Android 10 is already rolling out to the Essential Phone

By Joe Maring
published

What you need to know

  • The Android 10 update is now rolling out to the Essential Phone.
  • Android 10 was just released today, September 3.
  • For reference, the Essential Phone was released back in August 2017.

On September 3, Google released the final build of its long-awaited Android 10 update. We were only expecting Google's own Pixel devices to get the new software on Day One, but once again, Essential has reminded us that it's still alive with a swift update for the two-year-old Essential Phone.

Around 2:00 PM ET on September 3, Essential retweeted the Android Developers' tweet announcing Android 10, revealing that it was rolling out its 10 update for the Essential Phone "for select Open Market customers."

See more

Considering that the Essential Phone is over two years old having been released in August 2017, this is damn impressive. Not only that, but Essential as a company seems to only exist these days for the sake of updating the Essential Phone and not much else.

Essential's screenshot of the update reveals that the build number is QP1A.190711.107, and as expected, some of the highlights include the new gesture navigation, dark mode, and improved privacy and security features.

The note of the update rolling out for "select Open Market customers" indicates that Essential's first updating a small pool of unlocked devices before widely rolling it out to everyone. As for when Android 10 will arrive on the Sprint variant of the Essential Phone, we aren't sure.

Will my phone get Android 10?

Joe Maring
Joe Maring

Joe Maring was a Senior Editor for Android Central between 2017 and 2021. You can reach him on Twitter at @JoeMaring1.

11 Comments
  • I have already updated! I am so glad that I picked this phone up on an Amazon fire sale about a year ago. The software updates have been great and also improved the camera shots.
  • Me too. I don't use but it's my backup and was able to test features before putting it on my Pixel. It's a solid phone but a little more jerky compared to the Pixel but by no means an issue. They've done a good job keeping it up to date.
  • My Pixel 3 XL is downloading and installing right now. I did, however, have the Android 10 beta version installed already.
  • Gotta give em props for the platform updates.
  • Rocking the update on my Essential phone. Let's see if battery life takes a bit in anyway.
  • My Pixel 3 XL was on the beta and has been updated. Only a 5.5 MB file. The Essential has also been updated to Android 10. That was a 1.1 GB. file.
  • Got it! Essential is impressive! Now just waiting for third party launcher support for the new gestures! Dark theme is delicious just waiting for Google play theme of darkness too!
  • I have a Razer Phone 2 and still stuck on Oreo 🤔
  • I got an update to the Essential camera app this morning as well. Nice to see they're still tweaking that at the two+ year mark.
  • On Koodo, no update yet, but friend on Virgin Mobile received Sept 3.
  • Please...PH-2! Or point me to where I can get a new PH-1.