A new budget smartphone just went on sale with Verizon’s prepaid branch. A successor of the LG Optimus Zone 3, the LG Zone 4 arrives at Big Red with a price tag of $115.
The details about the LG Zone 4 emerged a few months ago when we heard the Korean company was looking to drop the “Optimus” moniker and opt for something new. The Zone 4 is the first fruit of this strategy.
The handset isn’t anything special, but at this price, you shouldn’t expect anything too grand.
LG Zone 4 is the latest low-end phone to go on sale at Verizon
The device arrives with a 5-inch TFT display with 720 x 1280 resolution and standard 16:9 aspect ratio. It’s powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 425 processor in combination with 2Gb of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage (up to 2TB).
Obviously, you’ll be able to snap pictures using the device, although expect the result to be pretty average. The phone includes an impressive 8-megapixel main camera on the back and a 5-megapixel selfie-snapper on the front.
LG’s new entry device also has a fingerprint sensor on the back below the flash and a single speaker, which lives at the bottom.
We should also note the phone relies on a 2,500 mAh removable battery and runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box.
The phone is pretty affordable, but if you want a device with the latest Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and a better camera, you might want to wait for the Alcatel 1X.
Alcatel’s offering is part of the Android Go initiative and will arrive with a 5.3-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio and 960 x 480 resolution. The device will also include a main 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2.0 and EIS. The product will be offered for under $100.
On the other side of the coin, you’ll probably have to wait a few months for the phone to land on the US market.
SwiftKey is an app that has risen to popularity by offering users an alternative to their native Android (or iOS) keyboard, designed to make typing so much better.
Well in recent days, SwiftKey announced a major update, which is described as the biggest since the company was acquired by Microsoft back in 2016.
Check out SwiftKey 7.0
SwiftKey 7.0 brings a new toolbar menu that’s to be found under the “+” sign on the left of the prediction bar. On Android, the Toolbar will replace the existing Hub.
The new feature offers quick access to things such as stickers, collections, calendar, clipboard, GIFs, themes and quick settings.
Two more features are coming soon. One is location sharing (available only for users in US and India), which will let users insert the address of a nearby place in a message. The second, Calendar sharing, will allow people to insert a calendar appointment from within the app.
The new update brings a large collection the stickers, as well as the ability to the personalize stickers according to a message. Customized or favorite stickers can be saved under Collections, for easy later access. To check out Collections, simply tap on the pin tab located at the top of the keyboard.
Note that SwiftKey is planning to bring an exclusive Microsoft sticker pack in the Toolbar section of the app soon.
The new update also adds support for 8 new “Lish” languages. A “Lish” language is a hybrid language that lets users shift between two languages. In this case English and eight Indic languages including Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia and Telugu. With these new options, SwiftKey now offers compatibility with over 40 Indian languages.
SwiftKey’s iconic features including smart autocorrect, Flow and next-word predictions are still available to use. But now users will also be able to use GIFs, Stickers, Settings, Themes, and Clipboard for an even more superior typing experience.
Alcatel recently announced that two of the smartphones it introduced at MWC 2018, namely the Alcatel 1X and Alcatel 3V will launch on the US market.
Both models will be sold unlocked and will become available in the upcoming months. Although the company didn’t offer a specific date.
In case you missed the announcement, the Alcatel 1X is the brand’s first Android Go smartphone. Android Go is a lighter version of Google’s mobile OS optimized to work with low-end phones with 1GB of RAM or less.
Alcatel brings two of its newest models to the US
Yet, unlike most budget phones available on the market, the Alcatel 1X comes boasting a modern 18:9 aspect ratio. It offers the services of a 5.3-inch display with 960 x 480 resolution and includes a 1.28GHz quad-core MediaTek processor with a choice of 1GB or 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
Alcatel 1X
When it comes to cameras, the 1X boasts a 13-megapixel rear-facing shooter with f/2.0 and EIS. On the front, there’s an 8-megapixel selfie snapper.
Other specs include a 2,420 mAh battery, LTE, Bluetooth and a fingerprint scanner, a feature available only in the US. Alcatel says the 1X will go on sale for less than $100 in the States.
