I just keep coming back.

[tadpoles]

Not having the requirement of professional level optics, I'm fine with the camera functionality and results.

I definitely don't need professional level results but I do require my phone's camera to provide highly competitive photos when compared with contemporary mid-to-high-end phones. That's all I need.

 

[Slipthejab]

Side loading a pixel camera greatly solves the camera issue

 

[tech_head]

I really like the phone.
I came from a Nexus 6P to the Essential right after release.
I sent is back and got a LG G6 and used it for a while.
I missed the Essential and bought it again on the Sprint sale in Dec.
I use it as a daily driver and haven't looked back.
I like the 360 camera. The regular camera suits me fine.
For a phone, it's usually I get a photo or not.
I have a good camera with me 90% of the time.
I keep my NX300 with me because it's mirrorless and fits in a backpack.
When I'm going out to take real pictures I lug a Canon 7D or 7D-II with good glass.
The essential is solid for me.
The camera is never a deal breaker for me on a phone.
Software, screen size, performance? All of those things.

 

[wmurch3]

I'm not getting why people still think the camera is "trash". do they even have the phone? compared to my V20 this thing takes awesome pictures.

 

[tadpoles]

I'm not getting why people still think the camera is "trash". do they even have the phone? compared to my V20 this thing takes awesome pictures.

If you still have the V20 perhaps you could share some comparative photos.

 

[Don_Henry]

Can anyone comment on call quality? I have read some reports of significant call drops, inability to connect to make calls, etc. - I am on AT&T by the way.

I am seriously considering switching from my OnePlus 3T to Essential (love the 3T and OxygenOS - hate OnePlus's horrible security update performance).

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[dmateo]

I'm not getting why people still think the camera is "trash". do they even have the phone? compared to my V20 this thing takes awesome pictures.

Ignore the dude who said it was trash he's just a troll that feels the need to bash this phone since inception.

 

[Slipthejab]

I'm not getting why people still think the camera is "trash". do they even have the phone? compared to my V20 this thing takes awesome pictures.

I think they might be people who have only seen earlier YouTube reviews or website reviews.

I have had the phone for 2 weeks and tried the camera on 7.1.1 before updating and it was quite poor. However after the 8.1 update it is greatly improved. However with a sideloaded pixel camera it's even better, as good as anything else out there I'd say.

 

[pastadoc]

With last update I would say this is the best phone experience I have ever had. Keeps getting better and faster. All the early issues have been fixer. I had the nexus 5 and when it broke (great software but cheap hardware) then went to an apple 6. Nice but did not like the closed system and bloat. When the Essential phone came out it checked all the boxes. Notch...a waste of time talking about it because it is not noticed after a day or so.

I side loaded the pixel camera initially it was a big improvement. Last week I showed two photos of the same pic taken with the Essential camera and the Pixel camera and the three non experts like the essential pic better.

Battery and function are great. As for problems had google or apple had MAJOR problems with their last phones...YES. For whatever reason the CRITICS really hammered the Essential. Now as apple and google face continued problems with their last phones from hardware to software the Essential just keeps getting better.

A very well built phone. My only regret it the copper black was not available when I purchased my phone.

 

[Guy Katz]

I definitely don't need professional level results but I do require my phone's camera to provide highly competitive photos when compared with contemporary mid-to-high-end phones. That's all I need.

This is not the place for you then. I can't stress this enough. Pictures are awefull, videos r even worse especially when you use zoom.
I really don't understand people who think the camera is decent, it is not. And it's also slow and slagish by ANY standards.

 

[tadpoles]

This is not the place for you then. I can't stress this enough. Pictures are awefull, videos r even worse especially when you use zoom.
I really don't understand people who think the camera is decent, it is not. And it's also slow and slagish by ANY standards.

That's too bad.

 

[mogelijk]

That's too bad.

And I'm going to disagree. From what I've seen, the camera is greatly improved. When I first got the phone in late November I saw issues with the camera locking up and picture taking being very slow. After the updates this year, the camera seems vastly improved. I'm not sure it is up to the snappy speed on the S9 or current iPhones, but if slower it is just that it is the speed of flagships from a year or two ago -- hardly sluggish.

In terms of quality, obviously it is going to be a step back from current flagships -- the camera hardware is just not as good. Having said that, it still takes good looking pictures, particularly in better light.

