Essential Phone PH-1 vs Galaxy S8: Samsung should be afraid

After plenty of teasing, Andy Rubin’s Essential on Tuesday unveiled its first smartphone, and it looks pretty fantastic. We knew it would be a high-end flagship even before it was announced, but the company still managed to surprise us. We can’t wait to see it in person.

On paper, the device shares a lot in common with the Galaxy S8. It features a Snapdragon 835 chip, 4GB of RAM, and the latest version of Android. But it also one-ups Samsung’s handset in a few key areas: It has a 3,040mAh battery and 128GB of built-in storage.

The Essential Phone’s biggest draw is its large 5.7-inch QHD display, which is G6-like in its execution. The bottom chin is a little bigger than the top, though it lacks any obnoxious branding unlike the G6. It also leaves a small cutout for an 8-megapixel camera, which can apparently record 4K selfie videos.

As for the back, the Essential Phone features a dual camera setup, making it a more tantalizing prospect for those who prioritize photos over raw power. The device features one 13-megapixel RGB sensor and a 13-megapixel monochrome sensor, which the company claims can capture 200-percent more light than traditional phone cameras.

There’s a lot to like about the Essential Phone, and it’s coming from a man who knows his stuff (Andy Rubin is the co-founder of Android). But just because it looks nice and sounds nice doesn’t mean it’s better than what’s already on the market. We have yet to use the device; it’ll have to walk the walk in order to earn the respect of consumers.

If we’re just comparing apples to apples, however, the Essential Phone is certainly providing the S8 with a lot of competition. Check out the table down below to see how they stack up on paper.

Essential PH-1 Gallery

Galaxy S8 Gallery