Moving on, Alcatel will also be launching the 3V, its first phone to come with a dual-camera setup in the US. Unlike, the 1X the 3V includes better specs like a 6-inch 2K display and 2GB of RAM. The phone will ship with a 1.45GHz quad-core MediaTek processor and either 16GB or 32GB of storage.
Alcatel 3V
The dual-camera on the back pairs a 12-megapixel sensor (f/2.2, PDAF) with secondary 2-megapixel sensor (f/2.4). For selfie-taking purposes, the device has a 5-megapixel secondary camera with LED flash. The 3V also includes a 3,000 mAh battery under the hood.
Alcatel hasn’t revealed pricing information for the 3V just yet, although we expect it to be priced around $200.
So what do you think of Alcatel’s new phones? Drop us a comment below.
Updated 3/19/2018 to reflect included custom ear-plates w/purchase.
When it comes to headphones that run $200 or more Beats is the name that comes up most often in casual conversation. And while Beats often have decent sound, its build quality and design often leaves a lot to be desired. This is where a company like V-Moda really shines; its Crossfade 2 is a fantastic example of it. Where Beats uses plastic frames with weights in them to feel like quality, V-Moda designed the Crossfade 2 from the ground up to be a work of art.
A Box as Beautiful as the Product
Unboxing the Crossfade 2 is the rare occasion in which the the it is almost as much of a pleasure as using. Right of the bat, it reeks of “premium”. Made of thick gauge, lightly textured card stock, the box sleeve is the first thing you see when opening the V-Moda.
A vegan leather carry handle is bolted in place by square, pyramidal studs that matches the snap-latch that secures the lid in place.
Before you can do anything else, you have to literally cut the ribbon on your new headset – a crimson, silky ribbon secured around the box, sleeve and lid. The attention to detail borders on the ridiculous at times. You can easily, and correctly, guess that a company that puts this much effort into packaging would create an equally beautiful product.
Under the lid is a cap protecting the top of the exoskeleton case with firm, soft foam. It’s a simple affair with matte black card stock glued to the aforementioned foam and emblazoned with a glossy V-Moda logo. All of this adds to the impression that a lot of love went into designing the product.
The Exoskeleton
The included hard-sided case is, as you might expect by now, every bit as premium as the box and headset itself. It features a symmetrical, almost clamshell aesthetic, with adjustable vents on either side of the shell to air out your headphones after use. Even the zipper feels premium. The teeth are hidden and guided by strips of stiff fabric which ensures it’ll never catch or jam.
Inside the case is a bright orange microfiber lining, as well as two V-shaped elastic storage compartments – perfect to keep your USB and auxiliary cables. To top it off, the V-Moda branding is stitched into top patch of the case. The Crossfade 2 fits perfectly inside but only when completely collapsed. They’ll require adjusting each time you wear them.
Built like a Titanium Gymnast
Upon first withdrawing the $330 Crossfade 2 from its case, you can’t help but think to yourself how ordinary it looks. Save for the shiny steel forks attached to the ear cups, the headset is completely matte black. It’s neither overly heavy (309 grams), nor particularly bulky (I’m looking at you, Beats).
That all changes, though, when you unfold the ear cups for the first time. They pivot downward on two sets of hinges (one is on the frame and the other is on the cups) and snap into place satisfyingly.
The solidness of the click and smoothness of the motion really showcase the durability of the Crossfade 2; they can twist in pretty much any direction you want without fear of breaking. This is thanks to a nearly indestructible “SteelFlex” headband covered in vegan leather (which could mean seaweed or cork, or it could mean PVC or Polyurethane) and memory foam.
There’s very little horizontal movement in the frame. The SteelFlex headband and steel forks offer a surprising amount of tensile flexibility without fear of damaging it. V-Moda claims the Crossfade 2 will withstand 10 cases of a completely flattened headband without any ill effects. As any gamer can attest, this is typically a death knell for a headset.
