OnePlus 5 vs. Essential Phone: An intriguing battle between two startups

Arguably the biggest release of the summer is the OnePlus 5, which was (finally) announced on Tuesday. Fans due for a new smartphone have plenty of options to choose from, including the Galaxy S8 and LG G6. There’s also Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone, which may be a dark horse in this year’s race.

What makes the Essential Phone stand out is its beautiful edge-to-edge display and Moto-like approach to modularity. The device also features a durable build and some of the latest technology on the market, including a dual-camera setup that sports color and monochrome sensors.

In other words, the Essential Phone is one of the market’s most powerful devices, and it’s intriguing for its potential. We still have yet to use the handset, so we’re not exactly sure if it can compete against the likes of the S8, G6, or OnePlus 5, but we’re anxious to give it a shot.

Even without getting our hands on the OnePlus 5, we know it’ll offer solid performance, a terrific build, and great software. But will its dual-camera setup live up to the hype?

OnePlus talked a big game before the OnePlus 5 was officially unveiled, partnering with DxO in order to optimize the camera to get the best performance possible. Whether we get the results OnePlus is promising remains to be seen.

No matter how you slice it, the OnePlus 5 and Essential Phone are among the market’s most exciting devices, mostly because they’re attempting to challenge the status quo. Where the OnePlus 5 has an advantage is with its price, which starts at $479. That’s much more affordable compared to the Essential Phone’s more typical flagship price of $699.

See how these two devices compare in the chart below.