Essential Phone was one of the most anticipated smartphones this year. Andy Rubin, the founder of Essential and part-time creator of the Android operating system, gathered specialists from different corporations and promised to release a competitor to all top-end smartphones on the market. The device received a number of interesting features, such as a frameless screen, a dual camera, a casing of titanium and ceramics, top features and support for external modules. Despite the fact that the start of sales was delayed by almost two months, now the first buyers can already appreciate Essential Phone. One sample has traditionally fallen into the hands of repairers from iFixit.
Essential Phone received a unique design, but experts iFixit primarily interested in the complexity of disassembly and repair of the smartphone. It turned out that with this novelty is not all so smooth. To remove the back cover, iFixit employees tried to heat it up and used sharp tools, but they did not get anything done. Then they decided to do otherwise, freezing the device with a special spray. When they managed to remove the lid, it turned out that it made no sense, since the device is dismantled from the front.
It turned out that the Essential Phone is very securely assembled, and the usual tools to disconnect the display from the case will not work. IFixit employees had to make more efforts, resulting in a screen cracked. This means that, if necessary, to replace any component inside the smartphone, you will most likely have to change the display.
Inside the case a lot of glue is used, which significantly complicates the repair, and when you try to extract any component it can be broken. The USB Type-C connector is soldered to the motherboard, and it will not be replaced. The only revealed advantage in the assembly of the smartphone were the standard screws Phillips and JIS.
As a result of disassembly, iFixit specialists delivered Essential Phone only 1 point out of 10 on the maintainability scale.
Disassembly Essential Phone from iFixit.