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
Essential - Essential PH-1 | Samsung - Galaxy S8 | |
---|---|---|
Display Size | 5.71-inch, 1312 x 2560 pixel display (504 ppi) | 5.8-inch, 2960 x 1440 pixel display (568 ppi) |
Resolution X | 1312 | 2960 |
Resolution Y | 2560 | 1440 |
Display Type | CGS / LTPS | Quad HD+ |
Operating System | Android | Android 7.0 (at launch) |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 | Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.7GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10 nm process |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
Storage |
|
|
External Storage | No | Yes |
Main Camera (Back) | 13MP | 12MP |
Secondary Camera (Front) | 8MP | 8MP |
Networks |
|
|
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery | 3040mAh | 3000mAh |
NFC | Yes | Yes |
Connectivity |
|
|
Sensors |
|
|
GPS |
|
|
Height | 141.5 mm (5.57 inches) | 148.9 mm (5.86 inches) |
Width | 71.1 mm (2.80 inches) | 68.1 mm (2.68 inches) |
Depth | 7.8 mm (0.31 inches) | 8 mm (0.31 inches) |
Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 155 g (5.47 oz) |
Colors | Black, Grey, Ocean Depths, White | Midnight Black, Orchard Grey, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, Maple Gold |
Supported Audio Formats | N/A | MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DSF, DFF |
Supported Video Formats | N/A | MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM |

Disguise your little one with the help of a themed costume
From avocado halves to hoppy bunnies, costumes speak to every child's unique spirit. And we've collected our favorite options.

Add magic to your living space with these string lights
String lights add personality and soft light to your living space. Here are some of the best.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra's Space Zoom camera is amazing and a bit creepy
The Galaxy S20 Ultra supports up to 100X zoom, which Samsung calls Space Zoom, but is it any good? Can a phone really product usable photos at 100x zoom? We've got our Galaxy S20 Ultra already so join us to find out!

Preserve soft baby skin and stay mess-free with these best baby diapers
Keep your baby dry and mess-free while keeping their skin protected and soft. Whether they are just born or running circles around you, there is a diaper for every baby and every budget.