Essential Phone PH-1: One of the most essential phones in the collection
Quick specs:
Snapdragon 835 (4x2.45GHz Kryo & 4x1.9GHz Kryo / Adreno 540)
4GB RAM + 128GB ROM LPDDR4X (non-expandable)
Gorilla Glass 5 front, ceramic back, Titanium frame
5.71-inch 1312p IPS LCD 60Hz
Android 10
13MP main + 13MP black and white rear / 8MP front
up to 4K@30fps video
Dual speakers (no 3.5mm headphone jack)
Type-C 2.0 / 3,040mAh Li-ion 27W
Launch price $700 / Php41,090
August 2017
The shortlived pound-for-pound match for the iPhone. Titanium framing lives here 7 years before the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. One of the first phones ever with a screen notch (together with the Sharp Aquos S2). A ceramic back that is rare to find on such a device. A heavy, sturdy phone that stood the test of time.
My favorite chipset of all time is the Snapdragon 835. Many phones that are revolutionary in the Android world are packed with this chip inside. The Google Pixel 2. LG V30. Sony Xperia XZ1 Premium. The first Razer Phone. And now, the Essential Phone.
Though OnePlus had the upper hand at that time when it comes to the title of being an “enthusiast brand,” Essential Products CEO Andy Rubin (the founder of Android as we know it), wants to thread between an enthusiast brand, and an iPhone-esque design language/lifestyle ethos as well.
The Essential Phone rings numerous (essential) bells such as the sleek yet tankish build, the excellent cameras, the slimmest bezels (on its three corners), and a clean UI free of bloatwares: just the essentials, as they say.
Despite the quite average battery capacity, the Essential Phone manages to kick strong battery time even today. Sucks that it doesn't even have a sequel and it merged as a crypto-focus device which flopped as well.
I feel quite blessed with the smartphone gods for letting me have this phone that I dream about for many years, today, it finally landed on my doorsteps. When I saw the listing for it, I knew I had to get it. Even if it's 60 kilometers away from my house. A great Lalamove driver answered my request and took quite a trip to deliver this delicate piece of tech history that may not get another one forever. And I tipped the driver really well.
And it's in white, which is even better since I dislike black-colored phones because it is quite common. But I get it, many people don't want to be remembered as the goofy one sporting colorful or 'unprofessional' colorways.
I'm planning to upgrade it with Android 14, wish me luck.
Next: Red Hydrogen One
