Tech Drivers

The Essential phone — backed by Amazon and designed by Android's creator — will reportedly start shipping next week

Key Points
  • Essential, a new phone brand by Android creator Andy Rubin, will begin shipping phones within seven days, 9to5Google reports.
  • The shipment will only include phones with a black finish (it also comes in at least one shade of white).
  • The phones in the shipment also will not come with a 360-degree camera attachment, the report suggests.
  • Essential has raised $330 million from investors like Tencent and Amazon, according to Crunchbase data.

Essential, a new phone brand by Android creator Andy Rubin, will begin shipping phones within seven days, 9to5Google reports.

The technology blog obtained emails sent to customers that preordered the phones, indicating the shipping date. According to 9to5Google, the shipment will only include phones with a black finish (it also comes in at least one shade of white). The phones in the shipment also will not come with a 360-degree camera attachment, the emails indicate.

New Essential smartphones in black and white, with 360-degree video attachment.
CNBC

Rubin announced the phone at Recode's annual Code Conference in May, when the company said it would be aggressive in getting the $699 product to market. That was despite the fact the company had a at the time, Essential President and COO Niccolo De Masi told CNBC.

With a damage-resistant finish, the Essential phone seeks to evolve with technology by offering interchangeable attachments, like a 360-degree camera that's designed to "democratize" the video format. It is expected to run on Android software.

Essential has raised $330 million from investors like Tencent and Amazon, according to Crunchbase data.

For more on the phone, see the full story at 9to5Mac.

WATCH:  Android founder Andy Rubin unveiled the new Essential Phone Ph-1

Android founder Andy Rubin unveiled the new Essential Phone Ph-1
VIDEO0:5400:54
Android founder Andy Rubin unveiled the new Essential Phone Ph-1