Andy Rubin thinks smartphone makers can do better; devices shouldn't become outdated every year and should instead "evolve with you." So, the man responsible for creating Android took matters into his own hands.
Rubin's new company, Essential, just debuted its first smartphone along with a smart home device similar to Amazon Echo and a new operating system called Ambient. The $699 Essential PH-1 phone, available for pre-order now, was designed so that all accessories—like a 360-degree camera, which you can buy separately —"magnetically snap" to the device.
"Don't you hate it when you have to buy new dongles, chargers, and accessories every time your phone is upgraded? We do too," Essential wrote on its website. "So we decided to make this a thing of the past. The magnetic connector with wireless data transfer keeps your phone cord-free, future-proof, and always up-to-date."
You won't find any logos on the PH-1, which features a titanium body and ceramic back. In terms of specs, it has a 5.71-inch "edge-to-edge display" with a resolution of 2,560-by-1,312, an 8MP front camera, and 13MP rear camera. On the inside, the Android-powered handset packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, a 3040mAh battery with fast charging capabilities, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.
Essential said the PH-1 captures "stunning images … even in low light," thanks to what the company is touting as the "world's thinnest" dual camera system, which uses "color and monochrome sensors that can capture up to 200 percent more light than traditional phone cameras."
Early adopters can reserve the PH-1, which comes unlocked and will work on all carriers, but there's no word as to when it will begin shipping. Initially, Essential only plans to ship to the US.
Meanwhile, alongside the PH-1, Essential unveiled a new Amazon Echo or Google Home-like device designed to "blend into any home environment while providing seamless access to multiple types of information and services."
Running a new operating system called Ambient OS, the Essential Home, which will be available at some point "soon," can be activated with your voice, a tap, or even a glance. Essential said Ambient OS "automatically introduces itself to new and existing devices" and "brings the home to life by choreographing the devices, content, people, and context in it."
Android creator Andy Rubin has unveiled the first phone by his new company, Essential.
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