The second-generation Essential Phone has been cancelled and the company is facing an uncertain future, according to reports.
Bloomberg sources say co-founder and Android creator Andy Rubin is considering placing the fledgling company up for sale.
The decision comes following a lacklustre reception for the original Essential PH-1 phone, a delayed release, weird network exclusives and reportedly terrible initial sales.
The device debuted the now-infamous display notch for the front-facing camera and offered limited modular functionality via accessories like a clip-on 360-degree camera.
It was also notable for its titanium and ceramic build, but the total package wasn’t enough to capture the imagination of smartphone fans in a crowded marketplace.
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Among the estimated 150,000 who have purchased the phone, many complained about problems with the touchscreen, with making calls and the underperforming cameras.
Rubin played down reports of a sale with a tweet following Bloomberg’s report.
He said: “We always have multiple products in development at the same time and we embrace canceling some in favour of the ones we think will be bigger hits.
“We are putting all of our efforts towards our future, game-changing products, which include mobile and home products.”
The firm is currently focusing on an upcoming smart home product, but may return to the smartphone market at some stage in the future, the report says.
Are you sad to see Essential won’t be giving it a second shot at creating the perfect Android phone? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.