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Essential PH-1

Essential PH-1
Essential PH-1Essential PH-1Essential PH-1Essential PH-1Essential PH-1Essential PH-1Essential PH-1Essential PH-1
alaScore 86

16 reviews

Nov, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 16 reviews of Essential PH-1. The average rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average rating of 4.1/5 for other Cell phones for all reviews. Views about the reliability and durability are on the whole positive. The screen and design also get good reviews, whereas many are critical about the portability and usability. Opinions are divided on the price.

performance, design, screen, durability, reliability

camera, connectivity, battery, usability, portability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Cell phones the Essential PH-1 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 86/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 16 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

Review Ratings

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Features

performance
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design
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camera
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screen
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connectivity
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battery
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durability
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
usability
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price
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reliability
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portability
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reception
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Showing 9 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 9 of 9 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (5)

Expert review by : Ed Selley (avforums.com)

Essential PH-1 Smartphone Review

 

Promising only the features you need rather than a barrage of things you don't, Essential's PH-1 comes MQA certified - is the audiophile's phone of choice?

Well made and designed ; Reasonable Spec ; Sounds excellent via Tidal in particular

No wireless charging or facial recognition ; Not waterproof ; No headphone socket

Sep, 2018
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Expert review by : Julian Chokkattu (digitaltrends.com)

Essential Phone (PH-1) Review

 

The Essential Phone is an Android phone that nails it with design, performance, and software.

Gorgeous bezel-less design ; Crisp, high-resolution screen ; Pure Android, fast updates ; Great performance ; Intuitive modular system

No headphone jack ; No IP67 or IP68 water resistance ; Camera quality still not great

The Essential Phone is a great first phone from Andy Rubin’s company. It nails design, performance, and software, but still falls short with the camera.

Dec, 2017
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Expert review by (engadget.com)

Essential PH-1 review: A beautiful blank slate

 

From its impeccable fit and finish to its impressive bezel-less design, the Essential PH-1 is a truly beautiful smartphone. Even better, it boasts impressive performance and battery life, not to mention one of the cleanest Android experiences you'll...

Incredible build quality ; Beautiful edge-to-edge display ; Excellent performance ; Very good battery life ; Clean build of Android 7.1.1

Camera needs a lot of work ; No headphone jack or water resistance ; Screen could be brighter ; Glossy back picks up smudges easily

I had such high hopes for the Essential phone that there's almost no way the PH-1 could have lived up to them. This isn't just a reflection of my own unreasonable internal hype though; as truly impressive as the PH-1 can be, it lags behind the...

Aug, 2017
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Expert review by : Sean Hollister (cnet.com)

The Essential Phone does the job, but you can do much, much better

 

This phone from the father of Android is fast, stunning… and merely OK.

The stunning Essential Phone PH-1 feels brilliant in the hand and it’s one of the fastest phones we’ve tested. There's no bloatware or unsightly logos, and its premium materials survived a six-foot drop. Compatible with all major US carriers.

Even with welcome updates, Essential's camera still isn't competitive. T-Mobile reception can be problematic. Battery life is merely OK. No photo or video stabilization. No headphone jack. Essential’s modular camera is a battery hog.

At a new low price, the Essential Phone offers serious bang-for-the-buck -- but only patient power users should bite.

May, 2018
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Expert review by : Sean Hollister (cnet.com)

Essential Phone PH-1 review

 

The moment I picked up the Essential Phone , I fell in love.

The stunning Essential Phone PH-1 feels brilliant in the hand and it’s one of the fastest phones we’ve tested. There's no bloatware or unsightly logos, and its premium materials survived a six-foot drop. Compatible with all major US carriers.

Essential’s camera app is terrible. Battery life is merely OK. No photo or video stabilization. No headphone jack. Essential’s modular accessories aren’t ready for primetime.

We can't recommend the Essential Phone over competitors, but it’s a mostly competent handset that’ll definitely turn heads.

Sep, 2017
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Expert review by : Sascha Segan (pcmag.com)

Essential Phone PH-1

 

The Essential Phone PH-1 combines top-notch hardware and pure Android software for an amazing deal on Sprint, but its more costly unlocked model is a harder sell.

Sharp edge-to-edge screen. Super-smooth performance. Solid Wi-Fi. Very clean software build.

Weak low-light camera performance. Lacks latest LTE features.

The Essential Phone is a good first try. It usually takes new manufacturers a few models to get the tricky parts of phone-making right. Essential is well-funded, and if it iterates quickly, it could be a strong competitor.

Aug, 2017
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Expert review by : Chris Burns (slashgear.com)

Essential Phone PH-1 Toast custom-cut wood cover Review

 

The Essential Phone PH-1 is a victim of circumstance - it's not the most traditional phone on the block. Because the Essential Phone PH-1's creators didn't succeed the way they'd hoped with their first phone, the phone's future is in question. In its...

Aug, 2018
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Expert review by (androidpit.com)

Essential Phone (PH-1) hands-on review: has its time come?

 

Android founder Andy Rubin's Essential Phone (PH-1) has been appreciated by some and criticized by many. But as the price drops, the designer smartphone has become very attractive. We take a closer look at the ideal Android phone created by the...

Although it hasn't been all sunshine and roses for Andy Rubin's company so far, Essential Phone remains a very valid smartphone and with the price drop the deal becomes even more interesting. As far as performance and image quality are concerned, we...

Feb, 2018
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Expert review by : Brad Linder (liliputing.com)

Essential PH-1 smartphone ships this week for $699

 

The first smartphone from is set to start shipping within the next 7 days. Customers who reserved an Essential PH-1 smartphone are letting them know that they can now order the phone for $699 and expect it to ship within a week… at least if they want...

But honestly, the main reason this Android phone has been getting so much attention since it was first

Aug, 2017
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Price comparison for Essential PH-1