Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
- Coverage: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Drops, spills and cracked screens due to normal use covered from day one. Malfunctions covered after the manufacturer's warranty.
- Easy Claims Process: File a claim anytime online at www.Asurion.com/Amazon or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. If we can’t repair it, we’ll send you an Amazon.com Gift Card for the purchase price of your covered product or replace it. A service fee will apply. $29 to repair or $49 to replace your phone.
- Product Eligibility: Plan must be purchased with a product or within 30 days of the product purchase. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Terms & Details: More information about this protection plan is available within the “Product guides and documents” section. Simply click “User Guide” for more info. Terms & Conditions will be available in Your Orders on Amazon. Asurion will also email your plan confirmation with Terms & Conditions to the address associated with your Amazon account within 24 hours of purchase.
- COVERAGE: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Drops, spills and cracked screens due to normal use covered from day one. Malfunctions covered after the manufacturer's warranty.
- EXPERT TECH HELP: Real experts available 24/7 to help with set-up, connectivity issues, troubleshooting and much more.
- LOW MONTHLY BILLING: You will be billed monthly for 36 months. Cancel anytime. Coverage ends once plan is canceled, expires or once the aggregate limit is met.
- PRODUCT ELIGIBILITY: Plans cover products purchased in the last 30 days.
- EASY CLAIMS PROCESS: File a claim anytime online or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. If we can’t repair it, we’ll replace it or send you an Amazon e-gift card for the replacement cost. A service fee will apply. $29 to repair/reimburse, $39 to repair or $79 to replace your phone.
Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
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$299.99$299.99
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: The Lila Belle Shop
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Essential Phone in Black Moon – 128 GB Unlocked Titanium and Ceramic phone with Edge-to-Edge Display
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Essential |
Model Name | PH-1 |
Wireless Carrier | Unlocked |
Operating System | Android 7.1 |
Cellular Technology | LTE,EVDO,HSPA,CDMA,GSM |
Memory Storage Capacity | 128 GB |
Connectivity Technology | USB |
Color | Black |
Screen Size | 5.71 Inches |
Wireless network technology | LTE |
About this item
- The Essential Phone is expertly crafted using titanium and ceramic, with an edge-to-edge Full Display and uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
- Edge-to-edge Full Display - With the stunning edge-to-edge Full Display on the Essential Phone there's finally a large-screen device that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand; Water and Dust Resistant
- The world’s thinnest dual camera system - The camera system consists of color and monochrome sensors to capture up to 200% more light than traditional phone cameras. This results in stunning images that are rich in color and detail, even in low light
- Accessories that simply click - With the phone's revolutionary magnetic connector, accessories can easily attach to your device so it's future-proof and always up-to-date
- Android 8.1 Oreo now available! Improves phone and camera performance. And it adds lots of useful, new features like Picture-in-Picture, Smart text selection, and more
- Award-winning MQA technology to deliver studio quality music listening on the go. Contrast Ratio: > 1000:1 (typical). Technology: CGS / LTPS
- Brightness: 500 nits (typical)
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This Item Essential Phone in Black Moon – 128 GB Unlocked Titanium and Ceramic phone with Edge-to-Edge Display | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | -17% $299.99$299.99 Typical: $359.99 | $449.99$449.99 | $599.99$599.99 | -27% $349.00$349.00 New Price: $477.00 | $416.25$416.25 | -25% $299.98$299.98 New Price: $399.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 21 | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 19 | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 19 | Get it May 16 - 20 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Fingerprint reader | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
Battery life | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
Value for money | — | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 5.0 |
Face recognition | — | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
Touch Screen | — | 4.1 | 4.2 | — | 4.2 | — |
Sold By | The Lila Belle Shop | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Prime Mobility | Amazon.com | Celltraders |
display size | 5.71 inches | 6.4 inches | 6.55 inches | 6.7 inches | 6 inches | 6.3 inches |
memory capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB |
model name | PH-1 | Galaxy A54 5G | Motorola Edge 2023 | Pixel 7 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro Max | Google Pixel 7 5G |
operating system | Android 7.1 | Android 13.0 | Android 13.0 | Android | iOS 12 | Android |
connectivity tech | USB | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, USB | Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
display type | LCD | AMOLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED |
What's in the box
Product Description
Product Description
Founded by the creator of Android, the Essential Phone has all the features you care about most without a bunch of gimmicks. A large, edge-to-edge display, 128GB of storage, all-day battery life, fast charging, and more. It's sophisticated. It's simple. And it's yours. Battery- 3040mAh, Fast charging via USB. Ports- USB Type-C, 60GHz, 6 Gbps Wireless Accessory , Connector, 2x accessory power pins, NanoSIM tray with pin eject.
