Why you STILL should not buy this phone even at $499

[fernandez21]

After the recent update, I would say it's as smooth as my OG Pixel from last year, as least as I remember it.

 

[bhatech]

Just applied the update and man this is looking very smooth. Need to see how it performs for a day or two especially making apps slow and lag etc. Initial impressions on the update are good.

 

[anon(9918034)]

I side loaded the update because well sprint lol. So far no issues, and I like having the gesture on the finger print scanner. My favorite feature on my honor 8.

 

[Guy Katz]

Just applied the update and man this is looking very smooth. Need to see how it performs for a day or two especially making apps slow and lag etc. Initial impressions on the update are good.

people are complaining about the finger print swipe added plentybugs. they say they put the finger and this causes high CPU and the phone freezes...
hopefully fixed soon,.

 

[msp1518]

Hey gang, I wanted this phone to be awesome and bought out the gate like many of you. But it was a terrible disappointment to me and I returned the phone (which was not easy to accomplish). Despite the stunning ceramic and titanium construction I would not recommend this phone to anyone after my experience. It's also scary to see how few phones they have actually sold. It's pretty much a bust.

My hope is that they can somehow survive because I do believe a V2 would be a huge improvement.

That being said they NEED A BUMPER CASE! Jesus Christmas, this is a no brainer. With a phone as slippery as the PH-1 is is MUST have a bumper case on it.

Anyway... if a V2 comes out, has good reviews, plus there i a bumper case available and the Ocean Depths color is finally a real thing, I will try again.

 

[gibsonb2]

There is a case available on Amazon for this phone. Also, a clear case by a company called Viva Madrid. The only 2 cases I have been able to find. I have the gray case from Amazon made by Tudia and it seems well made.

 

[anon(9918034)]

There is a case available on Amazon for this phone. Also, a clear case by a company called Viva Madrid. The only 2 cases I have been able to find. I have the gray case from Amazon made by Tudia and it seems well made.

I have the Viva Madrid, I put it on when I go to the gym. Otherwise I go with no case.

 

[Robbie317]

I have a pixel2 XL too and I'm debating whether to return actually just because the price is Nauseating. I don't have any issues with the device. I wanted to ask how the performance is with the ph-1? Is it as smooth and snappy as the Pixel? I like a lag free experience..it's the most important to me.

For me personally the PH-1 is an amazing device. Feels way better in the hand than the new Pixel 2XL (my opinion) and it's very snappy. the new update I got last night greatly improved the phone. So far I am actually glad I had the issues with my Pixel and returned it. like you the price tag on the Pixel really rubbed me the wrong way with how the Nexus prices were so great and they slowly got higher and higher and then the Pixel went crazy... I think you'll love it. It far from perfect (no phone is) but it's way easier to forgive some of the imperfections at $499 vs $949 ($1,000+ after taxes)....

 

[Robbie317]

people are complaining about the finger print swipe added plentybugs. they say they put the finger and this causes high CPU and the phone freezes...
hopefully fixed soon,.

Only issue I've noticed so far is the finger print scanner is a little slower than before. Outside of that it's been perfectly fine. See how it goes through the next day or two.

 

[Robbie317]

Hey gang, I wanted this phone to be awesome and bought out the gate like many of you. But it was a terrible disappointment to me and I returned the phone (which was not easy to accomplish). Despite the stunning ceramic and titanium construction I would not recommend this phone to anyone after my experience. It's also scary to see how few phones they have actually sold. It's pretty much a bust.

My hope is that they can somehow survive because I do believe a V2 would be a huge improvement.

That being said they NEED A BUMPER CASE! Jesus Christmas, this is a no brainer. With a phone as slippery as the PH-1 is is MUST have a bumper case on it.

Anyway... if a V2 comes out, has good reviews, plus there i a bumper case available and the Ocean Depths color is finally a real thing, I will try again.

I've read if you were an early adopter it was a very bad experience. I didn't get it when it came out because I thought $700 was a little too high. when best buy discounted it down to $600 I was intrigued but already had the Pixel 2 XL on order. Tried to cancel my Pixel 2 XL order the day they announced they dropped the price to $500 but the Pixel had already shipped that morning. Once I had the screen issues with the Pixel and requested the RMA I got the PH-1 and out the box it was buggy.. but after about an hour and 3 or 4 updates it was way better. it does need a case and it's highly disappointing that there are very few options for it. I think Amazon has ONE case in 3 colors and Viva Madrid has one. Outside of that the secondary market for this phone is HORRIBLE!!

I do believe there will be a second generation device at some point in 2018. They have a TON of financial backing and last I read they had them valued at close to $2 billion. They almost couldn't give them away at $699 or even $599 but in the Dallas area when they went to $499 every best buy had them by Thursday when I was returning my Pixel almost every best buy was sold out (not that each store had 100 in stock but still) at $499 it's a steal and I think a lot of people picked them up once the price dropped so low.