Sleek and Industrial
A second glance reveals a more subtle, and somehow obvious, boldness to its design. The twenty-plus hex screws holding the thing together are bare for all the world to see, and the nylon-braided cables run uncovered from the headband to the cans. The stock model features metal earcups and cover. These are hexagonal in shape and secured with tamper-proof hex screws, giving it a sleek, industrial look.
It’s an odd hybrid of aesthetics that combines for a very unique styling. The covers that come in the package are sleek and stylish, but you can also order custom ones to make it truly yours.
Functionally, the Crossfade 2 is both easy to use and occasionally a bit finicky. Rather than a Power button, V-Moda opted for a three-stage switch on the side of the Right ear cup. Stage One is off, stage two is on, and stage three is pairing mode.
The volume controls are similarly odd with three buttons on top of that same ear cup. The front and back buttons are volume up and down, respectively, and the third button is a multifunction, contextual V button. This button is responsible for a number of important features, including playback control, call control, and summoning your mobile Assistant of choice.
Playback control is a bit tricky: press twice for next or three times for back. It’s not the easiest function to get right every time, but it’s not terrible. Consider that you’ll mostly be using it when connected to a phone that can control playback much more easily.
High-End Sound, High-End Price
I’m not an expert in audio quality. I’m a layman when it comes to high-end sound equipment with my main over-ear headphone experience coming from Turtle Beach and Razer gaming headsets. Keep this in mind as I discuss the sound quality of the Crossfade 2. With that caveat out of the way, though… Wow. The Crossfade 2 really blew me away with its sound.
My $249 Turtle Beach Stealth 700 has a pair of 50mm drivers with a frequency response of 20Hz-20,000Hz. The $330 Crossfade 2 features dual 50mm, dual-diaphragm drivers with a 5Hz-40,000Hz range. This means the Crossfade 2 is more than twice as sensitive to bass and treble than the 800X. Turtle Beach has a reputation for being among the more popular gaming headsets on the market. And that’s well earned! But even its most expensive headset doesn’t hold a candle to the Crossfade 2.
In the World
My experience with both headsets backs up those numbers. Be it gaming or listening to music, the Crossfade 2 is simply a joy. It’s got a booming bass that doesn’t drown out the complexity of the highs, and the massive frequency range ensures you catch every detail in the sound. Whether straining to hear the footfalls of an enemy in PlayerUnknown’s BattleGrounds or picking out each and every note of Voodoo Child, V-Moda’s Crossfade 2 is excellent in any situation.
I used the Crossfade 2 for gaming (mobile and console) and listening to music at home and on the go. While most of my music tastes tend toward rock, I also did a few test runs with Pop, R&B, EDM, and Classical styles to get a feel for how the Crossfade 2 sounded when blasting each genre. In short, it sounds awesome no matter what you put on. Gaming is no different. I played Shooters, Puzzlers, MOBAs, RPGs, and all of the games sounded wonderful.
V-Moda estimates the Crossfade 2’s battery life at 14 hours. In practical usage, I found it closer to 12 or so. I’m sure that varies based on the features you’re using and the volume at which you’ve set it. Honestly, though, battery life isn’t a concern as long as you’re carrying around the included 3.5mm cable. When plugged in, the Crossfade 2 immediately becomes a zero-latency, zero-power analog headset whose quality isn’t diminished in the least.
Make it Yours
The Crossfade 2 comes in three colors: Matte Black (which I tested), Matte White, and Rose Gold. In addition, V-Moda is able to engrave or 3D-print custom ear-plates in a variety of materials. The selection is impressive: Fiber, Aluminum, Steel, Brass, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Rhodium, or Platinum. You’re free to choose one of V-Moda’s designs, or upload your own for a truly custom set of cans. Buying a Crossfade 2 directly from V-Moda gets you a second set of customized ear-plates in either 3D-printed Fiber or engraved Aluminum, for no extra charge. This is up to a $100 value, and really puts a different spin on the pricetag.
Value
$330 is a lot to spend on a headset, no matter who you are. But, in a world where the Beats headphones are synonymous with luxury, people are willing to shell out the cash. Do yourself a favor and go against the crowd. If you’re looking to buy an expensive headset, don’t buy a pair of Beats. Buy the boldly-styled, built-like-a titanium-gymnast, excellent-sounding V-Moda Crossfade 2.
