Physical Drop & Scratch Resistance Report

[takertx]

Hi everyone,

The Essential company claims that the phone is very drop and scratch resistant thanks to the premium materials used in the phone, but sadly there are no official Essential drop tests available anywhere which is mainly due to all the problems Essential seems to be having with supplies and rolling out their first manufactured devices. There are also some reports surfacing from the very early adopters of the phone of some scuffs and scratches which never go beyond a mere mention.

I thought I would start this thread where people who have the phone can report about how the phone handles inadvertent drops and scratches and scuffs to the screen and the ceramic back. When posting, please also include a little bit of explanation as to how it happened and if possible a picture of the supposed damages to the phone.

Cheers.

 

[dca1970]

dropped mine twice. 2 nicks in screen, but ceramic and titanium are fine.

 

[ack154]

This also came out today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9QxIvm7T90

 

[tech_head]

This also came out today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9QxIvm7T90

I watched the video. Mous of 7 or better on the ceramic. The finish in the titanium can be damaged but noting like aluminum.
Forget about bending the phone. The phone is pretty tough. A case will protect th cosmetics.

 

[~~Tito~~]

https://www.cnet.com/videos/we-destroyed-the-essential-phone/

Seems like this will be a very durable device.

 

[jerflash]

Ya for what its worth it is way way way better than any aluminum phone would do. This they got right but its the software and camera that hold it back

 

[tech_head]

Ya for what its worth it is way way way better than any aluminum phone would do. This they got right but its the software and camera that hold it back

My only complaint is the camera software.
Other than that, I don't have any issues.

I would like a case, but only for cosmetics.

 

[jerflash]

Know what really does it for me? Stock Android is a bit too stock also. I have gotten really used to how the pixel works and really like it with all it's slight tweaks to stock.

The cameras sensors are still too small to be on the level of the the other flagships too. Not only software. The Google camera does pretty well though

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[tech_head]

Know what really does it for me? Stock Android is a bit too stock also. I have gotten really used to how the pixel works and really like it with all it's slight tweaks to stock.

The cameras sensors are still too small to be on the level of the the other flagships too. Not only software. The Google camera does pretty well though

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I use Nova, so Android is never really stock for me.
I use Nova Launcher because I can restore my device layout on any device.
As far as the camera, I'm not that concerned about the quality.
For me it's a case of not having a better camera and just getting the picture is important.
If I really wanted a good photo, I'd use one of my"real" cameras.

 

[jerflash]

I use Nova, so Android is never really stock for me.
I use Nova Launcher because I can restore my device layout on any device.
As far as the camera, I'm not that concerned about the quality.
For me it's a case of not having a better camera and just getting the picture is important.
If I really wanted a good photo, I'd use one of my"real" cameras.

Happy you like it man! It's not for everyone for sure. I thought it was my dream phone but for me... It's just not their yet. The next one maybe and still super happy with what they were able to make!

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[PhaseBurn]

I've dropped this phone in 1 week more than I've dropped my Pixel XL in the past 3 months, just because of how slippery the little bugger is. No damage as a result of dropping it, though.

I do have some very light scratches on the ceramic back, from sliding across my desk or countertop at home, which I was *not* expecting. Both the top, by the mod indentation holes, and at the bottom left, too. I know they aren't from dropping it, as every time it's fallen, it's landed on its side or a corner, never flat on its back.

 

[jerflash]

I've dropped this phone in 1 week more than I've dropped my Pixel XL in the past 3 months, just because of how slippery the little bugger is. No damage as a result of dropping it, though.

I do have some very light scratches on the ceramic back, from sliding across my desk or countertop at home, which I was *not* expecting. Both the top, by the mod indentation holes, and at the bottom left, too. I know they aren't from dropping it, as every time it's fallen, it's landed on its side or a corner, never flat on its back.

Stop being so rich with your diamond crusted desks and counter tops ?

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[808phoneaddict]

Stop being so rich with your diamond crusted desks and counter tops ?

So I actually was checking out these:

https://egrips.com

Was tired of all my phones falling out if my pockets or slipping thru my hands...

 

[tech_head]

Happy you like it man! It's not for everyone for sure. I thought it was my dream phone but for me... It's just not their yet. The next one maybe and still super happy with what they were able to make!

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

It is definitely not the phone for everyone. Build quality is for everyone.
There are some software shortcomings. I think they can sort those out.

I sold my 6P. SO I have the Essential for the long haul.

 

[JaxDomino]

I have my replacement phone arriving today. I have gone through 2 glass screen protectors that due to the fit of them (not sticking to the edges) I have a nick in the glass at the top left and the screen is completely shattered on the bottom left, I can see gold metal under it and it has a crack running diagonally from left to right from the bottom left. I know I never dropped this phone from more than 2 feet high. I also have the scratches on the ceramic back near the mods ports. I've only used my 360 a couple of times. I'm definitely getting a case and moving to a plastic wet install screen protector.

 

[Saturable]

I haven't dropped this phone yet, but I have several hairline scratches on the back ceramic. I guess I'm around a lot of minerals or dust particles that are > 8 hardness, which I find interesting.

Also on the glass I notice a patch of hairline scratches. I'm usually real careful about my phones (of course, everyone says this) but I think that's more of Corning's fault this time around. They're really small but knowing they're there bothers me. I wish I could buff them out. I'll be getting a screen protector I guess.

 

[flakko86]

So I actually was checking out these:

https://egrips.com

Was tired of all my phones falling out if my pockets or slipping thru my hands...

Oh wow, those are cool

 

[avetny]

My back panel got scratched (micro scratches) that's so weird. Got ceramic Xiaomi mi2 and it was perfectly strong....not like this one.

 

[rednav]

I dropped mine screen facing the floor from about 4 feet. Screen survived, minor scratches. Not a single crack. I didn't expect the screen to survive.

-Nav

 

[king23adrianc]

I have a step from main floor to foyer. Placed my phone near the edge and my dog pushed it down to tiles. Face down smashed!
2 line of scratches at the bottom bezel.
small dings on top left and bottom left corner display.
Sigh... thought it would survive...