After several years since its canned release, a prototype of Essential’s unreleased PH-2 phone was discovered, and its appearance was described as oddly distinct.
Essential, a smartphone manufacturer, had a short but notable role in the history of smartphones. The company was founded by Andy Rubin, the creator of Android, and launched its first device, the PH-1 or Essential Phone, which had a semi-modular design. They also teased another device before suddenly shutting down in 2020, only three years after its establishment.
In 2024, Rob Wainwright, a software engineer at Nova Launcher, managed to purchase the unreleased prototype of the phone on eBay.
.@essential hey guys i think you dropped something pic.twitter.com/CIYxUHn9it
— Nova Launcher (@NovaLauncher) July 12, 2024
Despite some of its features not functioning properly, the device is still functional. Rob is able to download apps, utilize the camera, and showcase Essential’s distinctive skin that operates on top of the Android 10 operating system.
The device’s slender design gives it the appearance of a remote rather than a typical phone. Its AMOLED screen and unusual 2160×560 aspect ratio present difficulties when trying to run standard apps. In his video, Rob demonstrated web apps instead of the typical Android ones, such as YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and others.
The PH-2, also known as “Project Gem,”was initially teased in 2019 and stood out from all other smartphones available at the time.
The comment section of this YouTube video is brimming with individuals sharing their reactions to the design. One user, @worthless_opinion, praised it as the “Best TV remote ever.”In contrast, @LaDeXi shared their opinion that the device was “Cool”and gave off a nostalgic Nokia vibe. They also expressed a desire for more diverse phone styles.
DoReid0, another user, expressed admiration for the unique aesthetic and longed for a time when smartphone companies were more open to trying out new designs. They remarked, “I hope we can return to a time when technology was experimental, enjoyable, diverse, and innovative. This is a fantastic vision, I really love this idea.”
To provide context, Essential was shut down after its founder, Andy Rubin, became involved in a scandal and the company experienced poor sales. Following this, Carl Pei’s startup Nothing acquired all of Essential’s patents and intellectual property.
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