The Crossfade 2 retails for $330, and can be bought from any number of retailers, including Walmart and B&H. However, at the time of this writing the Matte Black model is available from Amazon for just $270 a bargain. As mentioned above, though, buying directly from V-Moda will get you an extra set of custom ear-plates – so if that’s important to you, V-Moda is the best place to buy.
How much kids should be allowed to use technology is a very hot topic these days. But regardless of how you look at the problem, you can’t deny technology can bring some unmistakable benefits.
For example, tech can transform drab things like math problems or grammar exercises into exciting adventures kids won’t shy away from.
Many parents fear allowing kids to use apps will hook them to a life of being dependent flashy smartphones’ screen. But on the other side of the coin, apps can be turned into great tools to help children expand their imagination or develop their cognitive skills.
It’s a matter of selecting the right apps for your child and allowing him or her use them with moderation.
There’s no shortage of educational apps available in the Google Play Store, and for this post, we’ve lined some of the best apps for 3-to-6-year-olds.
Alphabet Car: Learn ABC’s
What it is:
Alphabet Car is a fun tool designed to aid children who are just starting to learn words. Your little one will discover new words by means of playing and engagement.
Why we like it:
The app comes with a bold and colorful interface that’s guaranteed to capture the attention of young children.
Alphabet Car teaches kids the basics of letters and then gently moves on to words and implicitly spelling.
Gameplay is easy enough to master. You drive a bus and as you roll along, big blocks of letters will appear on the road. Aim the bus towards a letter to make a word and hear the letter pronounced. When you gather enough letters for a word, kids will hear the word pronounced.
The game uses visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles, and strengthens hand-eye coordination in the process.
A simple app which teaches your child to do basic math calculations, even before he or she starts going to school.
Why we like it:
Kids Numbers and Math is an intuitive game for preschoolers that makes learning numbers and basic math fun.
Children play the activities (solve math problems) and earn puzzle pieces for the big “Bug Collection Puzzles”.
There’s a free version that teaches the numbers 1-20 via a variety of exercises including counting, adding, subtracting and comparing numbers, but if you want more the paid version offers more customization.
A game which aims to teach young children how to focus and pay attention, while boosting their visual memory.
Why we like it:
The app includes 4 mini-games to aid with the development of visual memory and 3 mini-games for training attention and concentration.
The games were created by a professional child psychologist and are inspired by her experience with working with children in preschool and elementary school.
The app is recommended to all children, but even more to those suffering from ADHD/ADHS.
Each game has up to four levels of difficulty, for children who love a challenge.
An app which challenges kids to get creative and bring to life a character or avatar from their own imagination.
Why we like it:
While math and language are important, developing the child’s creative spirit should also be a priority. Toca Mini is just the app for that, as it allows kids to design their own scary monsters of fantasy animals.
Children can customize their new friend by adding colors, stripes, sleeves and playing with facial components like eyes, mouths, noses or eyebrows! Users can take advantage of stamps to create patterns, hair or clothes.
The creations make funny sounds and gestures as the child brings them forth into existence.
After announcing that from now on Android Wear will be known as Wear OS, Google also released the complete list of devices that will be getting the new, mostly cosmetic update.
Since there are actually no big changes coming with the new update, save for the naming scheme and logo, the lists of smartwatches that will get the Wear OS treatment is almost identical to the list of wearables that are poised to get Android 8.0 Oreo. Google published it back in December. A
We say almost because the current list includes a few new additions like the Skagen Falster, which was announced post-December.
Anyway, without further ado, here’s the complete list of smartwatches scheduled to get the WearOS update.
Once again, this is a cosmetic update which will not bring new features. However, note that the Android Wear application on your phone will also get bumped to the new Wear OS by Google app.
Interestingly, this app does come with a few improvements including improved screen glanceability with darker backgrounds and improved Google Keep experience. These are minor adjustments, but nevertheless welcome ones.
