p2xl vs essential

[dov1978]

I would never consider the essential with its terrible cameras. I don't care how much it supposedly got better with software updates, the fact that the company put out a device with such a subpar camera was just dumb, IMO. P2XL is the only option here.

This. There's a few phones around just now that are fantastic in most areas but only have an average camera ie Razer Phone, Essential, OnePlus5t, HTC U11. For people who don't list photo quality or camera features high on their list then I'm sure they'll have a great experience but camera is the deciding factor in any phone I look at

 

[Morty2264]

But if it were just one, which would it be? I know you're a pixel 2 fan...

I prefer the smaller Pixel 2; but I guess if I was faced with the Essential vs the 2XL, it would be the 2XL. I love the Essential Phone but I'm more interested in seeing what they do with their upcoming iteration. Hopefully they hit a home run with this device, because the Essential had such potential.

 

[anon(10268214)]

I would still pick an Essential. Camera is not a deciding factor for me. For everything else, the benefits of the Essential's size, form factor, and build quality win out over whatever minor advantages the Pixel 2XL might have.

 

[cfclay]

You guys may have seen this, but the pixel was on woot for about 525 this week. That's a robust price

 

[mogelijk]

Pixel 2XL... I mean, Essential may not even be around in a year. 88K phones sold since release... Gotta skip 8.0 cause they couldn't get it straightened out even though Essential runs "stock" Android..

Too many unknowns, for my taste.

To be fair, Android 8.0 was a mess -- most of those that got 8.0 on their pones (mostly on Pixel and Nexus phones) had a lot of issues, just like Essential did with their beta. It is also worth noting that Samsung (who has many more employees to work on software upgrades) just barely released Android 8 for the Galaxy S8 devices and have already suspended the rollout, as users where having issues with their phones rebooting. While I'm still wanting to hear from more beta users, the early reports sound like the Essential 8.1 beta fixes the issues that were being found in the 8.0 beta.

 

[anon(10092459)]

To be fair, Android 8.0 was a mess -- most of those that got 8.0 on their pones (mostly on Pixel and Nexus phones) had a lot of issues, just like Essential did with their beta. It is also worth noting that Samsung (who has many more employees to work on software upgrades) just barely released Android 8 for the Galaxy S8 devices and have already suspended the rollout, as users where having issues with their phones rebooting. While I'm still wanting to hear from more beta users, the early reports sound like the Essential 8.1 beta fixes the issues that were being found in the 8.0 beta.

Well there have been a number of OEMs that HAVE been able to complete their rollouts for several devices.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-oreo-when-do-you-get-it/

One of Essential's initial main selling points was the 2 years of updates that users would receive. As I said previously, they run "stock" Android. If they're have issues with the first major update since launch, how does that reinforce confidence that they'll be able to see that selling point through?

 

[SactoKingsFan]

You guys may have seen this, but the pixel was on woot for about 525 this week. That's a robust price

It was a refurbished Pixel 2.

 

[cfclay]

It was a refurbished Pixel 2.

Right, that's what I'm saying. At that price and refurbished, that's pretty high.

 

[subycat1]

I just got he essential phone after have the pxel 2 for two months the essential hone is a lot better. Essential has updates on the camera and overall system and seems to run fine

 

[dmateo]

I wish the essential had an OLED screen.. i think it would have madey decision that much more difficult as I personally want to see this company thrive as an underdog in this industry.

 

[Morty2264]

I wish the essential had an OLED screen.. i think it would have madey decision that much more difficult as I personally want to see this company thrive as an underdog in this industry.

I'd love to see this company thrive too. I have high hopes for it. It will for sure get all its ducks in a row for the upcoming iteration! The Essential Phone now is great - all it really needs (in my opinion) is some OS tweaks, camera fixes, and water resistance.

 

[Rukbat]

This thread is getting old, but I chose the Pixel 2 (not the XL - I'm tired of huge phones). Pure Android, 3 years of OS updates, at least that long for security updates, an Otterbox Defender (of course - I want protection), a company I know will still be around, security updates within a few days (they come out on the 5th, we should get them by the 10th at the latest, and with the Pixel line we do) - lots of reasons. (And price was no object.)

 

[Morty2264]

This thread is getting old, but I chose the Pixel 2 (not the XL - I'm tired of huge phones). Pure Android, 3 years of OS updates, at least that long for security updates, an Otterbox Defender (of course - I want protection), a company I know will still be around, security updates within a few days (they come out on the 5th, we should get them by the 10th at the latest, and with the Pixel line we do) - lots of reasons. (And price was no object.)

All excellent reasons for choosing the Pixel 2. I too am going with the smaller version.

 

[Rukbat]

Takes a little getting used to, Morty, especially coming from a rooted Note 3 running 4.4.2 - but no real complaints so far. One day Magisk is going in there, but not yet.

 

[Morty2264]

Takes a little getting used to, Morty, especially coming from a rooted Note 3 running 4.4.2 - but no real complaints so far. One day Magisk is going in there, but not yet.

I'm sure it's a bit of an adjustment period! What is your favourite thing about the Pixel 2 thus far?

 

[Rukbat]

Oh, a few things. I got my Note when I still had cataracts and I needed a huge screen. I don't any more, so the Pixel's nice and small. The fingerprint reader is nice - I have a few apps I can unlock with it without worrying about passwords. I'm not so sure about the 128GB of storage, but I got along for over 4 years without filling 32GB (even though I had an external SD card), so that's just a little bit of a pain once in a while (I don't know if it's Windows 10, Windows itself or what, but I can't drag a file from the Note [plugged into the PC] to the Pixel [also plugged into the PC], I have to use an intermediate directory on the PC's drive.

I do know that the battery is going to give me a problem eventually - 4 years is a long time for lithium batteries to maintain full charge, and since the Pixel is going to be updated to P, Q and R, it's going to be at least 4 years until I need another phone, so this one is probably going to go into the shop at least one for a new battery. (I'm too old to use a heat gun to take a phone apart.)

And rooting this phone gets me nervous. I've seen one hard-bricked already.

Otherwise it's a nice phone.

 

[dmateo]

This thread is getting old, but I chose the Pixel 2 (not the XL - I'm tired of huge phones). Pure Android, 3 years of OS updates, at least that long for security updates, an Otterbox Defender (of course - I want protection), a company I know will still be around, security updates within a few days (they come out on the 5th, we should get them by the 10th at the latest, and with the Pixel line we do) - lots of reasons. (And price was no object.)

Did you try the essential before making your decision?

 

[dmateo]

Well it's official, my girlfriend thinks I'm bat**** crazy. Powered up the essential to give it one last shot before sending it back!

 

[Guy Katz]

wow talk about apple and oranges. one is a premium phone and the other a mid ranger.
the only thing going for the essential is its form factor in case you prefer smaller phone. otherwise you cant compare them. the pixel is better in every aspect by miles.

 

[vamp07]

The camera isn't/wasn't a deal breaker for me because I own real cameras with real glass.
I phone camera is never going to compete with my APS-C cameras with real glass.
Phone cameras just aren't that good.

If your really into photography and not just GAS you quickly realize the camera has very little to do with taking great pictures. I own real glass too but most of the pictures I am most proud of came from a phone because it is what I had with me at the time.

I do agree with other posters that the deficiencia of the essential camera are way over played. It is by no stretch of the imagination a bad camera.