From the Manufacturer
More screen, less phone
The biggest screen-to-body ratio of any phone! With a stunning 5.71-inch edge-to-edge Quad HD Display, you get a large screen in a phone that still fits comfortably in one hand. So you can enjoy more of what’s on your screen without all those intrusive bezels.
Beauty meets brawnCrafted with space-age strength, titanium, ceramic, and Gorilla Glass 5. Its space-age strength helps withstand your day-to-day. And there's no branding or logos anywhere on the device. So your phone is more of an expression of who you are—because it’s yours.
For every adventureWith a 13MP Dual-Camera and Portrait Mode, your pictures look great. And the Essential 360 Camera is big enough to easily capture everything around you in 4K — but small enough to fit in your pocket. So it can take it with you everywhere.
Store more, worry lessPH-1 comes with a whopping 128GB of storage. So you can easily store all your photos, 4K and 360 videos, games, and more without worrying about running out of space—or needing to spend more money on external storage options.
Straight-up AndroidPH-1 runs pure Android. No unnecessary apps, preloads, or anything that gets in your way of getting the latest Android updates and features. You get a smooth experience that is fast and fluid.
Revolutionary accessoriesThe Click Connector on Essential Phone makes using accessories easier than ever. They magnetically attach and power up using your PH-1. So you don’t need to charge your accessories to use them. And because the Click Connector will be on future Essential devices, you can use your current accessories with future Essential devices.
About the StartupDescribe your product in 3 words.
Freedom is Essential
How did you come up with the idea for this product?
I know people are going to ask me a lot of questions about why I started this company. Why didn’t I just travel the world, ride my motorcycle, tinker with my robots, hang out at my bakery with friends and family. And to be honest I still do ask myself that sometimes…but not too often. So why did I create Essential? Well, my hardware engineers wanted me to talk about how we are bringing real passion and craftsmanship back into this category. My software engineers wanted me to talk about our vision for making all devices, even those we don't make ourselves, play well together. My partners wanted me to talk about how we are using methods that could change how successful technology companies are built forever. And this is all true. But the real reason is because of what happened during a night out with an old friend of mine. As the night went on we inevitably began talking about what we didn't like about the current state of technology. Less and less choice. More and more unnecessary features cluttering our lives. An increasing sea of products that didn't work with one another… And just when I was about to drop another criticism it hit me: I am partly responsible for all of this. For all the good Android has done to help bring technology to nearly everyone it has also helped create this weird new world where people are forced to fight with the very technology that was supposed to simplify their lives. Was this what we had intended? Was this the best we could do? I left that night reflecting deeply on what was great and what was frustrating with the current state of technology today. 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.
What makes your product special?
This is what we believe: • Devices are your personal property. We won’t force you to have anything on them you don’t want to have. • We will always play well with others. Closed ecosystems are divisive and outdated. • Premium materials and true craftsmanship shouldn’t be just for the few. • Devices shouldn’t become outdated every year. They should evolve with you. • Technology should assist you so that you can get on with enjoying your life. • Simple is always better.
What has been the best part of your startup experience?
I have used the above principles to inform everything Essential is doing and they have helped me attract some of the best and brightest people from all over the world to join me in bringing this vision to life. We won’t achieve everything we hope on day one, but if you’re one of those people who also thinks it’s time for something new, please have a look at www.essential.com to learn more.
Product information
Product Dimensions | 2.8 x 0.31 x 5.57 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 6.6 ounces |
ASIN | B074BWGRKH |
Item model number | A11 |
Batteries | 1 A batteries required. |
Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
OS | Android 7.1 |
Wireless communication technologies | Cellular |
Connectivity technologies | USB |
Special features | Revolutionary Magnetic Connector |
Display resolution | 2560 x 1312 pixels |
Other display features | Wireless |
Human Interface Input | Touchscreen |
Other camera features | 13.0 |
Form Factor | Slate |
Color | Black |
Whats in the box | Phone, USB Power Adapter, USB C-C Cable, Type C to Phone Jack Connector |
Manufacturer | Essential Products Inc. |
Date First Available | September 8, 2017 |
Memory Storage Capacity | 128 GB |
Standing screen display size | 5.71 Inches |
Ram Memory Installed Size | 4 GB |
Battery Capacity | 3040 Milliamp Hours |
Weight | 0.41 Pounds |
Warranty & Support
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What is the Essential Phone? Essential PH-1 Preview!
