As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, our expectations from our smartphones have skyrocketed. The Essential Phone PH-1, headed by Android co-founder Andy Rubin, entered the market promising a revolution. However, it fails to hit the mark due to its unfinished nature.

The PH-1 sure does pack some impressive specs. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, backed with 4GB of RAM and 128 GB of non-expandable storage, it should have been a powerhouse. But here’s where the phrase “numbers aren’t everything” comes in handy.

The device’s raw power cannot make up for its software glitches and bugs that often hinder the smooth running of apps and operations. There are instances of crashes and unexpected reboots which point toward an immature operating system.

Aesthetically, the PH-1 holds a good impression with its titanium body and ceramic back. It feels sturdy and premium; however, this doesn’t compliment its user interface that seems visually incomplete without an app drawer or recent app switcher.

As for the screen, it features a QHD display with a peculiar notch at the top hosting the front camera, which is more intrusive than innovative. The panel itself produces good colors but is rather dull when viewed outdoors.

In terms of camera performance, it is quite lackluster for a phone in this price range. The dual 13 MP rear camera setup struggles in low light conditions and has noticeably slow focus speed. Image processing could definitely use some tweaks to keep up with competitors.

Another letdown is battery life – the 3040mAh cell just doesn’t cut it for extended use or heavy multimedia consumption. Moreover, the lack of necessary features like waterproofing and a headphone jack makes us question whether it was rushed into production.

While we respect Essential’s vision for innovation, it seems that they were too focused on being different that they lost sight of being better. An adept execution could have made PH-1 a worthy competitor to giants like Samsung or Apple.

In conclusion—the Essential Phone PH-1 is unfortunately an unfinished product that leaves much to be desired by everyday users who expect more from their devices in this day and age. Though there is ample room for improvement with updates and patches, as things stand now—we certainly deserve more than this unfinished phone.