Essential Says First Phones Will Ship This Week

Essential Says First Phones Will Ship This Week

Andy Rubin’s long-awaited Essential phone will allegedly ship to the first customers within the week. At least, that’s according to an email that Essential sent to customers who signed up to buy the device back in June.

“Great news, your phone has been built!” the email reads. (I signed up to purchase the device.) “We now just need your payment details and we will ship within 7 days.” The email message also notes that those who reserved an Essential 360 Camera will receive a separate email as soon as it’s ready to be shipped.

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I had apparently reserved an Essential Phone in Black Moon at a cost of $699 (or $29.13 per month). I can add Essential Extra care for $99. This is described as:

Hassle-free protection for your Essential Phone is just a click away. Enjoy 2 years of coverage for breakdowns and accidental damage when you add an Essential Extended Care plan to your purchase. And when the unexpected happens, you will receive your replacement Essential Phone, typically as soon as the next business day with our signature Express Service.

As you may recall, Essential announced the PH-1 Phone, its 360 Camera peripheral, and a Home appliance back in late May. At the time, the firm was vague on both pricing and availability, but it made Phone and the 360 Camera available for pre-order in June. And then said in July that the devices would ship in a few weeks.

Over a month later, the Phone is apparently ready to ship. But I’m going to hold off on this for now: I’m quite intrigued by Essential, not just the phone, but by Andy Rubin’s broader strategy of bringing together what is now a lot of disparate smart home technologies into a centralized, open platform. But I can’t afford this thing, and given my move situation, this isn’t the ideal time for such a purchase. This fall, after we know what’s up with the Samsung Note 8 and the Pixel XL 2, I’ll make my next Android move.

 

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Conversation 20 comments

  • Jaxidian

    16 August, 2017 - 11:12 am

    <p>I'm on the fence with ordering this. It's pricey but selling my current Pixel will mostly fund the Essential phone. Lots and lots of unknowns are surrounding this phone but Essential does have a 15-day money-back guarantee (even with free return shipping). I'm leaning towards getting it – will decide today.</p><p><br></p><p>Very fascinating phone and company, but so many things could go wrong with a startup jumping into this field.</p>

    • dave0

      16 August, 2017 - 3:04 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#166948"><em>In reply to Jaxidian:</em></a></blockquote><p>Personally, I wouldn't bother. Its just another phone that does what your current phone already does. </p>

      • RonH

        Premium Member
        17 August, 2017 - 3:15 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#167014"><em>In reply to dave0:</em></a></blockquote><p>how about if it is your first Android phone?</p>

        • dave0

          18 August, 2017 - 9:45 am

          <blockquote><a href="#167225"><em>In reply to RonH:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I personally don't see anything special about this phone that really sets it apart. If you have a phone that is less than two year old, hold off. </p>

          • RonH

            Premium Member
            22 August, 2017 - 4:34 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#167301"><em>In reply to dave0:</em></a></blockquote><p>I am not ready to give up my 950XL yet, but I need to look closer at Android. My work phone is a SS GS7. I hate the narrow and tall form factor. It is OK with Arrow and Next installed. I have been playing around with settings and features, It is better than my old SS G5 was. Oreo looks interesting</p>

  • rameshthanikodi

    16 August, 2017 - 11:20 am

    <p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">long-awaited</em></p><p>Lol…</p>

    • anchovylover

      16 August, 2017 - 11:32 am

      <blockquote><a href="#166950"><em>In reply to FalseAgent:</em></a></blockquote><p>LOL, fair point.</p>

  • anchovylover

    16 August, 2017 - 11:22 am

    <p>I don't know Paul. Why does the name Wharton Brooks come into my head?</p>

    • jbinaz

      16 August, 2017 - 12:29 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#166951"><em>In reply to anchovylover:</em></a></blockquote><p>The big difference is that Wharton Brooks was riding a dead platform. Not saying Essential is guaranteed to do well, but at least the Android platform is at least alive and well. </p>

  • goodbar

    Premium Member
    16 August, 2017 - 1:17 pm

    <p>the tough materials are what intrigue me most about the device. I also like how their upcoming echo competitor can apparently be used with any assistant… google, alexa, cortana, siri.. </p>

  • dave0

    16 August, 2017 - 3:04 pm

    <p>These should roll off the line directly into recycling bins. </p><p><br></p><p>Its just another phone.</p>

  • Darmok N Jalad

    16 August, 2017 - 5:16 pm

    <p>The cart seems way past the horse on this product. It's been two and a half months since this product was introduced, but has anyone even gotten a hand on one yet? My search comes up empty, other than sites listing specs.</p>

  • chaad_losan

    16 August, 2017 - 8:00 pm

    <p>No one cares. Samsung is about the announce the NOTE 8. BUT more importantly. Apple is about to announce the iPhone 8 in the next 90 days. That above all reasons is why people will wait. If this phone had come out two or three months ago it would have sold better.</p>

    • PeteB

      17 August, 2017 - 1:10 am

      <blockquote><a href="#167052"><em>In reply to chaad_losan:</em></a></blockquote><p>Essential is already valued at 1 billion dollars, brains. It'll sell fine.</p>

      • skane2600

        17 August, 2017 - 10:27 am

        <blockquote><a href="#167102"><em>In reply to PeteB:</em></a></blockquote><p>Valuation numbers aren't meaningful for high-profile startups in recent years. At this point all Essential has is investors.</p>

  • skane2600

    16 August, 2017 - 8:01 pm

    <p>Only someone in Paul's position (a tech blogger) should consider spending <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">$699 for a phone from a company that has no track record.</span></p>

    • PeteB

      17 August, 2017 - 1:08 am

      <blockquote><a href="#167053"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>"no track record"</p><p><br></p><p>Yeah other than Andy Rubin was one of the creators of Android. Idiot.</p>

      • skane2600

        17 August, 2017 - 10:23 am

        <blockquote><a href="#167101"><em>In reply to PeteB:</em></a></blockquote><p>I'm quite aware of Rubin's experience and the fact that it doesn't particularly qualify him to oversee the design and manufacturing of phones. The pre-Google Android wasn't even touch-based and bears little resemblance to the Android of recent years. The fundamental point is that creating a significant software product doesn't necessarily qualify you to design and manufacture hardware.</p>

  • James Wilson

    17 August, 2017 - 3:33 am

    <p>I'd love to see the users face when they receive their phone. </p><p><br></p><p>Wow – i've spent $699 on a new phone! Just taking SIM out of my Galaxy S7 (or whatever), putting in new phone – excitement rising and…. but it looks the same????</p><p><br></p><p>Yea – it's Android. They all look the same.</p><p><br></p><p>Now if you needed a new phone – different matter. What other Android phones are out there at the $699 price point. Does this one stand out (except for the name behind it)? Yawn. Still going to look the same.</p><p><br></p><p>As for iPhone 8 – if you have $1000 to throw away – knock yourself out. This is even worse as iOS really does look exactly the same on all phones running the same version – iPhone 6, 6S, 7, 7S or 8. What are you paying for again?</p>

  • Rob Bazemore

    05 September, 2017 - 12:56 pm

    <p>The essential has been my daily driver for a few days now. I love the design and the clean version of Android, but I am having a few touch sensitivity issues.</p>

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