Essential deemed a headphone jack unessential, providing just a USB-C connector instead. Risky.

Flanking the connector are the speaker grill, SIM card slot, and lower microphone. Just like in the Galaxy S8, the SIM eject and microphone holes seem a little too similar for comfort.

Essential left us a little surprise under the SIM card. With a totally blank and unbranded exterior, they hid all the identifying marks inside on a cute little tag.

We're amused to find that it doesn't come out all the way. Did Essential assemble the phone around this little tag?