I still wish the Essential 2 phone had been made. I would love to have a candy bar form factor smartphone. The original Essential phone hardware was top notch. If it hadn't become impossible to find replacement screens I would have used it a few more years.
First time hearing of it. Android fork?
Essential was using a fairly stock verison of Android and it didn't have any bloatware. I think the Essential 2 may have needed some custom work as the screen is skinny. Not sure if most apps would work well on it due to screen size, but this form factor would work for many of the current minimalist phones we see now. (ie https://www.thelightphone.com/)
