Essential Phone pre-orders to start shipping within 7 days

The Essential Phone saga is drawing to an end if we are to believe the latest reports claiming the smartphone will finally start shipping to customers. The US-based company now worth $1.2 billion announced last week that it will offer details about the Essential Phone's availability within 7 days.

Yesterday, Andy Rubin's Essential started to send emails to customers who reserved their phones and let them know that their devices have been built and will be ready to ship within 7 days. We've already received that email, so we can confirm that the information is accurate.

The Essential Phone will be exclusive to Sprint in the United States, but folks will be able to buy the unlocked version via Amazon and Best Buy. It's also up for purchase on Essential's website for $699, or for $29.13 per month for 24 months through finance company Affirm.

Sprint is expected to start shipping the Essential Phone on August 18 as well, but the information hasn't been confirmed by the carrier yet.

If you've also pre-ordered the Essential 360 Camera, you should be getting another email telling you when exactly it will arrive in stock, but for now, it's just the Essential Phone that will ship to customers.