Expect the smartwatches on the list to get the update in the coming weeks.
For more information on what the Android Wear rebrand to Wear OS means, check our earlier coverage on the topic.
Back in the mid-90s, before there were mobile games, Tamagotchis ruled supreme as the ultimate virtual pet. The game was offered on a flat, egg-like plastic gizmo with three buttons and a keychain on top.
But the little-pixelated creatures almost went extinct in the years that followed. Only to resurface yet again in the present. Developer Bandai Namco this week officially released the My Tamagotchi Forever app for Android and iOS users around the world.
The 90s are back
In case you aren’t familiar with Tamagotchis, these were digital pets that lived inside a small, handheld device. The ultimate goal was to keep your creature alive by feeding it and playing with it on a daily basis. Ignoring your Tamagotchi for a few days would result in certain death for the little animal.
Well the new mobile game mirrors the original concept in many ways. For example, in My Tamagotchi Forever each creature has a sleep meter, a hunger meter, an entertainment meter, and a bathroom meter.
Obviously, you must make sure you cater to the needs of your creature in order to keep it happy, as well as earn virtual currency to buy equipment for entertainment and food. Users can earn coins by playing mini-games. You can also unlock new creatures by decorating your town.
As it grows, your creature will slowly evolve into something else, depending on how you treat it.
Yet, like many games launching today, this app is geared towards pushing you to spend money. For example, the game lets you skip past several steps, like waiting for your Tamagotchi to sleep by purchasing Diamonds.
My Tamagotchi Forever also strays from its predecessors by offering support for augmented reality (AR). So gamers can transpose their virtual pet onto a real background. Get your Tamagotchi to sit on the couch with you or on the bed.
Sounds like fun? They go ahead and hatch your egg. Install My Tamagotchi Forever on your Android right now.
Looking for a new game that’s a bit more challenging than the average lot? Well if you like puzzle games, we might just have the thing for you.
Most of us prefer a game we can pick up anytime, play a few minutes with and then return to whatever we were doing before.
Well, the game we’re going to talk about is not part of the casual games category. No, you’ll be spending quite some time trying to understand the mechanisms behind the game and attempting to solve the levels.
So are you prepared for an intense mental workout? Then head on to the Google Play Store and download Casualty.
Setup
Casualty is not free to download, so you’ll have to pay $1.99 if you want to give this puzzle game a try. The good news is that the game is not riddled with annoying ads which pop up randomly when you least expect it. What’s more, there are no in-app purchases either.
As soon as you install the game on your Android smartphone or tablet, you’ll be thrown into the action. There are 15 levels spanning four different worlds, so tap on the first box to begin.
Gameplay
This is a trial-and-error puzzle game, so don’t expect to be served up instructions or any useful hints as you play. You’re on your own figuring out how this weird universe functions.
Basically, you’re thrown into a bizarre universe where you have to lead one, two or three different colored astronauts around a floating path to their corresponding exits. It might sound easy, but trust me, it’s not. Obviously, the puzzles get more and more complicated as you advance.
The first ten levels ease you into the whole dynamics – basically you swipe down to move time forwards and implicitly the astronauts and swipe up to rewind it. The astronauts will run along the path, but you get to control their direction by changing the arrow tiles.
Tap the arrow to change the direction and make the astronaut follow the new path. If you realize you’ve made an error in judgment and sent the astronaut the wrong way, you can quickly swipe up to go back and change your approach.
But there’s a catch – each level comes with a pre-set number of moves. Run out of them and you won’t be able to complete the level. The good news is that you don’t need to reset the level every time you get stuck. The timeline at the bottom of the screen maps down all your actions and you can rewind and fast-forward as many times as you want until you come up with the right solution.
Difficulty increases as you advance to the next levels and into the next worlds. Soon you’ll stumble upon switches that raise and lower obstacles, alien tentacles, cracked floors and shadow stalkers who can devour the astronaut.
A puzzle game that will put your brain on fire
When more astronauts are present on the screen, their actions will be interconnected. This means they will both advance at the same time. Also, they won’t be able to pass one another, leading to blockages. So players need to figure out how the two (or three) astronauts can work in tandem in order to reach their corresponding exits.
