Essential PH-1 now equipped with Treble

The Essential PH-1 has received a lot of media attention since it was announced a few months ago, with production issues and pre-launch shenanigans setting the course for the startup's first device. While the phone has its flaws—a sub-par camera comes to mind—it's quickly become one of the best possible value-for-money devices on the market, as it has received a hefty US$250 price slash over the past month, which puts its current price tag at a paltry US$450.

Essential promised Oreo updates to users a few months ago, and opened up its beta program yesterday, which is a sign of the company's firm stance on providing as much value as possible, in spite of whatever stumbling blocks it may have experienced. /u/foremi, a user on Essential's subreddit, r/Essential, has discovered the presence of Google's Treble on the device, a shocking find that makes the PH-1 an even hotter take.

For the curious ones, Treble is a program that equips devices with an API that makes reception of updates easier, by streamlining the process—effectively cutting out vendor implementation. Only devices launched on Oreo, and the original Pixels, were said to be Treble-equipped, so this discovery is a pleasant surprise. For more dinformation, head here.

What does this actually mean for PH-1 owners? Not much at the moment, really. The device will get Oreo regardless of Treble, and reception of Android P still depends on whether Essential is willing to push the update when it comes out next year. Treble is supposed to enhance compatibility with AOSP builds, however, so there's a chance this gives the community development scene a big boost.

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