Android co-founder Andy Rubin working on high-end modular bezel-less smartphone

Andy Rubin, Co-founder of Android who left Google two years ago is making a comeback with a new company called Essential. According to a Bloomberg report Essential will be armed with 40-person team, filled with recruits from Apple and Alphabet (Google's parent company), while Rubin will serve as its CEO.

"Rubin registered Essential Products Inc. with California regulators in November 2015. In late 2016, the company registered "Essential" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, listing smartphones, tablets, accessories and "computer operating software for mobile phones" among its goods and services." said the report.

Essential is said to be working on several smart home products, but the main highlight is its smartphone, which will pack top end specs and compete with Apple's iPhone and Google's Pixel phones

The smartphone will reportedly have metal edges and ceramic back design, and a bezel-less display, which we can expect to be similar to Xiaomi's Mi Mix. It will have a display larger than 5.5-inch and might also be pressure sensitive, which is found on Apple's new iPhones.

The report further mentions that, the phone could also have a modular design like Moto Z. The company is working on a proprietary magnetic connector for charging, and will also have the capability of expanding the phones functionality.

The magnetic connector will also support Essential's or thirdy-part harware accessories that adds feature to the smartphone. For instance, Essential is working on a sphere-shaped camera add-on accessory,that shoots high-res 360 degree photos.

However, it is not known if the phone will run Android or Android based OS or other operating system. Essential is planning to launch its first smartphone in the middle of 2017 carrying a price tag around $649.

Via | Source