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.