Essential Phone is currently being tested with Oreo update; Android 8.0 public beta weeks away

The Essential Phone returned to the Reddit stage recently for another AMA (Ask Me Anything) session. Thanks to the appearance on Reddit, we learned that the offspring of Android's father is currently being tested internally with the Android 8.0 update. In a few weeks, a public beta version of Android 8.0 will be offered. In addition, Essential revealed that the Oreo update will bring a Night Mode to the handset. And the next update could bring fingerprint reader gestures to the phone. This would allow users to control certain screen actions by making specific gestures using the fingerprint reader.

The AMA also revealed that the Pure White units of the Essential Phone have already been built. A holiday in China has delayed the trip through customs, but there could be some sort of announcement about this variant coming very, very soon. Other new color options for the device will include Ocean Depths and Stellar Grey. These two new hues are not as close to release as the Pure White model is. Still, it is something for Essential Phone fans to look forward to.

There was some good news disseminated about a software update that will fix the bug that causes some Essential Phone owners to deal with a "jittery" touchscreen. The update is merely weeks away and one Essential employee said that the difference before and after the update is "night and day."

Every new software update takes the Essential Phone closer to where it should have been when launched. Still, the expectations were so high that the handset might never get near its potential. 

source: Reddit via AndroidandMe