There was understandably considerable interest around the world ahead of the launch of the Essential Phone. A product of Android founder Andy Rubin, it is a device that has the kind of heavyweight backing that ensures global intrigue.

But the Essential Phone is already attracting criticism among enthusiasts, following the revelation that it does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Given the popularity of the 3.5mm headphone jack, big-name Android manufacturers have shied away from dropping it.

Another popular feature that the Essential Phone lacks is a microSD card slot, although the smartphone does include 128 GB of internal storage.

For those in the United States, the Essential Phone is available to pre-order now.