Question from a potential Essential customer

[AJ Bankston]

Hello, I cracked the screen on my LG G6 and now I need a new phone. I like big screens. I need them. I like the ruggedness of titanium and ceramic. I've heard good things. How long has Essential promised to update this first phone?

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

2 years OS, 3 years of security patches

Get a case. Despite the strength of titanium, the edge-to-edge design coupled with the ceramic back means it does crack easily.

 

[Morty2264]

Welcome to the forums! The Essential Phone is at an even bigger steal now that the price has dropped again. I highly recommend it. My friend got the Essential Phone a bit before Christmas and she really loves it!

 

[dejanh]

The only thing that you want to make sure is that your phone has the new mesh grille and not the old cloth one. If you get a cloth one and you are in the US, just contact Essential and they will do an advance replacement for you. If you are outside of US, you can try talking to them to arrange for shipment there and back, otherwise you will have to go through your carrier partner where you purchased the device.

 

[anon(10268214)]

Essential is a fantastic device. Some people have encountered QC issues on the early builds. As long as you have recent stock either directly from Essential or from your carrier, you should be good to go. Also, camera app keeps improving so take the early adopter reviews with a grain of salt. In fact they just released yet another update for the camera app just a few days ago.

 

[RealIke]

The only thing that you want to make sure is that your phone has the new mesh grille and not the old cloth one. If you get a cloth one and you are in the US, just contact Essential and they will do an advance replacement for you. If you are outside of US, you can try talking to them to arrange for shipment there and back, otherwise you will have to go through your carrier partner where you purchased the device.

Why must it be the mesh grille and not the cloth? Fixing to buy one for my little brother from Amazon seeing as how it's at $435 and was also wondering. If he puts it on Straight Talk will he still receive updates such as Android Oreo and Android P?
Also, will he be receiving the updates for the camera and UI fixes?

 

[dmateo]

The only thing that you want to make sure is that your phone has the new mesh grille and not the old cloth one. If you get a cloth one and you are in the US, just contact Essential and they will do an advance replacement for you. If you are outside of US, you can try talking to them to arrange for shipment there and back, otherwise you will have to go through your carrier partner where you purchased the device.

Mesh grille?

 

[stodge]

Mesh grille?

Yes, what is the mesh grille?

 

[SactoKingsFan]

Why must it be the mesh grille and not the cloth? Fixing to buy one for my little brother from Amazon seeing as how it's at $435 and was also wondering. If he puts it on Straight Talk will he still receive updates such as Android Oreo and Android P?
Also, will he be receiving the updates for the camera and UI fixes?

The cloth material will just start to fall apart or fall out. There's a Reddit post that shows the difference.

Should still be able to get OTA updates using straight talk. The camera is updated through play store. UI fixes are part of official OTA update or beta updates if you decide to sideload oreo beta.

 

[Randy Ohio]

Up top where the phone speaker is recessed. The original ones came with cloth that fell out. and have been updated to mesh.

 

[mogelijk]

Why must it be the mesh grille and not the cloth? Fixing to buy one for my little brother from Amazon seeing as how it's at $435 and was also wondering. If he puts it on Straight Talk will he still receive updates such as Android Oreo and Android P?
Also, will he be receiving the updates for the camera and UI fixes?

It seems the only phones not getting quick updates are those that are sold and locked to Sprint, which is the only carrier that is selling the Essential. Though, from what some here have stated, once the phone is paid off and unlocked, they also get the quicker updates.

 

[msr360]

Is there a link to the reddit discussion? I'm having a hard time finding it.

 

[computerguy68]

Is there a link to the reddit discussion? I'm having a hard time finding it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/essential/comments/7bzjff/grill_talk_megathread_grills_grills_grills/

 

[Theot]

Man, at $435 that's hard to beat. I've been looking at the Moto Z2 Force on T-Mobile because it's $375 right now but I don't think I can do huge bezels again as I'm on an LG G6 right now.

 

[msr360]

Sending mine back to Essential for them to put the updated speaker grill in, should be a quick turn-around they said like 3 business days.

 

[Morty2264]

Sending mine back to Essential for them to put the updated speaker grill in, should be a quick turn-around they said like 3 business days.

That's great! Keep us posted!

 

[anon(10268214)]

Sending mine back to Essential for them to put the updated speaker grill in, should be a quick turn-around they said like 3 business days.

I had to do the same for my first one. Also had battery issues (overheat/drain). Very fast turnaround and the replacement device is amazing...works perfect and I'm running the Oreo beta as well. Apparently there is an Oreo 8.1 Beta come out next week.

 

[Morty2264]

I had to do the same for my first one. Also had battery issues (overheat/drain). Very fast turnaround and the replacement device is amazing...works perfect and I'm running the Oreo beta as well. Apparently there is an Oreo 8.1 Beta come out next week.

Yup, I've heard about the Beta as well!

 

[dmateo]

I'm getting my essential today is this cloth something I can feel?

 

[SactoKingsFan]

I'm getting my essential today is this cloth something I can feel?

No, you can't feel it but you can see the grill material if you look really close or take a picture. The newer speaker grill material is supposed to have diagonal line pattern. There's pics on Reddit showing the difference. Should get the new grill material if you ordered directly from Essential.