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Essential Phone sequel could use a unique technology to replace the notch

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By Alan Friedman

Published: Feb 06, 2019, 6:25 PM

Android

Essential Phone sequel could use a unique technology to replace the notch

Andy Rubin's Essential Phone (PH-1) wasn't quite the hit that many had hoped it would be. Still, Essential could be applauded for the edge-to-edge display found on the phone (see image at the top of this article), and the quick updates that allowed users to install Android 9 Pie before most of the Android-using public. Toward the end of last year, the Essential Phone was discontinued and now Slash Gear has discovered evidence that the Essential Phone (PH-2) is being developed.

Drawings viewed by SlashGear show that the Essential Phone sequel might feature a full edge-to-edge screen without requiring a notch. Instead, the images show that the PH-2 could include one camera and one sensor hidden behind a display that would become partially transparent at the user's request. Essential is reportedly looking at using this feature with either an LCD or OLED panel. Another drawing shows an in-display fingerprint scanner at the bottom center of the display. A punch-hole selfie camera is seen at the top of the screen. This image was taken from an Essential patent related to the in-display fingerprint scanner, which could be why the semi-transparent screen that we mentioned above was not included in the sketch.

Earlier talk of a new Essential Phone centered on a completely new type of mobile device that would make appointments for you, answer email and texts for you, becoming a "virtual version of you." It isn't clear whether we will see these capabilities on the next Essential Phone; recently a carrier's support documents mentioned the PH-2 and that tends to make us believe that there will be a new handset coming out of Andy Rubin's company some time later this year.

One image from an Essential patent application shows a punch-hole camera and in-display fingerprint scanner

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.

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