It's here, in my hands. And for the most part it's awesome. But it is not without flaws.
This is my first Android phone after maybe four years of iOS and three prior to that with Blackberry. Going into iOS it took me a year or more before I was comfortable and stopped hating my first iPhone. Going to Android is a scary thought but so far I am finding that it's a very mailable OS and I am surprised at how much I can do with changing it to my liking. In fact, the sticky apps or functions at bottom now match what I had on my iPhone.. Phone, messages, email and settings. That gives me some familiarity, which I need in this transition.
The Verizon and Samsung bloatware is annoying. I really have no idea what to use at times with multiple browsers, texting apps, email apps, Playstores, etc. and that just ticks me off. I've had to use this forum A LOT trying to figure out what the stock apps are vs what the bloatware apps are.
The finger print sensor is sort of annoying, but not overly so. I have the official Samsung Alcantara case on the phone and that helps. It contains a special cutout for the camera and also for the sensor so you really can't screw up. Going from the iPhone with its front sensor to the S8 with the rear sensor is the biggest change. It's just strange, but I'll get used to it.
And that case IS awesome. I love it. While I am not sure it will protect this fragile phone from a high drop I do feel like I likely won't drop the phone if I'm careful as it feels nice in the hand and is not slippery in any way. Naked, the phone is like slick wet ice. You do not want hold onto it that way! People, this is why I am fully prepared to sell the S8 if the Essential Phone proves to be a good product. It's ceramic and titanium construction promises the kind of sturdiness that all newer phones are lacking with their stupid curved screens and all glass construction.
The S8 is a gorgeous phone but I think I'd like it more without curved edges. I do struggle a bit when texting at the far left and right. I have to slow my texting down in order to avoid mistakes.
I still have my iPhone 6S+ and it looks and feels HUGE in comparison. Losing some width is also affecting my texting but having less bulk with the S8 vs. the iPhone is a lovely thing. I like how easy it is to slip into my front pocket and how nice it feels in the hand.
This is a great phone. No doubt. I think I'm going to enjoy getting to know it over the next few months.
P.S. I put the official Samsung screen protector on the phone and feel that for a thin membrane style screen protector it works just fine. I prefer tempered glass, but we all know what a disaster they have been for this phone and its curved screen. I didn't want to go through that, but I at least wanted to protect the glass from scratches.
P.S.S. I put Verizon Cloud on my iPhone to back up my content and I also put Google drive on it. So I double backed up everything. The question now is, which is better to migrate all my content to THIS phone? I don't know. Until I figure that out I just won't do it.