Essential Products, the makers of the Essential Phone, on Friday announced the launch of new variant of smartphone - Halo Gray. Earlier this week, Essential Phone got three new colour variants - Copper Black, Ocean Depths, and Stellar Gray. While the Halo Gray variant looks very similar to Stellar, there is one big difference between the phones. The newest Halo Gray variant comes with Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant built-in, and costs less.

"In case three new Essential Phone colours weren't enough, today we're unveiling Halo Gray, the first Essential Phone to come with Alexa built-in. Halo Gray is available for pre-order exclusively from Amazon starting today," the company announced on Twitter.

As detailed by Essential, the new Halo Gray variant is now available for pre-orders via Amazon.com, and will go on sale from February 21. While the new colour variants - Copper Black, Ocean Depths, and Stellar Gray - all cost $599 (roughly Rs. 38,500), and the new Halo Gray version with Amazon Alexa built-in is being sold at just $449.99 (roughly Rs. 28,900). The older colour variants, Black Moon and Pure White, both cost $499 (roughly Rs. 32,100) on the Essential Products site, but Amazon has listed them at $449.99.