The smartphone will be announced on May 30

May 26, 2017 11:11 GMT  ·  By

Former chief engineer at Google and current founder of Essential company Andy Rubin is working on a premium smartphone. Andy Rubin, considered the father of Android, has talked about the new phone many times and an image posted on Essential’s Twitter account hints at some features.

The picture doesn’t actually show the smartphone, but rather its shape and what appears to be a 360-degree camera at the top. Presumably, the camera detaches from the phone and has the capacity to record 360-degree videos. There’s also the possibility that it could actually be part of the new Essential phone and somehow flip out, but that’s quite unlikely and it would require an awkward design.

Aside from the seemingly 360-degree camera, the image also shows three physical buttons on the side of the device, quite similar to other models on the market. The buttons are most likely the two volume rockers and the power button.

Snapdragon 835 and 4GB of RAM on the Essential phone

In an earlier post, Essential revealed that “something big is coming May 30th,” which could actually be the launch date of the new phone, seeing how rumors regarding this device started surfacing quite a while ago. The Essential smartphone is said to come with a flat display with tiny bezels around it, while its overall outline seems to resemble those of Sony Xperia XZ smartphones, with not-so-rounded corners. In addition, the display could cover most of the top bezel, as an image teased by Andy Rubin revealed.

Regarding internal specs, the smartphone could run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 platform, the same found in some of the most powerful devices announced this year, including the Samsung Galaxy S8, HTC U11 or Sony Xperia XZ Premium. RAM capacity is said to be 4GB, while the display size could reach 5.5 inches with 1312 x 2560 pixel resolution. The phone is rumored to come with a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP selfie snapper.

The Essential phone is also said to come with a metal frame and a ceramic back. Considering the specs, which are found in some other phones on the market. Andy Rubin’s only chance to make this device stand out is by providing stock Android or at least featuring an appealing design that truly catches the eye.