IT sometimes seems like every new smartphone looks a lot like its competitors.
But the inventor of Android software, which powers millions of phones, has unveiled a new gadget that promises something a bit unique.
At first glance, the Essential phone just looks like every phone released since Apple’s iPhone set the template. However the ambitious and secretive phone is designed to be “modular”, meaning owners can add new bits of hardware to change its function.
The handset is almost all screen, pushing the display right to the top edge of the phone even enveloping the front-facing camera.
Unlike competitor aluminium devices, the Essential phone is made with a combination of titanium and ceramic which should make it super durable. “That’s why you won’t find an area for phone cases on our site,” the company, also named Essential, said.
One of the most striking features is an attachable 360-degree camera which resembles the periscope of a submarine and will shoot panoramic photos.
Given its unique modular design, Essential is aiming to build an ecosystem of accessories. This starts with a magnetic connector and wireless data transfer. Essential is also set to release a cordless charging dock and “home base” product.
Following in Apple’s controversial footsteps, the Essential phone has also decided to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The device can be reserved online in the US starting today for $US700 ($A941), plus an extra $US50 ($A67) if you want the 360 camera kit thrown in.
Currently the phone is targeted at the US market but you can put in an order to reserve one online.
SPECS AND FEATURES
• Weight: 185 grams
• Display Resolution: 2560 x 1312 QHD
• Screen: 10 finger multitouch with “palm and water-error rejection”.
• Rear fingerprint reader
• Microphone: 4x microphones with noise cancellation.
• Front Camera: 8MP resolution.
• Rear Camera: 13MP Dual RGB and Mono camera.
• Battery: 3040mAh. Fast charging via USB.
• Memory & Storage: 4GB RAM and 128 GB drive storage.
The gadget was conceived by a team led by Andy Rubin, who sold Android to Google in 2005 for a small fortune.
Rubin decided to rejoin the mobile market during a night out with a friend, he wrote in an online blog post revealing the story behind his reintroduction to the world of mobile tech.
He said he was inspired to create a new phone after realising that Android had become clunky and overcomplicated.
“As the night went on we inevitably began talking about what we didn’t like about the current state of technology,” he wrote.
“Less and less choice. More and more unnecessary features cluttering our lives. An increasing sea of products that didn’t work with one another,” he recalled.
“And just when I was about to drop another criticism it hit me: I am partly responsible for all of this.”
He added: “After another long talk with my friend we decided that I needed to start a new kind of company using 21st century methods to build products for the way people want to live in the 21st century.”
Rubin said the Essential was designed so it didn’t go out of date every year, like competitors’ models.
He made sure it came with an open system so it can be customised by users and “play well” with other devices.
“Premium materials and true craftsmanship shouldn’t be just for the few,” he said. “Technology should assist you so that you can get on with enjoying your life. Simple is always better.”