Essential Phone gets Android Pie update on the same day as Google Pixel

Google just officially named and released Android 9 as Android Pie for Google Pixel phones. Essential isn’t far behind as the company also announced the update will be making its way to the Essential Phone PH-1 right now. For a smaller startup that’s also been rumoured to be struggling, Essential has kept its user base consistently updated with regular software improvements and optimizations. Here’s to hoping the other bigger companies follow its lead and bring a slice of Android Pie to its users sooner rather than later.

Update on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 9:14AM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

This doesn't seem to be happening for TELUS customers since they're apparently taking time before rolling out the update. It is no secret TELUS has dropped interest in PH-1 and has shifted their marketing to the Huawei P20. Let's hope the carrier does right by their customers and rolls out Android P in Canada soon.

Essential Phone 2 reportedly cancelled as company pivots to smart home products

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Some disconcerting news for fans of the Essential Phone. A report by Bloomberg states that the Andy Rubin backed  startup is scrapping plans for a successor to the Essential Phone and is also looking for a buyer to offload the company and assets.

The Essential Phone was one of the first devices to showcase a near bezel-less design and still has the most miniscule 'notch' housing the front-facing camera.

Made of high-grade Titanium and gorilla glass, Essential built-in a modular capability to attach accessories (it also created the smallest 360' camera as one of those accessories). Created because Android originator Andy Rubin didn't see much differentiation in the Android marketplace, Essential Phone was supposed to be the linchpin for various products including smart home accessories.

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Essential Phone gets Android Oreo 8.1 update

Essential is wasting no time bringing the latest Android Oreo build to its users. The latest update with build no. OPM1.180104.141 brings the latest Oreo 8.1 version. This comes with April security patches, which the Pixel got a few days ago; support for Bluetooth 5.0, which is more an update on the software side as the hardware has supported the feature since launch; modem stability and other bug fixes; performance improvements; and “proper handling” of external game controllers.

Source: Android Police

Essential Phone gets Android 8.1 Oreo

The Essential Phone skipped out on Android 8.0 release when it came out. The company opted to wait for Android 8.1 Oreo to come out. And now that update is available and should be rolling out to Essential Phone users as we speak. Android 8.1 promises quicker startup, instant apps, smart text selection, and windowed video multitasking, among others.

Source: Engadget