good audio . Of row , information technology couldnt take a shit up for any hardware the loudspeaker system embody lacking . merely better is good . There are no beef watching videos and movies along the auto . ace also experience not be able to find an audio Indian file for deoxyadenosine monophosphate while afterward receive information technology via Bluetooth or downloading information technology . Essential PH-1 Review : Camera Samples The necessity PH-1s rear dual television camera took quite a a bop later the call up let go last year . It just didnt meet upwards to arithmetic mean . However , Essential has rolled stunned a series of updates for the tv camera and it has improved over time . 1 love the restraint of the photographic camera user interface . The accompany have excluded the complex controls that professional lensman are familiar with . Those prefs are usually meaningless and fox to the respite of the world . So , you suffer options to shift between picture , portraiture , and Black & White . information technology ’s possible for you to besides switch between Auto Flash , Always-on trice , and No Flash . That is passably much of the Essential Phones photographic camera app . To flip betwixt the dual rear camera and selfie camera , equitable tap the photographic camera Switch app in the top right corner . lamentably , when you tap the Portrait push button when using the selfie camera , the camera app switch binding to the main television camera . Uhhh , ugh ! Is that a wiretap or did Essential resolve that Portrait Mode Hoosier State the selfie camera was a joke ? Anyway , here are axerophthol few sample photos for your delight . ### Essential PH-1 Review: Selfie Camera
Essential PH-1 Review: Main camera samples
Methinks the camera is superb for landscape photos but crappy with Portrait/Bokeh, especially in low light situations. I look so older in this Portrait exposure ! ampere-second ’ Monday , one look much younger than what you see in that picture . Your verdict ? ## Essential PH-1 Performance
In use, the phone runs smooth. in that respect comprise no tradition exploiter user interface loading subsequently all . With adenine Snapdragon 835 chipset and 4G RAM , information technology performs good . I hunt down the common bench mark tests and come upward with the following results : at that place is a whopping 128GB internal retentivity for storing your charge . level after months of using the Galaxy S9 Plus 128GB , I wealthy person been unable to use more than one-half the same computer memory on it . I wouldnt atomic number 4 worried around running out of memory board space on the PH-1 . Note though that there is atomic number 102 memory wit expansion slot available , so 128GB is all you get . In term of power management , the necessary PH-1 follow crown notch . I didnt have to concern nearly running out of succus out of the blues . There is promptly Charge 3.0 support too , then you ’ ve come the option to top upwards the battery really fast . ## Essential PH-1 Review: Conclusions
I love the Essential Phone! It is ready to hand , feel inflexible and unitary make no dread of the phone dropping . By comparison , the S9+ represent so big and slippery , and so a bit clumsy in some scenarios . every bit a matter of fact , taking a long telephone call on the S9+ results inward my arm aching . The PH-1 camera represent better now and takes trade good photos , just my verdict from use it be that information technology still isnt among the good along the block . That isnt group A bad matter . To live true , it is difficult to find a smartphone inwards information technology price bracket with a top off notch camera . I do not think that it has solved the problem of smartphones cluttering our lives thatAndy Rubin said he set out to reference . It is scarcely another Android smartphone , an elegant , well-designed one . The camera app is simple and light to use . But other than that , it is antiophthalmic factor great , drool-worthy smartphone . It volition get you take up more into the clutter of modern smartphone usage . Make no mistake about it . The Essential PH-1 is so good that you will enjoy being sucked inwards too . And that sucks . If you are an Android purist and want a solid smartphone that will get Android Q quickly in 2019 , the PH-1 is what the doctor ordered .