Andru Edwards
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the appearance, value, and charging of the cellular phone. For example, they mention it's a great value, has a nice display, and the charger is extremely fast. That said, opinions are mixed on quality and performance.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the camera of the cellular phone. They say it's a great feature with solid results. Some say that the phone works a lot better and makes far less mistakes. Overall, customers find the phone to be a very good daily driver.
"...What drew me in is the companies goal of basic, yet useful. That's what this phone is...." Read more
"...This went really well, no issues...." Read more
"...bright screen; great audio from the front facing stereo speakers; great camera; no bloatware; a quick way to launch the camera which was the same..." Read more
"...The camera is not the best in low light situations, but I rarely take photos at night so this isn't really a problem for me as I have a photography..." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the cellular phone. They mention that it has a great looking, large, and very bright screen. They also appreciate the well-designed applications and the bezel-less design. Customers also mention that the halo grey has n nice matte finish on the back.
"...It will do what you ask of it, and look good doing it. It's a great first attempt that given time will only become more polished and useful...." Read more
"...After having the phone for a while , I really like it. Looks awesome but it's SUPER slick so buy a case or it will look like every sorority girls..." Read more
"...Besides this critique, the rest of finish is impressive. The titanium frame provides just enough heft to know the quality involved...." Read more
"...: everything that was great about the moto x pure: runs Android; great looking, large, and very bright screen; great audio from the front facing..." Read more
Customers like the value of the cellular phone. They say it's a high-end phone and feels like $500.
"Beautiful phone (actually stunning) at a great price. Great for my needs...." Read more
"...Personally I feel the $500 price is reasonable and should have been the release price and then successive models you could gradually add features..." Read more
"...At $500, it is a great value (but still an expensive phone — premium materials etc.)!..." Read more
"...It's not the perfect phone. But it's close. And it's an amazing value after the recent price drop.MY MAJOR COMPLAINTS-..." Read more
Customers like the charging speed of the cellular phone. They mention that it charges extremely fast, the charger is good, and the apps load quickly. They also appreciate that the phone comes with a USB-C Jack.
"...The device seems smooth and fast. Compared to iOS, it's not quite as polished. As far as speed, it's snappier than my 6s, just not quite as refined...." Read more
"...Fingerprint scanner is snappy and opens my phone instantly and is perfectly placed...." Read more
"...Regardless of this critique, the charger is good and fast - when the connections are good (including seating the charging block fully into a socket.)..." Read more
"...facing stereo speakers; great camera; no bloatware; a quick way to launch the camera which was the same whether locked or unlocked; fast and smooth;..." Read more
Customers like the battery life of the cellular phone. They mention that it's a solid built phone with great battery life and a more than adequate display.
"...:So far, the battery life has been really good. I went over 24-hours without charging at one point and wound up with 45%...." Read more
"...I added some things that the moto was not good at or never had: long battery life, being small enough to use one-handed and not be bursting out of..." Read more
"...Battery duration is quite good. Don't miss the headphone jack yet. Might just go buy another one when the 360 camera comes back into stock...." Read more
"...But after 4-5 months the battery quality started to drop. Significantly...." Read more
Customers like the comfort of the phone. They say the form factor and the feel of the device are the best. They also say the device seems smooth and fast. Customers also mention that the ceramic side is smooth and it feels solid in their hands.
"...The device seems smooth and fast. Compared to iOS, it's not quite as polished. As far as speed, it's snappier than my 6s, just not quite as refined...." Read more
"...Updates come quick, phone is super snappy and responsive and feels good in your hand...." Read more
"...The ceramic back on the Halo Gray model is smooth but not slick. The face picks up smudges but no more than any other touchscreen out there...." Read more
"...the camera which was the same whether locked or unlocked; fast and smooth; durable and scratch-resistant; a headphone jack...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the cellular phone. Some mention that it's made of great, quality material and feels really solid. The titanium frame provides just enough heft to know the quality involved. However, others say that it seems quite buggy and would completely freeze up. Additionally, some customers report that the messaging app crashes frequently and that the software was underbaked.
