When Andy Rubin debuted the Essential PH-1, he also promised that it would "ship in 30 days or so". While this would have been the ideal scenario for everyone, unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and the firm left eager customers in the dark for quite some time. Finally, Rubin chimed in assuring that the phone would be coming soon, and it looks like after a very long delay, that time has finally arrived.
According to a tweet from Essential, it has started to ship units to customers and has informed them to keep an eye out for an email that will have a tracking number. Those who pre-ordered the special bundle with the discounted 360-camera might experience a further delay, as it appears that the camera is not yet ready, and the firm has not stated when it would be shipping it to customers.
Although Essential orders will start to reach customers this week, one has to wonder whether the firm missed a window of opportunity by not shipping in June. In the coming weeks, the smartphone market will become very crowded with new options from competitors. Just this week, we saw the release of Samsung's latest Galaxy Note8 and next week LG will debut its V30. Next month, Apple is expected to debut its highly anticipated iPhone, and the following month could see Google unveiling its new Pixels.
The Essential PH-1 can be ordered from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sprint, along with the firm's own website. The phone has a retail price of $699 and can also be purchased with the 360-degree camera for a special price of $749.
Source: Essential (Twitter) via The Verge | Image via Essential
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