The game becomes even more challenging when time traveling portals are introduced. These allow your astronauts to travel back or forward in time, so the past/future self and the present self can work together to achieve a goal.
Once new mechanics are introduced (like the time traveling portals), you’ll play a few simplified puzzles to help you learn how to navigate the new scenario. And if you get stuck on the more complicated levels, you can simply skip to the next one. This helps with keeping the player’s motivation up.
That’s the trouble with Casualty. It can get extremely frustrating. The lack of instructions can also be quite bothersome, especially if you don’t have a lot of time to invest in playing.
The game relies on users’ perseverance, so if you were hoping for a casual game to relax your mind and spirit, Casualty is definitely not for you. But, if you’re a competitive puzzle master, then you’ll love the mind-boggling mechanics underlying this challenging game.
Visuals/Sound
The graphics and soundtrack are pretty well done too. The animation is fluid, backgrounds are other-worldly and the VHS-like effects when you travel through time are a brilliant addition. The music complements the visuals very well. It’s comprised of Sci-Fi bleeps and clicks and burbling ambient noises which really sum up the vibe you get playing this puzzle game.
Note: There’s also an VHS effect that can be applied on the overall gameplay.
Conclusion
Most people play games to relax, but Casualty definitely doesn’t let you do that. Instead, it will push the boundaries of your reasoning skills, while challenging you to constantly think and re-think your strategies.
It’s a complex game that can very easily become annoying. The creators of the puzzle know this all to well, so paradoxically, although it’s hard, Casualty is a very user-friendly game. You’re almost never forced to restart a level completely, you can just rewind. Also once you’ve finished the first 10 levels, the next five are unlocked automatically.
Even so, you have to be OK with knowing that you will spend a fair amount of time trying to solve each level. Casualty is not a game you can go through without breaking a sweat, but for diehard puzzle fans that won’t a problem at all.
Though it didn’t announce a specific timetable for release, Epic’s Fortnite Twitter account confirmed that its wildly popular PUBG-style Battle Royale game would be making its way to mobile platforms in the coming days. While iOS users were invited to sign up for a beta test on Monday (that is, March 12th), Epic would only say that an Android version is on its way “in the coming months.” In the same press release, Epic also mentioned that Fortnite would be getting complete cross-platform integration – meaning that players can play with each other regardless of platform, and all player progress will be saved between platforms.
Interestingly, though, Epic released two different versions of its press release: one that mentions crossplay between Android, iOS, PC, Mac and XBox, and one that mentions crossplay between Android, iOS, PC, Mac and PS4. For those of you paying attention, the only difference between those two phrases is the home console with crossplay integration. Microsoft has been rather publicly pro cross-platform, so it can only be reasonably assumed that Sony is blocking crossplay between XBox and Playstation.
What does this mean for gamers? There are a couple different endings to this story. Either users will have to choose between XBox and Playstation when signing up for an Epic account (even if they plan to play on iOS or Android) resulting in a fragmented user base for Fortnite, or Mac, PC, iOS and Android users will all be able to play and progress with both PS4 and XBox players, but not at the same time. If this sounds pointless and confusing, that’s because it really is. Sony is Gorbachev in the Gaming Cold War while Microsoft’s Reagan screams “Tear this wall down, Mr. Sony-chev!”
Once Sony stops being afraid to unify the gaming world, allowing gamers on any platform to play with one another, we’ll all be better off. Whether we chose XBox, Playstation, Android, iOS, Mac, or even those crazy PC Master Racers, everyone wins.
This post went off the rails a while ago, but lets bring it back by celebrating the real victory – Fortnite Battle Royale is coming to Android!
The Essential Phone (PH-1) made waves in the Android community at its debut. It sounded like a true contender and boasted a rad, minimal-bezel design to peak interest. But that doesn’t mean it was smooth sailing out the gate. It’s always tough for a startup to strike success in the crowded smartphone market, and even one backed by an Android co-founder proved to be no exception, as the company has only moved around 100K devices over several months.
