What problems are you experiencing with the Essential Phone

[sixtysdaze]

I can confirm this does not happen with my phone. I am with T-Mobile though so it should be a Sprint problem as you suggest.

t-mobile is on the same towers as sprint if that matters. i've only got an issue with my mssgs not letting me know when they are there. the phone is wonderful. quality pics but freezes almost every time i use it. i'm on sprint. great deal for this phone with sprint!

 

[sixtysdaze]

I have one too and although I haven't had time to take more than 3 pics, i have had no problems with the 360 camera. just camera app freezing. the camera itself is better than my canon powershot, but it's pretty old. someone on c-net essential phone forum it works great with different camera app. I'm going to do what this dude is doing:
"The negative comments on the camera app aren't relevant to me because I would always switch to using OpenCamera whichever phone I bought, so don't worry about that too much. Camera itself seems, at least to me, superb." from (cautionhotbeverage) on cnet" https://www.cnet.com/products/essential-phone-ph-1/review/#

 

[Guy Katz]

I'm disliking this phone more and more with each day. At first I considered it the best phone I've ever owned, now the worst. And it's all camera related. Outside of the camera, there's the occasional freeze-up or hang but nothing major. The camera issues though... wow. Not only does it take perfect lighting to result in a decent picture... but half the time the phone freezes while taking a picture, requiring a hard reset. It's unbelievably frustrating to pull out your phone, take a picture, only to have it freeze (while not saving that picture) and you are forced to hold that power button down for 10 seconds to reset.
Sadly, after the black Friday sales, this phone is selling for 250-300 on ebay.. so I'm not ready to take that kind of loss just yet, and will have to stick with this. My next phone will be a proven company that puts out a reliable, quality phone.
Oh and PS, I got a 360 degree camera, it doesn't work of course. The light on it never turns green, just stays blue.

good on you to come out and say it.
listen, its a beautiful phone no doubt. but the camera is $hit, the performance is sub par (stutters, slowness, app switching delays etc, screen freezes, touch sensitivity issues etc).
I would swap it but I truly dont have anything I got my eyes on so I will wait.
what I do is lower my expectations and wait

 

[bwhick7492]

no problems with mine. I am using the Google camera APK and it is working great. takes super fast photos that mostly turn out very good. probably going to sell this for the s9 plus though. nothing against this phone I just like big screens.

 

[MkVsTheWorld]

I've had a lot of small issues with this phone but the biggest one I had was (https) websites and apps just timing out on Sprint. I discovered that I could use a VPN, although Onavo's was the only app that seemed to bypass the problem. Although, I started getting concerning security messages from websites that I use and the issue continues with every other VPN for some odd reason. So, my bypass didn't last long. I eventually had to reactivate my Nexus 6p and soon enough that phone started dying on me with only 20% battery left...

So, I just went on eBay and bought a second hand LG G6 for $200. It's specs aren't as good and it'll be locked to Sprint forever since I'm not the original owner. But, damn this phone just works and I'm getting Calling Plus, which is a major call quality improvement where I'm at. Sprint has me as a customer until July because I have their 1 free year of service, but I'll likely stay because of the LTE roaming onto US Cellular. Also, the price for unlimited data is hard to beat.

Meanwhile, my Essential PH-1 is a paperweight on my desk until Essential finishes developing Android 8.1, which is supposed to fix the site time outs I get on Sprint. I'll believe it when I see it. Not to brag, but I'm glad I only spent $170 for this phone. To me, it's barely worth that given it's current state.

 

[tech_head]

I've had a lot of small issues with this phone but the biggest one I had was (https) websites and apps just timing out on Sprint.

**SNIP**

Meanwhile, my Essential PH-1 is a paperweight on my desk until Essential finishes developing Android 8.1, which is supposed to fix the site time outs I get on Sprint. I'll believe it when I see it. Not to brag, but I'm glad I only spent $170 for this phone. To me, it's barely worth that given it's current state.

So I was on Sprint an dumped the service a few weeks ago.
While I was on Sprint, I never had issues with HTTPS.
Have you tried Chrome Beta or the Samsung Browser?
I'm on Verizon now and don't have any issues.

 

[MkVsTheWorld]

So I was on Sprint an dumped the service a few weeks ago.
While I was on Sprint, I never had issues with HTTPS.
Have you tried Chrome Beta or the Samsung Browser?
I'm on Verizon now and don't have any issues.

Not everyone is going to experience the issue on Sprint because it's only former Clearwire sites broadcasting TD-LTE on Band 41 that are affected. A lot of people didn't have Clearwire sites when it was around so it's not affecting them. If I use Band 25 or 26 LTE, the issue doesn't happen.

Yes, I tried Chrome Beta, Samsung Browser, etc. This issue isn't specific to web browsing. Apps and MMS are affected too.

 

[tech_head]

Not everyone is going to experience the issue on Sprint because it's only former Clearwire sites broadcasting TD-LTE on Band 41 that are affected. A lot of people didn't have Clearwire sites when it was around so it's not affecting them. If I use Band 25 or 26 LTE, the issue doesn't happen.

