Back in March, hype was building up about Android co-founder Andy Rubin's newest foray into the mobile space, the Essential PH-1. A few months later, the device was finally launched giving us a glimpse into Rubin's vision and now, thanks to iFixit, we know just a tad more about it.
According to the site, the PH-1 is anything but easy to repair, earning a measly one out of 10, due in no small part to the way in which it is put together. For one, the USB-C port is soldered to the motherboard, so any hope of repairing it on your own goes swiftly out the window. Even more of a deterrent is the fact that the iFixit crew tried to heat up the display in order to separate it from the body - which did not work -, then froze the entire device only to get inside. The LCD did not survive this operation though, cracking under pressure.
This is not the first phone to get a one out of 10 rating from iFixit, with the 2013 HTC One being among the first to receive such a score.
With its titanium construction and ceramic back, the phone is definitely on the more accident-proof end of the spectrum, and if anything, the fact that it's so difficult to disassemble may be a positive for some. It does come with the caveat that if something goes wrong, a DIY solution just won't do in the PH-1's case. The battery is held on via stretch-release adhesive, so there's that.
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