Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
The race to innovate in the competitive smartphone industry often leads to bold and daring designs. Essential’s “Project Gem” is a testament to this relentless pursuit of the next big thing in technology. Unveiled in 2019, Project Gem was an ambitious endeavor. It sought to redefine the smartphone experience with its ultra-slim, elongated form factor. This strikingly narrow design captured the imagination of tech enthusiasts. The phone was ahead of its time. It offered a glimpse into a future where smartphones could be more portable and compact.
However, despite its promising vision, Project Gem never made it to the market. The story behind its development, features, and ultimate cancellation reflects the era it was first developed in. It reveals much about the challenges and complexities of bringing revolutionary tech ideas to life. From innovative design concepts to market dynamics, the journey of Project Gem is a fascinating chapter in the history of smartphone innovation.
Table of contents
The Rise of Compact Phones
Compact phones are making a comeback. Consumers crave portability and convenience. Large screens are great, but they can be cumbersome. Compact designs fit easily in pockets and hands. They are perfect for one-handed use.
Foldable Phones
Samsung leads with its Galaxy Fold series. Foldables offer big screens that collapse into smaller sizes. They blend the best of both worlds: expansive displays and compact forms.
Flip Phones
The Galaxy Flip series is another hit. It mimics classic flip phones with modern tech. Closed, they are small and sleek. Opened, they reveal full-sized screens. This appeals to users who miss the old flip phones but want new features. Similarly, the Motorola Razr Plus is another example of a flip phone that carries a nostalgic appeal.
Market Trends
Consumers are shifting back to more manageable sizes. Tech advancements allow for powerful features in smaller packages. Manufacturers respond to this demand, ensuring compact phones have top-tier specs.
Compact phones are rising due to their practicality. They offer the power of modern smartphones in a user-friendly size. This trend shows that sometimes, smaller can indeed be better.
The Vision of Project Gem
Essential’s Project Gem aimed to revolutionize smartphone design. The vision was to create a device that broke away from the typical wider form factors. The ultra-slim, elongated profile created a smartphone that was both futuristic and practical.
Portability and Convenience
The design philosophy behind Project Gem centered on portability. The ultra-narrow form factor was intended to make the phone more comfortable to hold and use with one hand. This was a response to the growing demand for devices that could fit easily in pockets and be operated single-handedly. Users wanted compact phones without compromising on screen size.
Innovative User Interface
Essential envisioned a custom user interface to complement the unique design. The UI featured card-style widgets and swipe-up gestures for easy navigation. This was meant to enhance the user experience by making interactions more intuitive and seamless. The goal was to create a phone that felt advanced and user-friendly.
Revolutionizing the Market
Project Gem represented a bold attempt to stand out in a crowded market. The design was meant to capture the attention of tech enthusiasts and early adopters who valued innovation. Essential hoped to redefine what a smartphone could be, setting new standards for design and functionality.
Overcoming Challenges
Essential recognized the challenges of such a radical design. The company aimed to address usability issues with thoughtful engineering and software solutions. By pushing the boundaries of what was possible, Essential aimed to inspire a new wave of smartphone innovation.
Project Gem was more than just a phone; it was a vision for the future of mobile technology. Essential sought to create a device that combined sleek aesthetics with practical usability.
Rob Wainwright and the History of Project Gem
Although Project Gem failed years ago, it has resurfaced on the web this year.
Cancellation of the Project
Essential’s first phone, the PH-1, had poor sales. The company faced controversy involving its founder, Andy Rubin. These issues led to the cancellation of Project Gem.
Essential closed down in early 2020. The company stated it had no clear path to deliver Project Gem. Despite its potential, the phone never reached the market.
Discovery of the Prototype
Rob Wainwright, a software engineer, discovered the Project Gem prototype. He found it on eBay and bought it. Wainwright is known for his work on Nova Launcher.
Wainwright showcased the device in a video on 14th July. His Project Gem review highlighted the phone’s unique features and design. He demonstrated its narrow form factor and custom user interface.
The Phone’s History
Essential announced Project Gem in 2019. The phone was intended to be a revolutionary design. It was an ultra-narrow, elongated device with a 5.7-inch AMOLED display.
Initial Impressions
The design drew attention for its futuristic look. The phone aimed to offer a new way to interact with smartphones. However, it faced challenges with app usability on its unique screen.
Design and Features
This phone’s most unique features have to do with its design and aesthetics.
Distinctive Form Factor
Project Gem’s most striking aspect was its ultra-narrow, elongated design. This “candy bar” form factor sets it apart from traditional smartphones, which tend to be wider. The device’s dimensions aimed to enhance portability, allowing it to fit comfortably in pockets and be easily operated with one hand. Its design was reminiscent of splitting a tall Sony Xperia 1 in half, creating a unique and futuristic look.
Display
The Project Gem prototype featured a 5.7-inch AMOLED display with an unusual resolution of 2,160 by 560 pixels. This high-resolution screen provided vibrant colors and deep blacks, typical of AMOLED technology. The elongated display was tailored for vertical scrolling and consuming content in portrait mode. It optimizes the device for single-handed use. Perhaps this phone would have been better suited to a 2024 market where vertical scrolling and short-form content are so much more popular.
Camera Setup
The phone sported a front hole-punch camera. The camera was seamlessly integrated into the display. This minimized bezels and maximized screen real estate. On the back, it had a protruding camera, which, while providing high-quality imaging capabilities. It added to the device’s distinctive look. The rear also housed a non-functional fingerprint reader. This indicated that the prototype was not fully complete.
