I'm Surprised! The Essential Phone is WAY better than expected!

[modifier]

I worry that the pricing discount will cause subsequent Essentials will have discounted materials and features.

The next Essential is supposed to have an OLED display so it's not likely they'll go cheap on materials next time around. I wouldn't worry about anything.

 

[Scienceguy Labs]

Loving mine too. Camera gets no love from people, but it's pretty good.

 

[raqball]

Loving mine too. Camera gets no love from people, but it's pretty good.
//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171110/d2550ef3d46c1536d7adf1f204647866.jpg

I think people are still living in the past as far as the camera goes. Even after mentioning that the camera is very good, some are still stuck on older reviews and comments reference it.

The camera on mine is above average. Not as good as some, sure, but it's better than most..

 

[agmsr]

The price is great now. I'm waiting for the other colors.

 

[Scienceguy Labs]

I think people are still living in the past as far as the camera goes. Even after mentioning that the camera is very good, some are still stuck on older reviews and comments reference it.

The camera on mine is above average. Not as good as some, sure, but it's better than most..

Agreed

 

[Aljean Thein]

Loving mine too. Camera gets no love from people, but it's pretty good.
//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171110/d2550ef3d46c1536d7adf1f204647866.jpg

Picture looks good. Kinda soft on the buildings , not exactly as sharp as I'm hoping for.

 

[morriea]

Loving mine too. Camera gets no love from people, but it's pretty good.
//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171110/d2550ef3d46c1536d7adf1f204647866.jpg

Is this the stock camera app? I put the Google Camera App on mine and have not gone back to the stock one since.

 

[scott41373]

Love the size and build of the phone. Comparing camera apps, Google camera has better color processing, but stock camera seems sharper in normal lighting. My biggest problem is signal strength. Compared to my s8+, my signal is noticeably weaker. In fact, on a 6 hour trip of interstate driving, I routinely lost signal, where the Samsung wouldn't.

 

[Scienceguy Labs]

Is this the stock camera app? I put the Google Camera App on mine and have not gone back to the stock one since.

I was using the stock app. I need to put the Google camera on. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Ten Four]

Glad you like it! I really like most things about the phone, but couldn't go for a sub-par camera since that is the #1 feature to me. I will keep an eye on things and hope they can compete with the camera in the future, but it will be hard catching the leaders who are also leaping forward.

 

[anon(10271520)]

So I have tried the Essential camera app and the Google app, and what I found was kind of weird. On the phone, when looking at my pictures, the photos taken with the Essential camera app look better than googles. However, when I looked at those same photos on my computer, it was clear the ones taken with the Google app were far superior to Essentials. So, final verdict is to get Googles camera app and use that.

 

[PAC757]

Love the size and build of the phone. Comparing camera apps, Google camera has better color processing, but stock camera seems sharper in normal lighting. My biggest problem is signal strength. Compared to my s8+, my signal is noticeably weaker. In fact, on a 6 hour trip of interstate driving, I routinely lost signal, where the Samsung wouldn't.

The signal / reception issue that you mentioned is concerning considering that Samsung has never really been known for their antenna /signal /reception regardless of which carrier it was on.

 

[scott41373]

Yeah, and I'm just out of the return window for the phone. I thought I could make it work, but I am able to use wifi calling with my AT&T S8+, not so with the PH-1. I have read that some users have had no reception issues, while others, like myself, have.

 

[kansasandroid1]

Just got mine today, and for now I'll keep my impressions short and say I am beyond impressed. I'll be using this thing extensively over the next week, and as someone who just owned the Pixel 2 XL, that will largely be my comparison for this phone. Once I get a couple more days under my belt with it, I'll report with some more in depth thoughts, but I am extremely happy so far

 

[Guy Katz]

guys;
I did not go through the whole thread, just read the title.
I think we should call it what it is - a great 500$ phone, no more, no less.
there is just no way it could hold up against the flagships - and it should not. thats why its 500$ and thats why its appealing @ that price range.

 

[Steve Adams]

Now that I can get one with 0 down on my upgrade, I am grabbing an Essential to dip my toe back into android after being away since 2011 and my OG Note. I have my iPhone 6s, which I have NO reason to upgrade to the 8. The 6s, is just as fast, I don't need water proofing or wireless charging...so upgrading to the 8 would be useless. Also, I like the aluminum better than the new IPhone glass look anyways. I was tossing up between the Essential or the new pixel 2. The 0 down offer at telus now seals the deal since I can walk in, take the phone and walk out. I am going to keep my iPhone and swap back and forth and see how it all works. I am also going to dip into the Chromebook with a Samsung CB plus as well. See how all of this goes.

 

[Guy Katz]

Now that I can get one with 0 down on my upgrade, I am grabbing an Essential to dip my toe back into android after being away since 2011 and my OG Note. I have my iPhone 6s, which I have NO reason to upgrade to the 8. The 6s, is just as fast, I don't need water proofing or wireless charging...so upgrading to the 8 would be useless. Also, I like the aluminum better than the new IPhone glass look anyways. I was tossing up between the Essential or the new pixel 2. The 0 down offer at telus now seals the deal since I can walk in, take the phone and walk out. I am going to keep my iPhone and swap back and forth and see how it all works. I am also going to dip into the Chromebook with a Samsung CB plus as well. See how all of this goes.

the pixel 2 compared to the essential is apples and oranges. they I not in the same ball park at all

 

[raqball]

the pixel 2 compared to the essential is apples and oranges. they I not in the same ball park at all

How so?

1. Build quality: Essential wins
2. Screen: Essential wins
3. Price: Essential wins
4. Camera: Pixel 2 wins
5. Sound: Pixel 2 wins
6. Specs: Draw

 

[1901Madison]

How so?

1. Build quality: Essential wins
2. Screen: Essential wins
3. Price: Essential wins
4. Camera: Pixel 2 wins
5. Sound: Pixel 2 wins
6. Specs: Draw

Doesn't the fact that each phone is better in certain areas and not others make them perfectly comparable?

 

[ericr42]

Really like mine so far, but its pretty new (only had it a few days). I had been using a Note 5 and I can already say that the battery life is MUCH better, at least for me. Fairly apples to apples as well as I'm using the same launcher on both phones (SquareHome 2 -- Yep, I'm one of those .

The ONLY thing I miss is wireless charging. I think it was a mistake not to include that, especially now that the almighty Apple has finally embraced it. I suppose if they made some super sleek and stylish case that added Qi via the snap-on connectors that would be fine. I just hope they are successful enough to not only stick around, but continue to develop for the platform.