Yes, I tried Chrome Beta, Samsung Browser, etc. This issue isn't specific to web browsing. Apps and MMS are affected too.

Ah, okay.

 

[Roosterman]

Maybe I'm being a bit thick but how is this an Essential problem? Sounds like a Sprint Network problem.

 

[MkVsTheWorld]

Maybe I'm being a bit thick but how is this an Essential problem? Sounds like a Sprint Network problem.

I admit, Sprint should have better tested the Essential phone to ensure it was fully compatible with the network before allowing its sales. Hopefully, they'll test this scenario going forward. On the other hand, Essential should have done their due diligence to make sure they sold a quality product and that includes following up with the only US carrier they arranged to resell their phones.

Now, the issue at hand is actually a fault of the MTU size and that can only be fixed by Essential, which is a problem for Essential. None of the other phones I've used on Sprint has this issue.

 

[MkVsTheWorld]

Finally, 8.1 fixes the data issues on Sprint, along with a bunch of other issues. This phone is usable again!!

 

[poppadum]

Has anyone noticed small spotting or wearing along the edges of the phone? I've had it in a case since day 1 (January 4) and periodically take it out to make sure there's no dust or debris getting in. Back ceramic plate is flawless and the phone has a screen protector as well. It's just that shiny edge, and only along the top and the side with the power button... doesn't affect the usage but I'm worried that it'll look absolutely ratty after a few more months.

I keep it in a case and won't see it, but what happens if I want to upgrade? This will work against me. Has anyone else seen this? Btw, phone works perfectly (and just about to pick up the 360 camera for $50 through Telus in Canada), so don't plan to get rid of it anytime soon. Just want to keep it pristine and working well for a long time.

 

[Wired29]

Only made it one day. I guess I just don't have the patience anymore for sub-par stuff. I did a clean install even tried a restore and another clean install but still had issues with the screen freezing and become unresponsive for a few seconds and or minutes. The lock button and reopen seamed to get it working again. Also had the screen act like it was being touched while it was on the table by itself. I had the settings page open and it changed about six settings all by itself! Lol Back to my trusty Moto Z for now. Maybe the two will be worth a look but it has to be more issue free than this to get my attention.

 

[anon(9918034)]

Finally, 8.1 fixes the data issues on Sprint, along with a bunch of other issues. This phone is usable again!!

Did you get via Sprint or sideload it?

 

[MkVsTheWorld]

It actually came via OTA without me enrolling in the beta program. And I'm not sure why I got chosen for the OTA. It's possible that I sideloaded an earlier update that put me on the regular non-Sprint update path but I was sure that wasn't the case. Sprint/Essential may have just sent it to me only because I have been in communication with their corporate office.

 

[tech_head]

Only made it one day. I guess I just don't have the patience anymore for sub-par stuff. I did a clean install even tried a restore and another clean install but still had issues with the screen freezing and become unresponsive for a few seconds and or minutes. The lock button and reopen seamed to get it working again. Also had the screen act like it was being touched while it was on the table by itself. I had the settings page open and it changed about six settings all by itself! Lol Back to my trusty Moto Z for now. Maybe the two will be worth a look but it has to be more issue free than this to get my attention.

Sounds like you just got a bad phone.
It does happen.
I don't have any of the issues you described.

 

[SactoKingsFan]

Has anyone noticed small spotting or wearing along the edges of the phone? I've had it in a case since day 1 (January 4) and periodically take it out to make sure there's no dust or debris getting in. Back ceramic plate is flawless and the phone has a screen protector as well. It's just that shiny edge, and only along the top and the side with the power button... doesn't affect the usage but I'm worried that it'll look absolutely ratty after a few more months.

I keep it in a case and won't see it, but what happens if I want to upgrade? This will work against me. Has anyone else seen this? Btw, phone works perfectly (and just about to pick up the 360 camera for $50 through Telus in Canada), so don't plan to get rid of it anytime soon. Just want to keep it pristine and working well for a long time.View attachment 281598

Looks like the finish covering the frame is chipping off. I've seen some Reddit posts with similar and much worse issues on the Black Moon frame. The matte titanium frame was one of the reasons I purchased the Halo Gray.

 

[neil74]

Other than turning up with a scratch on the edge the Wifi seems very slow. First noticed it when downloading my Spotify files which took an age vs other phones. Seems slow across the board though.

Ambient display does not work every time either, kind of wish it had an AOD, I know it is an LCD but LG have proved this can work on an LCD. I knew this before purchasing though.

 

[ebrandwein]

It's really been very smooth sailing. I got the phone after Pie was released so that may be a big part of it. T-mobile works fine, wifi calling is good. No complaints

 

[neil74]

I’d add a weaker mobile signal vs other phones to my list. I’m nit picking here if this thing had an AOD (and maybe more storage) it would tick all of my boxes.