Essential Phone PH-1 hands-on: more than just a bezel-less phone

The Internet had been going gaga over Andy Rubin’s first smartphone and the Essential PH-1 drew quite a lot of attention to itself when it was unveiled, especially with its unique bezel-less design and modular add-on components. The PH-1 is now finally up for grabs in the United States and it seems that Essential has possibly delivered on its promise of making a smartphone that could be the perfect embodiment of an Android smartphone.

Android Authority (AA) has had a go at the Essential Phone PH-1 and they are pretty impressed with the smartphone as well. A 5.7-inch QHD display with an aspect ratio of 19:10 surely grabs eyeballs at first sight. The unique placement of the camera sensor makes it certainly one of the best-looking smartphones in the recent times. The rear is finished in a premium ceramic panel which also houses the camera sensors and the modular pins. This also is one of the few smartphones with no branding on its body.

The Essential Phone PH-1 runs on stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box and comes with minimal bloatware. The phone seems to provide an exceptionally smooth performance as seen in the video. However, the camera doesn’t seem to achieve the same satisfaction that the rest of the smartphone does. Many have reported an update to the camera app, which should iron out the issues.

There is no word yet on the availability of the Essential PH-1 on the Indian shores. But if this one arrives in the Indian market, then the Indian smartphone consumer has an amazing option to opt for.

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