"...difference between cameras, but this phone looks sharper and feels really solid...." Read more
"...The titanium frame provides just enough heft to know the quality involved. The ceramic back on the Halo Gray model is smooth but not slick...." Read more
"...in a new phone: everything that was great about the moto x pure: runs Android; great looking, large, and very bright screen; great audio from the..." Read more
"...The device seems smooth and fast. Compared to iOS, it's not quite as polished. As far as speed, it's snappier than my 6s, just not quite as refined...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the performance of the cellular phone. Some mention that it operates smoothly and is responsive, while others say that it experiences slowdowns and the keyboard gets laggy. They also say that the camera app is a bit slow and the process is not very smooth.
"...Updates come quick, phone is super snappy and responsive and feels good in your hand...." Read more
"...It's not waterproof, can't scan your face, and it's not quite as smooth as iOS...." Read more
"...At this point, the phone is fast and responsive, both within applications and switching between multiple applications...." Read more
"...There may be the slightest bit of lag when scrolling through the home pages, but it has not bothered me at all...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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The ph1 is new to the market. What drew me in is the companies goal of basic, yet useful. That's what this phone is. It's not waterproof, can't scan your face, and it's not quite as smooth as iOS. It is however $500 less than the nearest big name and at least for me, made this an attractive prospect.
Build quality:
I have to say, without a doubt it's the nicest looking phone I've ever seen. You just have to hold one. In a time where everything is plastic and aluminum it feels what I can best describe as " timeless" it feels like a high end watch does. It's design is both minimalistic but overall a breath of fresh air. I looked at every phone available as of today's date and I can't quite describe how " different" it feels.
Value
I purchased 2 of these phones for less than the cost of one competitor but don't feel I have been cheated out of anything. I remember thinking there has to be something wrong at this price point so I did research. This is essential first build and while it's not a rounded perfect device, if you consider what you need, actually need in a phone, it's perfect. You won't be able to say " hey man look what my phone can do" but if you let someone hold it the typical reaction is " whoa". For the price people just aren't expecting the reality. For any design team anywhere, this is a very difficult thing to do and essential nailed it. In the first try. The phone debuted at $700. Personally even though I like it I wouldn't pay that much. Now that they have dropped the price however, it kind of makes the other guys stand out like a sore thumb.
Performance
I'm new to Android. Ios is so beautifully simple to use, yet the cost associated with the new models priced me out of the game. That's just the reality. The ph1 uses a basic version of Android. It makes sense since the phones creator invented Android os himself. The device seems smooth and fast. Compared to iOS, it's not quite as polished. As far as speed, it's snappier than my 6s, just not quite as refined. Again, for the price I have been happy to forgo my comfortabilty with iOS in favor of a 50% reduction in cost.
Apps
It comes loaded with the basics. If you want more you can add them. If not, leave it alone. For an Android purist this may be an issue.
Camera
The camera is a bit more bare bones than some of the others i have tried. But not nearly as horrible as some of the high brow critics would lead you to believe. But then again, how horrified would you be if your photographer showed up at your wedding with a cell phone to take all of the pictures. Think about that for a second. High end photos come from high end cameras. Phones are getting there but if you are buying a phone to capture your life's most precious moments, you may be asking for trouble no matter what you use. The ph1 does a perfectly adequate job of capturing what it needs to and I believe it will only get better with time.
Cell reception
I use straight talk. The phone works great. I haven't had any issues with call clarity or dropped calls that have been any better or worse than any other phone I have used. As a bonus, I got visual voicemail back, something that for some reason wasn't supported by apple.
Battery
I get a full day out if moderate use. It's nice forgetting the charger at home for a change.
In closing if you are a tech person, someone who has a vested illusion of your place in society as defined by your cell phone, or are not willing to learn a few new things this may not be the device for you. The essential phone is what it is, a machine that serves it's designated purpose to keep you in touch with those you love, the rest of the world and impulse purchases whilst on the toilet. It will do what you ask of it, and look good doing it. It's a great first attempt that given time will only become more polished and useful. And at the current price point gives a common person the chance to experience a good product at a fair price. You just have to ask yourself..will a $1000 device do more than that?
After having the phone for a while , I really like it. Looks awesome but it's SUPER slick so buy a case or it will look like every sorority girls busted ass iPhone. The only downside is that the camera isn't as good as the Pixels (which my girlfriend has & I did a side by side comparison both front and back camera) and it isn't waterproof, but it is 2-300$ cheaper depending where you buy it so it is almost an unfair comparison. Updates come quick, phone is super snappy and responsive and feels good in your hand. Fingerprint scanner is snappy and opens my phone instantly and is perfectly placed. If the camera was SLIGHTLY better, and the phone was waterproof, no phone out right now would beat it. I've added some portrait photos of my dogs and an other photo I've taken with the phone just so you can see.
