Reliability/Performance

[mike104393]

Great stuff friends, though I'm curious if the bug Mike104393 is having with phones going directly to speaker is widespread; haven't heard it reported elsewhere. I just came across one that's about 6 mos old for cheap, so if it doesn't get sold I may grab it. What I find curious is the reference to certain colors for use on different carriers due to poor reception. I'm with AT&T and use a MicroCell at home though coverage in the Bay areas is pretty great. How does everyone feel about LTE and WiFi speeds they're getting when compared to their other phones?

I've actually been seeing good LTE+ converage on mine. Sometimes better than my note 8. I have the moon black variant so I don't know if the build is better. So far really loving this phone. I wish I could change the font without having to root. Story of my life.

 

[Mdbills484]

my LTE coverage is better than my S9+. however the display meter is not necessarily accurate. I just know I'm getting a lot less missed calls and have no trouble sending texts in my house where the signal is weak.

 

[jontalk]

I don't think I've ever seen a phone whose performance varies due to color before though it obviously has much to do with the manufacturing. I wonder if the black is manufactured in a different plant than the white or gray? I found a black one locally and am waiting for the seller to shoot me an invoice so I can pay for it. I'm grateful for the feedback from everyone here too..VERY helpful!

 

[SactoKingsFan]

I don't think I've ever seen a phone whose performance varies due to color before though it obviously has much to do with the manufacturing. I wonder if the black is manufactured in a different plant than the white or gray? I found a black one locally and am waiting for the seller to shoot me an invoice so I can pay for it. I'm grateful for the feedback from everyone here too..VERY helpful!

They initially launched with just the moon black last August, then started a taking orders for the pure white in October. Halo gray was released as a Amazon exclusive and started shipping late February or early March. Could just be some bad batches or poor quality control. I do remember the early black version had issues with a fragile speaker grill that would get damaged or pop out.

 

[mogelijk]

I don't think I've ever seen a phone whose performance varies due to color before though it obviously has much to do with the manufacturing. I wonder if the black is manufactured in a different plant than the white or gray? I found a black one locally and am waiting for the seller to shoot me an invoice so I can pay for it. I'm grateful for the feedback from everyone here too..VERY helpful!

I believe they had poor quality control for the first few months after release -- and with how slow it sold, that means those phones were available for sale through December (or even later) depending on where you purchased it.

I do think phones purchased later have had better (though still not perfect) quality control. I also believe the "T-Mobile problems" and other radio issues tend to be from an issue with antenna placement, either that was poor build quality or something they "fixed" in later builds.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

I waited and when 8.1 was out for Ph1 I picked a white model. It's been fine.

It is slow dialing oddly only, maybe it's AT&T and pre paid sim. Comparing to an ATT iphone x

These timely updates are 10x better than on my Note 8 and S8+.

 

[jontalk]

Great information once again making it obvious to search for colors released after the moon black. I've seen a number of Sprint locked phones, though I'm an AT&T subscriber. I also wasn't aware the Halo Gray was an Amazon exclusive..good to know and worth searching for due to the release date being later than others. You guys totally rock!

 

[mike104393]

I really am loving this phone. I hope Google buys then and make a version 2

 

[jontalk]

They initially launched with just the moon black last August, then started a taking orders for the pure white in October. Halo gray was released as a Amazon exclusive and started shipping late February or early March. Could just be some bad batches or poor quality control. I do remember the early black version had issues with a fragile speaker grill that would get damaged or pop out.

Just came across one on Craig's List he claimed was purchased in Nov, though he says the speaker grill was never fixed. Sounds to me like an early one and probably worth steering clear correct?

 

[SactoKingsFan]

Just came across one on Craig's List he claimed was purchased in Nov, though he says the speaker grill was never fixed. Sounds to me like an early one and probably worth steering clear correct?

Yeah, that's one of the early ones with defective speaker grill. Those were known for having other more serious issues. All of the other colors are supposed to have the new grill material with better adhesive.

 

[mike104393]

Sadly, I have decided to return the phone. Although I had loved it for a week, I couldn't get over the phone not having WiFi calling and small issues with Android P that started to pile up. It was a great phone overall, awesome battery life.

Few things that I found I didn't like.
After Android P, screen brightness was a big issue.
At first, I only has a small amount of light leak, now it spread to the bottom and top of the screen. It became an eye sore while watching YouTube videos. Lastly, I do love the pure Android experience, but there were things with the Note series that I ended up missing, such as, edge functionality and customization.

Enjoy the essential everyone!

 

[jontalk]

Sadly, I have decided to return the phone. Although I had loved it for a week, I couldn't get over the phone not having WiFi calling and small issues with Android P that started to pile up. It was a great phone overall, awesome battery life.

Few things that I found I didn't like.
After Android P, screen brightness was a big issue.
At first, I only has a small amount of light leak, now it spread to the bottom and top of the screen. It became an eye sore while watching YouTube videos. Lastly, I do love the pure Android experience, but there were things with the Note series that I ended up missing, such as, edge functionality and customization.

Enjoy the essential everyone!

Wow...that's interesting though I hear Pie has affected others that have installed it in a variety of ways. I suspect these problems will be addressed in updates. Personally, I've never owned a Note so there's nothing to miss..Still hunting for one along with a 3T which has been stated to receive Pie at some point.

 

[bonnie100th]

Wow...that's interesting though I hear Pie has affected others that have installed it in a variety of ways. I suspect these problems will be addressed in updates. Personally, I've never owned a Note so there's nothing to miss..Still hunting for one along with a 3T which has been stated to receive Pie at some point.

Jontalk, I have a brand new limited edition Copper -Black in the box, never used it or activated. Those are the latest manufactured phones from Essential. If you have interest, PM me.

 

[mike104393]

The phone overall is a great device. I still have yet to return it, but plan to shortly. The best thing about the device is the battery life. It would last me all day under extreme heavy loads.

If I wasn't coming from a note 8, I would definitely be keeping and using it. It just not good enough for me to give up my current phone.

Worth buying if you need a replacement phone.

Wow...that's interesting though I hear Pie has affected others that have installed it in a variety of ways. I suspect these problems will be addressed in updates. Personally, I've never owned a Note so there's nothing to miss..Still hunting for one along with a 3T which has been stated to receive Pie at some point.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Spare / backup phone. $350-ish @amazon

 

[jontalk]

Spare / backup phone. $350-ish @amazon

Missed the Amazon deal yesterday at $223 which is all I'd pay or LESS . Still coming across Ebay sellers at higher prices for reasons I have no idea.

 

[mike104393]

Y

Missed the Amazon deal yesterday at $223 which is all I'd pay or LESS . Still coming across Ebay sellers at higher prices for reasons I have no idea.

That was one heck of a deal and for one of the most popular colors. Let see if it comes back.