It wasn’t that the phone came with malfunctions or questionable quality. On the contrary, it’s probably the most solidly built original phone ever. But it launched top-end pricing ($700), and that put it in an arena with stiff competition. There were some crucial aspects where the Essential Phone couldn’t compete, like screen quality and camera performance. It also didn’t help that there’s no water resistance and that the software wasn’t as snappy as other Snapdragon 835 devices.
But the Essential team has been hard at work since then to address some of those “beta” issues. They have pushed some lofty camera updates and the latest Android build: 8.1 (Oreo). In that time, the price of the phone has also been dropping. So today, we’re seeing if these two factors have converged into making the PH-1 one of the most compelling smartphone choices right now. This is our review of the updated Essential Phone.
Design
We won’t dwell too much on the design of the Essential Phone. The phone isn’t “new” and chances are you know the deal here. But it is worth mentioning that the titanium frame and ceramic rear panel do hold up well over time.
Because the phone is glossy all over, it feels fragile like competitive phones built with aluminum and glass, but our unit has maintained its pristine, like-new appearance. That doesn’t mean it’s impervious to breaking, but something must be said for how well it holds up against the daily grind.
That said, this is probably the most smudge-prone smartphone we’ve ever used. The back panel is so reflective and easily becomes a smudge feast.
This is what the phone really looks like in real-world use.
We also feel that the glossy perimeter was a mistake – the phone is already slippery as it is (and it becomes a gross, smudgy mess too). Having a matte, grippier material would’ve gone a long way to help the user feel a more secure grip and manageability. Its weighty 185g doesn’t help here either. Basically, it would’ve been fantastic if Essential just expanded that ceramic-like trim on the edges of the frame.
Performance
Coming from popular flagships like the Note 8, LG V30, and Pixel 2 XL, upon receiving the Essential Phone I immediately noticed that its software was noticeably slow to respond. Not that it lagged or took time to execute actions – on the contrary, it was (and continues to be) consistently functional.
But it wasn’t as snappy as other Snapdragon 835 driven devices. For instance, there was consistently a very short but noticeable delay from when you would tap an app icon or hyperlink and when it would act. Also, when scrolling, it was obvious the frame rate was fluctuating, and not silky smooth like on the competition. These things are far from deal breakers, but one has to question why this was happening with a chipset that should devour common processes.
This is something that Essential sought to address in the Android 8.1 update, referring to it as a fix to the “display touch scrolling jitteriness”. So did the update take care of it? Well, it is certainly better but still noticeable, at least to a picky user like myself.
Example of our battery results on T-Mobile’s network.
This is in comparison with my daily driver Note 8, which is immediate to respond to a tap, and scrolling in apps like Chrome and Google+ is seamless (and it’s even better on the Pixel 2). On the PH-1, I just don’t feel as enabled to tap, tap, tap as quick as I can on the Note 8. This is surprising, because Samsung’s software sports a heavy UI, whereas the PH-1 is a bare-bones “essential” version of Android. But this could be a personal gripe. I’m quick with my phone navigation and feel like the Essential Phone makes me work slower.
The same goes for scrolling. It’s definitely better than pre-8.1, but I can still see the frame rate drop. But we reiterate – it’s far from unusable and definitely a nit-picky thing, and certainly acceptable at the PH-1’s now lower price.
Speaking of battery life, it’s been a good experience for me. The 3,040 mAh battery seems to punch above its weight, and I think it’s due to Essential’s software optimization. I observed consistent drainage with a multitude of average tasks. It, of course, wasn’t until I ran videos in high brightness or did some gaming where I saw the results significantly drop.
Display
Another downside of the PH-1 is its decision of an LCD panel in an OLED world. Fortunately, it’s a pretty good LCD panel. As a long time user of OLED panels, this aspect of the PH-1 surprisingly wasn’t a contention for me. Sure, I can notice the slightly washed-out quality and brightness shift when tilting the view. But these drawbacks happen to be really slight on this phone. Outdoor visibility leaves some to be desired, though.