*** UPDATE *** 4/21/18
Two days after receiving the phone and struggling to get the phone to work with straighttalk verizon, I figured out that if I turn the wifi off and restart the phone, my LTE capabilities are enabled and the APN in the phone is updated. Not sure why it couldn't update when it was connected to WiFi. For some reason,the phone wasn't updating the APN correctly and in the new oreo update you can't add or edit APNs unless you root the phone (which voids the warranty), but I did it anyway and even editing the APN didn't work. I also had to go get a new SIM card because according to straighttalk, only one SIM can be registered to one IMEI. I didn't know that, but I am still able to put the NEW SIM back into my old S7 and it works fine.. not sure about that one. It may also be worth mentioning that I tried to take the phone to Verizon yesterday (4/20) and they were unable to add the phone to their prepaid network using its IMEI. He tried it three times but said their system was being weird that day so maybe I was just having a stroke of bad luck. Maybe straighttalk changed the way the operate over the past year or two, not sure because I have had the S7 since it came out and that's the last SIM I had to buy. Just be prepared to have this problem if you are trying to swap the sims and expecting it to work. Enjoying the phone like I should be now, just had some minor hiccups with the service provider.
As promised, I took some low light pictures in the bar and of my dogs in my dark bedroom. The camera is not the best in low light situations, but I rarely take photos at night so this isn't really a problem for me as I have a photography camera that is much more well suited for things of that nature. The phone is 250$ cheaper than the Pixel 2 as of right now so you can expect somewhat of a quality difference between cameras, but this phone looks sharper and feels really solid. I don't take a lot of bar pictures because I'm usually drunk and forget, so again that really isn't a problem for me.
I read some reviews about the fingerprint scanner being bad, but mine unlocks faster than my mom's iPhone 8 and my old S7, it's almost instant. If my finger is on the scanner and I hit the power button, it unlocks immediately.
The only complaint I have is the phone isn't waterproof. I've never needed it on any other phone, but it's nice to not have to worry about accidental splashes.
*ORIGINAL REVIEW* 4/18/18
Love the phone, super snappy, looks awesome and feels like a quality device. The only thing that originally stopped me from getting the phone sooner was all the reviews of the camera, which in my experience is awesome. Front facing camera looks amazing, as well as the rear camera. Photos in well lit areas look good, don't think the camera is as sharp in low light as the Pixel 2 though. I'm coming from a galaxy S7 and this takes better pictures than my girlfriends iPhone 7 and my moms iPhone 8, can't compare it to the X though because I don't know anyone with it so I just youtubed comparison videos and they are all on par with each other. If the camera reviews are stopping you from buying, don't worry, it looks great. Haven't had the chance to take low light bar selfies due to finals but I plan to this weekend so I will update the original review with my opinion.
The phone is also super slick, so you will definitely want to get a case. I got the Poetic Guardian case with the plastic front screen protector and it covers the entire phone well. Couldn't find a glass screen protector so I had to go with the all-in-one combo.
Display looks awesome outside in sunlight even though it isn't OLED. No problems seeing it inside a plastic screen case with sunlight directly on it.
There is a major issue with the phone though. My service works completely fine (straighttalk - verizon sim) on my unlocked galaxy S7, which I have actually switched back to because of service problems. I have factory reset, updated, factory reset, and updated again, and I still can't get straighttalk to work on this phone. Putting the sim card back in my S7 gives me instant service, I can browse fine, and there are no problems. I'm not an idiot, and actually really want to like this phone, but I can't because it isn't a phone, its a 400$ camera/paperweight. I even changed the APN multiple times on the device, disabled enhanced LTE per instruction of a reddit thread to no avail. It gets onto wifi fine and downloads updates, but it will not connect to my mobile service for web-browsing, I can however make calls. This device needs far more work, it could have been a really great device but I feel it's rushed. I will most likely be sending this back to Amazon and purchasing a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL. For now, I'm using my broke screen galaxy S7 because at least it works lol
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2018
After having the phone for a while , I really like it. Looks awesome but it's SUPER slick so buy a case or it will look like every sorority girls busted ass iPhone. The only downside is that the camera isn't as good as the Pixels (which my girlfriend has & I did a side by side comparison both front and back camera) and it isn't waterproof, but it is 2-300$ cheaper depending where you buy it so it is almost an unfair comparison. Updates come quick, phone is super snappy and responsive and feels good in your hand. Fingerprint scanner is snappy and opens my phone instantly and is perfectly placed. If the camera was SLIGHTLY better, and the phone was waterproof, no phone out right now would beat it. I've added some portrait photos of my dogs and an other photo I've taken with the phone just so you can see.
