Tweet sent by Andy Rubin includes photo partially revealing his iPhone/Pixel challenger

As you probably know by now, Andy Rubin is developing a handset that will challenge high-end phones like the Apple iPhone and the Google Pixel series. Rubin, known as "the father of Android," is working through a new company he started which goes by the name Essential Products. While we don't know the name of the device, a phone with the model number Essential FIH-PM1 was benchmarked by Geekbench in January. The FIH in the model number most likely stands for Foxconn International Holdings, and the contract manufacturer has been rumored to be in charge of assembling the phone.

A tweet disseminated today by Rubin includes a photograph that shows him holding his new phone. The images on the screen confirm that the phone is powered by Android, and the handset appears to sport thin bezels and rounded edges. A message that Rubin included with the tweet says, "I'm really excited about how this is shaping up. Eager to get it in more people's hands..."

The Geekbench  benchmark test in January let us know that the new phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 835 chipset carrying 4GB of RAM, with Android 7.0 running the show. It certainly sounds like a high-end device. The latest speculation calls for a 5.5-inch  pressure-sensitive screen (similar to 3D Touch) to grace the handset.

Earlier this month, Rubin's company apparently lost $100 million in funding from Sprint parent SoftBank. But the latest word is that Essential Products was able to replace SoftBank with other well heeled investors, and a new round of funding is expected to close soon.


source: @Arubin via AndroidCentral