ROBOT OFFSPRING ESSENTIAL PHONE

When the father of Android creates a phone of his own, chances are it’ll be something special. Andy Rubin’s pet project, it turns out, is exactly that: a slab of sheer smartphone beauty, the Essential Phone ditches ugly bezels with a display that dominates the modular mobile’s facade. Modular? Oh yes – this slim thing also packs a magnetic connector for bolting on accessories, limited for now to a mini 360° snapper and a charging dock. While you wait for further bits to stick on it, you can caress the Essential Phone’s ultra-tough titanium and ceramic build (which is sure to survive a hefty knock or several), before remarking on its flagship-scaring Snapdragon 835 CPU. Turns out Rubin’s concept of ‘essential’ is different to most, then, particularly given that the new machine, due later this year, also offers a pair of rear-facing 13MP cameras – one monochrome, one colour. We’d hate to see his Christmas list. As hot as… robot childbirth US$699 / stuff.tv/essentialphone