Nearly two years ago, word first leaked that Andy Rubin, the man known for fathering Android, would be making a new flagship phone. This device was expected to have an edge-to-edge display, and would challenge the Apple iPhone and other high-end handsets. That device was the Essential Phone, which launched in August 2017. And while it did feature an edge-to-edge display and a small notch, the phone never was able to compete with other high-end handsets.

Now, it appears as though the Essential Phone is on life support. As spotted by Droid Life, the phone is now listed as being out of stock on Essential's own website. Outside of some third party resellers, Amazon doesn't list the phone and Best Buy's website shows that the unlocked variant is no longer offered by the big box retailer. And at the Sprint website, the page for the phone comes up with no picture, no pricing and no information about the device (see image at the bottom of this article).

So what is next for Essential? Reportedly, the company is working on an AI powered handset with a small screen that uses voice commands to navigate. The device will book appointments, and answer emails and texts without requiring any help from the owner of the phone. There is some talk that Essential will demo this product out of public view at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next month.