*** UPDATE *** 4/21/18
Two days after receiving the phone and struggling to get the phone to work with straighttalk verizon, I figured out that if I turn the wifi off and restart the phone, my LTE capabilities are enabled and the APN in the phone is updated. Not sure why it couldn't update when it was connected to WiFi. For some reason,the phone wasn't updating the APN correctly and in the new oreo update you can't add or edit APNs unless you root the phone (which voids the warranty), but I did it anyway and even editing the APN didn't work. I also had to go get a new SIM card because according to straighttalk, only one SIM can be registered to one IMEI. I didn't know that, but I am still able to put the NEW SIM back into my old S7 and it works fine.. not sure about that one. It may also be worth mentioning that I tried to take the phone to Verizon yesterday (4/20) and they were unable to add the phone to their prepaid network using its IMEI. He tried it three times but said their system was being weird that day so maybe I was just having a stroke of bad luck. Maybe straighttalk changed the way the operate over the past year or two, not sure because I have had the S7 since it came out and that's the last SIM I had to buy. Just be prepared to have this problem if you are trying to swap the sims and expecting it to work. Enjoying the phone like I should be now, just had some minor hiccups with the service provider.
As promised, I took some low light pictures in the bar and of my dogs in my dark bedroom. The camera is not the best in low light situations, but I rarely take photos at night so this isn't really a problem for me as I have a photography camera that is much more well suited for things of that nature. The phone is 250$ cheaper than the Pixel 2 as of right now so you can expect somewhat of a quality difference between cameras, but this phone looks sharper and feels really solid. I don't take a lot of bar pictures because I'm usually drunk and forget, so again that really isn't a problem for me.
I read some reviews about the fingerprint scanner being bad, but mine unlocks faster than my mom's iPhone 8 and my old S7, it's almost instant. If my finger is on the scanner and I hit the power button, it unlocks immediately.
The only complaint I have is the phone isn't waterproof. I've never needed it on any other phone, but it's nice to not have to worry about accidental splashes.
*ORIGINAL REVIEW* 4/18/18
Love the phone, super snappy, looks awesome and feels like a quality device. The only thing that originally stopped me from getting the phone sooner was all the reviews of the camera, which in my experience is awesome. Front facing camera looks amazing, as well as the rear camera. Photos in well lit areas look good, don't think the camera is as sharp in low light as the Pixel 2 though. I'm coming from a galaxy S7 and this takes better pictures than my girlfriends iPhone 7 and my moms iPhone 8, can't compare it to the X though because I don't know anyone with it so I just youtubed comparison videos and they are all on par with each other. If the camera reviews are stopping you from buying, don't worry, it looks great. Haven't had the chance to take low light bar selfies due to finals but I plan to this weekend so I will update the original review with my opinion.
The phone is also super slick, so you will definitely want to get a case. I got the Poetic Guardian case with the plastic front screen protector and it covers the entire phone well. Couldn't find a glass screen protector so I had to go with the all-in-one combo.
Display looks awesome outside in sunlight even though it isn't OLED. No problems seeing it inside a plastic screen case with sunlight directly on it.
There is a major issue with the phone though. My service works completely fine (straighttalk - verizon sim) on my unlocked galaxy S7, which I have actually switched back to because of service problems. I have factory reset, updated, factory reset, and updated again, and I still can't get straighttalk to work on this phone. Putting the sim card back in my S7 gives me instant service, I can browse fine, and there are no problems. I'm not an idiot, and actually really want to like this phone, but I can't because it isn't a phone, its a 400$ camera/paperweight. I even changed the APN multiple times on the device, disabled enhanced LTE per instruction of a reddit thread to no avail. It gets onto wifi fine and downloads updates, but it will not connect to my mobile service for web-browsing, I can however make calls. This device needs far more work, it could have been a really great device but I feel it's rushed. I will most likely be sending this back to Amazon and purchasing a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL. For now, I'm using my broke screen galaxy S7 because at least it works lol