User Interface
Essential developed a custom Android launcher for Project Gem. It was designed to complement its unique form factor. The home screen featured card-style widgets for apps like Spotify and Uber, and a smartwatch-style clock at the top. This design aimed to provide quick, glanceable information, akin to a smartwatch interface. Swipe-up gestures from the bottom corners were used for navigation. This made it intuitive to use despite its unconventional shape.
Functionality and Usability
While the UI had innovative elements, it also faced challenges. Many of the widgets were essentially web apps, which did not always scale well on the narrow screen. For instance, watching a YouTube video displayed a small video window at the top. Meanwhile, the rest of the screen was occupied by descriptions, comments, and suggested videos. This highlighted the difficulties in adapting existing apps to the new form factor.
Hardware Considerations
The device, like its predecessor, the PH-1, was a fingerprint magnet, showing smudges easily due to its glossy finish. Despite being a prototype, it demonstrated Essential’s attention to high-quality materials and build. The phone’s hardware was designed to support its slim profile without compromising on performance.
Why Project Gem Didn’t Launch
Project Gem was unsuccessful due to the following issues:
Poor Sales of PH-1
Essential’s first phone, the PH-1, sold only around 150,000 units. The lackluster sales impacted the company’s ability to fund new projects.
Controversies Surrounding Andy Rubin
Essential faced serious allegations against its founder, Andy Rubin. Reports of sexual misconduct led to negative publicity and scrutiny.
Impact on Company Reputation
The controversies damaged Essential’s reputation. Trust in the company eroded, affecting its business operations.
Financial and Operational Challenges
Essential struggled with financial and operational issues. The company faced difficulties in securing investments and resources.
Cancellation Announcement
In early 2020, Essential announced it was shutting down. The company cited a lack of a clear path to deliver Project Gem to customers as the main reason.
Project Gem was still in the prototype stage. The device had usability issues and an unfinished user interface, making it challenging to bring to market.
The Future of Skinny Phones and Compact Designs
With modern technology, the trend of compact phones is growing. These smaller phones are able to have the same functionality as standard phones but with added convenience. Foldable technology also has a lot of nostalgic appeal. Here are some of the advances you can expect in compact phones in the coming years.
Advances in Technology
The future of skinny phones will benefit greatly from advancements in technology. Materials science is evolving, leading to the development of ultra-thin and flexible components. These innovations promise to make slim devices more practical and durable. Enhanced battery technology and miniaturized electronics will lead to better phones in a compact form.
Foldable Displays
Foldable display technology holds significant potential for skinny phones. This technology allows devices to have a larger screen area that can be folded into a more compact size. The ability to fold the screen provides versatility. It offers both a portable, pocket-sized phone and a larger, tablet-like display when unfolded. Future foldable phones are likely to become more robust. They will have improved hinges and more durable screens to address current weaknesses.
Rollable Screens
Rollable screen technology is another exciting possibility. These screens can extend or retract, offering users the flexibility to increase their display size as needed. Rollable phones could maintain a slim profile when not in use. They could expand to provide more screen real estate for tasks like watching videos or multitasking. This technology could blend the benefits of compact size with the advantages of larger screens. It would create a new category of versatile devices.
Enhanced Durability
As phones become slimmer, durability will be a crucial factor. Future compact phones are expected to feature stronger, more resilient materials. Innovations in screen protection, such as advanced coatings and shock-resistant technologies, will help address the fragility of thin devices. Improved build quality and better engineering will ensure that these slim devices can withstand everyday wear and tear.
Improved Usability
Usability will be a key focus for future skinny phones. Current design challenges, such as awkward app layouts and navigation difficulties, will need to be addressed. Developers will work on optimizing software to better integrate with unique form factors. They will develop more intuitive interfaces and functionality. Innovations in gesture controls and adaptive UIs will enhance the user experience. It will make these devices easier and more enjoyable to use.
Customization Options
Future phones might offer greater customization. Users could have the option to adjust the phone’s dimensions or features based on personal preferences. Modular designs or adjustable components could allow for tailored functionality. These features will let users configure their devices according to specific needs or tastes. This level of customization could make compact phones more appealing to a broader audience.
Increased Portability
Portability will remain a significant advantage of compact phones. As lifestyles become increasingly mobile, the demand for devices that are easy to carry and use on the go will grow. Slim, lightweight designs will continue to appeal to consumers who prioritize convenience and ease of use. Future designs will focus on maintaining this portability while integrating advanced features and capabilities.
Market Trends
The market for compact phones is likely to expand as consumer preferences shift. There is a growing interest in devices that balance size and functionality. As manufacturers respond to this demand, we can expect to see more innovations in compact and skinny phone designs. Trends toward minimalism and efficient technology will drive the development of new, slim devices.
The future of skinny and compact phones holds exciting possibilities. Advances in materials, screen technologies, and durability will enable the creation of ultra-slim devices that do not compromise on performance. As technology continues to progress, compact phones will evolve to meet the demands of modern consumers.
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FAQs
- What was the main goal of Project Gem?
Project Gem aimed to create a smartphone with a slim, elongated design that was easy to hold and use with one hand. It was meant to be compact without compromising functionality.
- Why didn’t Project Gem ever launch?
Essential struggled with poor sales from its previous phone, financial difficulties, and controversies surrounding its founder, Andy Rubin. These factors led to the project’s cancellation.
- Would Project Gem have worked with modern apps?
The phone’s narrow display presented usability challenges. Many apps weren’t optimized for such a unique screen, making it difficult to navigate and use efficiently.
- Is there a market for ultra-slim phones today?
Yes, compact and foldable phones are becoming more popular. Modern technology allows for powerful features in smaller devices, making slim phones more practical.
- Could Project Gem’s design influence future smartphones?
While Project Gem itself failed, its concept of ultra-portable, slim smartphones could inspire future innovations. Advancements in foldable and rollable screens may make similar designs more viable.