That notch for the selfie cam is a bit of an eyesore for me, but I recognize that it’s a personal taste. Many people are able to tune it out – I’m just not one of those people. At least it’s the smallest notch on the market.
The hard notch life.
But from an objective standpoint, the notch does cause a minor problem. The top status bar is custom tweaked to suit it. It’s wider than usual, so its touch response to toggle the notification shade is therein wider. This can conflict with content underneath it, that doesn’t adjust to the different size. Sometimes when I go to click something that’s close to the boundary, like a link in Chrome, it annoying pulls down the notification bar. It can also overlay incorrectly in some apps. For instance, in Feedly, you see a gray bar atop that spills over its boundary.
Camera
Essential Phone camera interface.
So probably the biggest con of the Essential Phone at launch was its camera performance. Not just in quality, but in speed too. It also didn’t help that it lacked Auto HDR support – something that has become a requirement of top-end smartphones as of late. Essential acknowledged the complaint and improving it through software has been one of the team’s biggest efforts since launch.
And they’ve done a pretty good job. Auto HDR is now in there, and the overall performance is at satisfactory levels. Though, it still can’t really stand with the best out there. At times, the cameras can pull off some impressive shots, but it takes just the right lighting. In dark situations (like indoors) or wide range of lighting, the HDR processing often overdoes it and makes the image look washed out (overexposed). And when HDR isn’t applied, we can sometimes end up with dark spots.
The sharpness is overall good when looking at the big picture, but when you zoom in you see more artifacting then we would like. Here’s an image comparison with the Note 8 in a shot with dynamic range:
One last complaint is that the camera is a good step behind the competition in macro shots. We don’t remember when we had such a hard time getting a smartphone camera to focus on something like a flower. This is even when specifically targeting the focus subject on the screen. It struggles so much.
Don’t get me wrong. We’re far from a terrible camera here; it definitely gets the job done and can pull off some terrific and dramatic shots.
Shot of my collie using Portrait mode.
But it’s certainly a hit or miss situation, where more established manufacturers have well refined past that point in their lives. We commend Essential in doing something about it, and the improvements are significant, but we’re not quite there yet.
Essential Phone Camera Samples:
Essential was kind enough to also lend us the phone’s modular accessory. One might forget that there’s two pin connectors on the back to magnetically clip on mods. This is because, well, there has been only one available – a 360-degree camera. But for what it’s worth, it’s a really nice option.
It’s compact and effortless to use. Just line up the pins and it will magically magnetically fasten. The phone powers the device (no need to charge it separately). It’s comprised of two very wide fisheye, 12MP lenses. You’ll hear a fan inside spool up and a custom 360 camera interface launches on the phone. This is an instant way to capture a 360-degree image, just with a press of a button. And it can do 4K and record video.
Software
After the 8.1 Oreo update, the Essential Phone aesthetically keeps things…essential. It’s a really close experience with the Pixel 2, which is a great thing. Not many phones have a stock-like, no-frills experience.
It’s not exactly the same as the Pixel 2. Essential has a couple of its own things, but they’re very minimal. For instance, some colorings are different, like in some icons and the dark quick settings menu. The app drawer is also transparent, and you can move the persistent Google search bar to your liking (what’s up with this, Google!?). But again, minimal differences.
Of course, many of the newer Android 8.1 features are here, like Picture-in-Picture (PnP) mode (lets you overlay a small window to keep playing a video atop everything), Google Lens (Google’s own image subject query tool), better consolidation of notifications, and custom app icon long-press actions/shortcuts. But you won’t get the Now Playing feature (displays track info of music the phone hears when the screen is off) because the Essential Phone doesn’t have an Always-On display.
Final Thoughts
So back to the original question: Do the updates and the lower price make the Essential Phone a bargain now? Definitely yes. No, the updates didn’t do something magical and fix all the concerns – they just made them less…concerning. What really helps is that the phone is now at a sub-$500 price. The Essential Phone easily pulls ahead of the mid-range smartphone competition. None are built like this, have an 85% screen-to-body ratio, and an up-to-date, stock Android experience. The gripes we have are now minor in the grand scheme of things.
