[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] GuestK00434:
Update at bottom.

Couldn't pass up the price! I got the white one, less fingerprint magnet. I'm using it with Straight Talk with Verizon SIM. Here's my impressions after two days of use.

I've used the Moto X Pure for the past year. It was the only unlocked, multi-carrier large screen phone....I like 'em big ... Wait, that came out wrong....?

Update

First thing I did was all the updates, reset, update, reset... Wash rinse, repeat. Like Android likes to do, I couldn't download the last security update till I got on WiFi.... Wouldn't use data via the Moto's hotspot thus I had to go to the library, very rural area, only WiFi around....pita but typical Android not allowing system updates over data! So an uber clean start.

Overall I think the PH-1 is a good device. I haven't had any real negative bugs. The charging icon when off, the espresso cup, never shows fully charged. Otherwise the software seems like any other decent Android device I've used.

Build quality

IMHO ceramic isn't a good material to use. It's far too slippery to place on any surface, and being an insulator not great at removing heat, not to mention potential signal issues. However, my device's fit and finish is excellent, though it'll be the first device I use a case with — I've never broken a screen, knock on wood, in 5+ years. I have to put this in a case so I can set it on surfaces without it running off.

Screen

It's good, though too small imo. I really like the Moto X Pure more. Haven't compared them side by side on a great photo yet but I'm sure the PH-1 is better in that regard. The biggest pain is the text is so much smaller and there isn't a perfect setting for font size + display size, for me, thus I'm adapting to the default.

Camera

I'm not a big photo person. The camera to me does a good job. It took a photo of small print on a charging brick that can't be read. I've tried it with other devices and none could make the text clear but the PH-1 did.

Notch

IMO this notch and 2:1 screen ratio is stupid. However I will say essential did it the best you could. I don't mind it at all, but the reality is it's not a 5.7" screen — you rarely use the notification area (which is much larger), and if you do you get a wonky aspect ratio. IMO anything below 6" screen size needs to stay 16:9 and no notch. It's amazing how much more screen I have with the Moto X Pure.

Performance

Mine has been great. There's the occasional jitter or lag depending on the app but I've seen that on every Android device I've used — haven't used a pixel. FYI I turned off animations. Essential has done a good job keeping the bloatware down and unnecessary background running apps, I really appreciate that! Now if we could get Google to play along!

The PH-1 also does a lot better with ram management than the Moto! The Moto didn't take much before you were reloading the recent app or web page — I honestly don't think it ever used over 2GB of the ram. The Ph-1 IMO does well keeping recent apps/pages from being reloaded.

Fingerprint scanner

Works fast when it works but a lot of double tries. Might need to redo the setup.

Signal

I tested the signal between my two devices and here's what I noticed. The signal dB & dBm range is much greater on the PH-1 than the Moto. The Moto stays pretty steady in my current location which has a very strong Verizon signal. The PH-1 signal varies a lot ±10. It can be significantly lower or higher than the Moto. It seems to really decrease signal in standby, I'm guessing essential is turning down the power to the antenna to increase battery life when in standby which would be smart, and the signal IS AFFECTED BY HOW YOU HOLD IT, thus a case is a smart idea. Nonetheless my speeds are better.

Enhanced LTE

Can't make phone calls if it's enabled.... Most likely due to being on a mvno. And didn't notice any improvement in signal or data with it on.

Hotspot

Seems to be normal.

Speaker

It's loud! Louder than the Moto! There Moto sounds a bit better but not a lot. I'm pretty impressed.

Call quality

Seems the same.

Battery life

Very good. Nearly double the Moto! — I usually get 5hrs SOT browsing, and have had 12hrs SOT reading. I've always been able to get good SOT compared to most users — due to my usage habits. Where this one does so much better is the SoC IMO. I can browse about 2x what I can on the Moto. I'm sure the screen is more efficient also but I've not had enough time to test the two. I'm very pleased thus far.

Right now I'm at 87% battery with 2 hrs 15 minutes SOT! With LTE, location on, some browsing, signal testing, and writing this long winded thing.

Shipped with no charge

My device arrived with no charge, wouldn't even power into the battery charging state for a while.

Charging

First charge was slow! After that it has charged very fast, and doesn't get hot like the Moto.

USB-C to HDMI

Used this tiny converter and it worked!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B077XFZXXL?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

However, while video was properly displayed at 16:9 my landscape of the device was over sized. I had to set the display size to the largest, strangely, to make the screen smaller on the TV but it never was 1:1, always slightly bigger, and I couldn't find an adjustment on the TV for scanning HDMI.... Could be the TV.

No exFat support

A pita. Had to format my Samsung T5 ex ssd. The apps to use exfat (Paragon, mixplorer, etc) weren't good enough, better to reformat IMO if you're going to be using a particular device frequently. The read/wire speed to the T5 isn't super fast, ~100MBps.

I don't use NFC and rarely Bluetooth thus I haven't tested them and don't care.

Straight Talk setup

Of course their customer service insisted I get a new SIM card — you can't use the same SIM because they can only use one IMEI number per SIM. So I ordered a new SIM but tried the old one — data didn't work the first couple tries — the proper apn wasn't being loaded, but third time everything is rocking including the proper TracFone apn but it can't be edited — I don't know if that's Android 8 or what.

Got the Moto command center widget working as well though it loads slow on restart. I love this widget!

Used to use Swype, only keyboard I've used really, trying to get used to Gboard.... Not liking it at all!

Thanks for reading!

UPDATE 7.24.18

GPS, LTE, Wi-Fi, and cellular signal

FYI: using Straight Talk w/Verizon SIM.

Went for a drive into town today, I'm in a very rural area, and had a chance to really put the signal issues to the test.

GPS: no problems whatsoever. Connects faster than any device I've owned. Didn't drop either.

LTE: this device switches bands more than my Moto X Pure. While my Moto would stay on band 4 this will switch between 4 & 13, even in the same location not moving. The Moto has about -10dbm better on band 4, but the PH-1 is same or better on 13. I've read some say they think the big issue of signal with this device is band 4, seems lower for me as well.

I maintained a cellular signal the entire drive, but data dropped out just about the same as the Moto does in the same areas. So, about the same imo. However the data signal on this device was noticeably worse in the grocery store. To the point of not being useable till I found that perfect spot.

Wi-Fi: the grocery stores's WiFi was problematic. Connection showed stable but wouldn't transfer data. Turned off data, turned WiFi back on and worked better for a bit. I've had similar issues with other Android devices and WiFi, my Moto has been the best at WiFi connectivity.

I've had similar issues with every Android device I've owned — some type of connection bug in either WiFi, GPS, or data. So, to be fair the PH-1 isn't alone when it comes to connection issues and I'm sure much of that goes back to Google. All in all I would say signal, depending on available bands, can be a bit lower in general thus those really spotty areas may be non-existent. However, when connected I get much faster data speeds than my Moto.

A further note.... If you have VERY dry hands this thing is ridiculously slick! Not so bad when hands are "normal."

Like every Android device I've used or tested it has its own quarks, nothing to horrible though, at least in my case ?