Now, I'll admit, I don't use the camera in my Essential often -- though I did spend a session taking 20ish pictures with no issues (no lag, slowdowns, or bad pictures), since the February camera update, and in moderate to low light. I need to get out and play with the 360 camera again, see how it is working, but I haven't had that chance yet; as well as a further test of the camera in better light.

I'm not sure with those claiming they still have these major lag issues with their cameras, whether they have an issue with their hardware or if something is messed up with their software. With the amount of playing some did with the camera software initially, I do wonder if their issues now with the camera are a result of trying to optimize the camera when it was bad and, because of that, the updates not being applied properly. Anyway, I find the camera much improved since last year, and that it takes good pictures -- if not quite as good as other flagships.

 

[Wildo6882]

This being $399.99 at Amazon is INCREDIBLY tempting right now.

My main issue isn’t the camera, it’s the spotty service issues I’ve read about. Those scare me more than anything.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

I just ordered yesterday at old price. Need to get the $100 chopped off. Tx

 

[Slipthejab]

And I'm going to disagree. From what I've seen, the camera is greatly improved. When I first got the phone in late November I saw issues with the camera locking up and picture taking being very slow. After the updates this year, the camera seems vastly improved. I'm not sure it is up to the snappy speed on the S9 or current iPhones, but if slower it is just that it is the speed of flagships from a year or two ago -- hardly sluggish.

In terms of quality, obviously it is going to be a step back from current flagships -- the camera hardware is just not as good. Having said that, it still takes good looking pictures, particularly in better light.

Now, I'll admit, I don't use the camera in my Essential often -- though I did spend a session taking 20ish pictures with no issues (no lag, slowdowns, or bad pictures), since the February camera update, and in moderate to low light. I need to get out and play with the 360 camera again, see how it is working, but I haven't had that chance yet; as well as a further test of the camera in better light.

I'm not sure with those claiming they still have these major lag issues with their cameras, whether they have an issue with their hardware or if something is messed up with their software. With the amount of playing some did with the camera software initially, I do wonder if their issues now with the camera are a result of trying to optimize the camera when it was bad and, because of that, the updates not being applied properly. Anyway, I find the camera much improved since last year, and that it takes good pictures -- if not quite as good as other flagships.

The camera definitely doesn't lag. It's very fast.

There's no lag on the ph-1 at all. And being stock, it shouldn't bog down over time like that galaxy phones all inevitably do.

 

[SactoKingsFan]

I just ordered yesterday at old price. Need to get the $100 chopped off. Tx

You'll have to cancel the order. Then you can purchase at the new price.

 

[pkcable]

This is just a test post.

 

[Wildo6882]

This being $399.99 at Amazon is INCREDIBLY tempting right now.

My main issue isn’t the camera, it’s the spotty service issues I’ve read about. Those scare me more than anything.

If I’m reading things correctly, the issues with the service don't necessarily apply if I use this on AT&T. Is that correct?

 

[tech_head]

If I’m reading things correctly, the issues with the service don't necessarily apply if I use this on AT&T. Is that correct?

T-Mobile is the carrier with real issues with this phone.
Verizon is fine. Sprint is fine. As far as I know AT&T is fine.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Not having the requirement of professional level optics, I'm fine with the camera functionality and results.

I took shots with my Canon Rebel SLR (5 years old) and my PH-1 and without the flash, the photos are identical. The only envy I hae is a girlfrind's LG does burst mode photos fast as hell. But I am not a chick taking selfies, so it really doesn't matter. It's just the sound of hers going CH,CH,CH,CH,CH,CH...that is cool. Other than that I have no phone envy.

*** Edited to add: I tried several other camera apps just now ad then I discovered that if you hold down the shutter button, it will do burst mode REAL FAST! That envy just went away! *****


Bought my PH-1 in the first week of April and it downloaded all the updates immediately over Wi-Fi and I have experienced none of the issues reported in the fall of 2017.

I saw a review on Engadget? maybe? Compared the cameras on the PH-1 and the iPhone-X. Overall, the Ph-1 won. Samsung is having the same issues the PH-1 did when it first came out. Frustrated users are complaining but I am sure they will fix or steal the fixes for the Samsung S9 family. I was a former Samsung user.

I do miss the waving the hand gesture to screen capture instead of pressing the combination of buttons. Can tha be changed on the PH-1?