I've got the one case on order from Amazon. It'll be hear Friday. I wish there were more options but oh well. I know Essential said you don't need a case and the titanium and ceramic might hold up pretty good but that glass front probably won't.

 

[modifier]

Outside of that the secondary market for this phone is HORRIBLE!!

Judging by my latest order number and the number of app downloads in the Play Store, I'd venture to guess they've only sold around 20,000 units direct, through resellers and through carriers. Volume likely isn't high enough for aftermarket accessories yet. Plus, it wasn't designed to be very case friendly, making good designs difficult.

I hate cases but can empathize with those who want them.

 

[Robbie317]

Judging by my latest order number and the number of app downloads in the Play Store, I'd venture to guess they've only sold around 20,000 units direct, through resellers and through carriers. Volume likely isn't high enough for aftermarket accessories yet. Plus, it wasn't designed to be very case friendly, making good designs difficult.

I hate cases but can empathize with those who want them.

Yeah I fully understand the lack of any secondary market for this phone. These companies are not going to mess with it to only sell maybe a few hundred cases.

I am not a fan of having a case on my phone either (or screen protector) I think a case takes away from the look and feel of a device people spent months and even years designing to NOT have a case on it. But at the same time I really don't want a small drop to shatter my phone. Luckily for me I've actually never broken or shattered a phone before. but I figure I am probably due.

 

[Wildo6882]

Yeah I fully understand the lack of any secondary market for this phone. These companies are not going to mess with it to only sell maybe a few hundred cases.

I am not a fan of having a case on my phone either (or screen protector) I think a case takes away from the look and feel of a device people spent months and even years designing to NOT have a case on it. But at the same time I really don't want a small drop to shatter my phone. Luckily for me I've actually never broken or shattered a phone before. but I figure I am probably due.

I just happened to notice that Incipio has a couple of cases for the Essential now on their website. Use code inc15 to get 15% off. That may have just pushed me over the edge to get this phone.

Although, I am slightly worried about the issues I've been reading about the latest update.

 

[modifier]

But at the same time I really don't want a small drop to shatter my phone. Luckily for me I've actually never broken or shattered a phone before. but I figure I am probably due.

I'm in the same boat. The more I talk about not using a case is the more I jinx myself. The industrial design of the PH-1 is great and I hate to put a case or protector on it. I don't find this phone any more slippery or prone to fingerprints than an all-glass slab from anyone else. But, I might break down at some point and try a skin just for some grip.

 

[Robbie317]

I just happened to notice that Incipio has a couple of cases for the Essential now on their website. Use code inc15 to get 15% off. That may have just pushed me over the edge to get this phone.

Although, I am slightly worried about the issues I've been reading about the latest update.

I've not experienced any real issues with the latest update. Finger print scanner is a little slower to react but by like 1/2 a second in my estimate. Everything else is still super smooth and snappy. I'll see if anything else crops up.

 

[Robbie317]

I'm in the same boat. The more I talk about not using a case is the more I jinx myself. The industrial design of the PH-1 is great and I hate to put a case or protector on it. I don't find this phone any more slippery or prone to fingerprints than an all-glass slab from anyone else. But, I might break down at some point and try a skin just for some grip.

I've got a dbrand skin coming and a case. I just don't want to completely shatter it...

 

[Wildo6882]

I've not experienced any real issues with the latest update. Finger print scanner is a little slower to react but by like 1/2 a second in my estimate. Everything else is still super smooth and snappy. I'll see if anything else crops up.

I read on Reddit (I know I know) that some people were experiencing complete lock-ups/freezes when using the phone and if their finger touched the fingerprint scanner.

 

[modifier]

I read on Reddit (I know I know) that some people were experiencing complete lock-ups/freezes when using the phone and if their finger touched the fingerprint scanner.

If you leave your finger on it, yes, the system seems to wait for a swipe action across the FPR and pauses everything else. I've not found it to be a problem since I don't touch the FPR unless unlocking or swiping. Do other phones with swipe act differently?

 

[Robbie317]

If you leave your finger on it, yes, the system seems to wait for a swipe action across the FPR and pauses everything else. I've not found it to be a problem since I don't touch the FPR unless unlocking or swiping. Do other phones with swipe act differently?

Interesting. Yes it does. but I never would of noticed because like you I don't hold my finger there. Only to unlock or swipe and then I move my finger away. So yeah not a real issue for me. wouldn't have even noticed had you not explained it out.. THANKS!!! ha ha ha

 

[Wildo6882]

If you leave your finger on it, yes, the system seems to wait for a swipe action across the FPR and pauses everything else. I've not found it to be a problem since I don't touch the FPR unless unlocking or swiping. Do other phones with swipe act differently?

Can you turn off the swipe action on the scanner?