Andy Rubin’s Essential company has unveiled its first devices, the Essential phone (PH-1) and the Essential Home.
Specs-wise the Essential Phone is a technical powerhouse. Similarly sized to the Samsung Galaxy S8, the device is 5.71-inches, features a minimal bezel, and includes Bluetooth 5.0. The smartphone’s body features a unique design that makes it stand out when compared to the HTC U11, LG G6 and Galaxy S8. The Essential smartphone also includes modularity like the Moto Z.
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Samsung Galaxy S8
LG G6
Display
5.71-inches, IPS LCD display, 2560 x 1312 pixels, 19:10 aspect ratio
5.8-inch Super AMOLED display, 18.5:9 aspect ratio
5.7-inch, QHD+ display, 2880×1440, 18:9 aspect ratio
Processor
Snapdragon 835
Snapdragon 835 (Exynos 8895 in Europe and other regions)
Snapdragon 821
RAM
4GB of RAM
4GB of RAM
4GB of RAM
Storage
128GB
64GB (expandable up to 256GB)
32GB (expandable up to 2TB)
Dimensions (in.)
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8mm
148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0mm
148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm
Weight
185g
152g
163g
Rear Facing Camera
13-megapixel, (f/1.85)
12-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS)
13-megapixel (f/1.8) +13-megapixel (f/2.4)
Front Facing Camera
8-megapixel, (f/2.2)
8-megapixel (f/1.7)
5-megapixel (f/2.2)
OS
Android 8.1.1 Oreo
Android 8.0 Oreo
Android 7.0 Nougat
Battery
3,040mAh
3,000 mAh
3,300mAh
Network Connectivity
GSM / HSPA / LTE / Band 66
GSM/HSPA/LTE
GSM/HSPA/LTE
Sensors
Rear Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, 10 finger multitouch, Accelerometer, Magnetometer , Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Heart Rate Sensor, Proximity Sensor, RGB Light Sensor, Iris Sensor, Pressure Sensor
Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, colour spectrum
SIM Type
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Launch Date
May 30, 2017
March 29, 2017
April 7, 2017
Misc
Colours: Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White, Ocean Depths | Modularity, USB Type-C, No headphone jack, Bezel-less, Titanium build
Colours: Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold| Bixby, IP68 certified water-resistant, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C.
Colours: Ice Platinum |USB Type-C port, Headphone jack, IP68 certified water and dust resistant
Display
Essential Phone (PH-1)
5.71-inches, IPS LCD display, 2560 x 1312 pixels, 19:10 aspect ratio
Samsung Galaxy S8
5.8-inch Super AMOLED display, 18.5:9 aspect ratio
LG G6
5.7-inch, QHD+ display, 2880×1440, 18:9 aspect ratio
Processor
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Snapdragon 835
Samsung Galaxy S8
Snapdragon 835 (Exynos 8895 in Europe and other regions)
LG G6
Snapdragon 821
RAM
Essential Phone (PH-1)
4GB of RAM
Samsung Galaxy S8
4GB of RAM
LG G6
4GB of RAM
Storage
Essential Phone (PH-1)
128GB
Samsung Galaxy S8
64GB (expandable up to 256GB)
LG G6
32GB (expandable up to 2TB)
Dimensions (in.)
Essential Phone (PH-1)
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8mm
Samsung Galaxy S8
148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0mm
LG G6
148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm
Weight
Essential Phone (PH-1)
185g
Samsung Galaxy S8
152g
LG G6
163g
Rear Facing Camera
Essential Phone (PH-1)
13-megapixel, (f/1.85)
Samsung Galaxy S8
12-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS)
LG G6
13-megapixel (f/1.8) +13-megapixel (f/2.4)
Front Facing Camera
Essential Phone (PH-1)
8-megapixel, (f/2.2)
Samsung Galaxy S8
8-megapixel (f/1.7)
LG G6
5-megapixel (f/2.2)
OS
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Android 8.1.1 Oreo
Samsung Galaxy S8
Android 8.0 Oreo
LG G6
Android 7.0 Nougat
Battery
Essential Phone (PH-1)
3,040mAh
Samsung Galaxy S8
3,000 mAh
LG G6
3,300mAh
Network Connectivity
Essential Phone (PH-1)
GSM / HSPA / LTE / Band 66
Samsung Galaxy S8
GSM/HSPA/LTE
LG G6
GSM/HSPA/LTE
Sensors
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Rear Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, 10 finger multitouch, Accelerometer, Magnetometer , Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
Samsung Galaxy S8
Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Heart Rate Sensor, Proximity Sensor, RGB Light Sensor, Iris Sensor, Pressure Sensor
LG G6
Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, colour spectrum
SIM Type
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Nano SIM
Samsung Galaxy S8
Nano SIM
LG G6
Nano SIM
Launch Date
Essential Phone (PH-1)
May 30, 2017
Samsung Galaxy S8
March 29, 2017
LG G6
April 7, 2017
Misc
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Colours: Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White, Ocean Depths | Modularity, USB Type-C, No headphone jack, Bezel-less, Titanium build
Samsung Galaxy S8
Colours: Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold| Bixby, IP68 certified water-resistant, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C.
LG G6
Colours: Ice Platinum |USB Type-C port, Headphone jack, IP68 certified water and dust resistant
What you may notice from the specs is that the Essential Phone is lacking a headphone jack, any note of it being waterproof or dust resistant, and it doesn’t feature a microSD slot. However, the device does include a titanium frame that should protect from falls that could be fatal to other smartphones.
The Essential company also unveiled its Essential Home device, a voice-activated speaker similar to Amazon’s Echo Show. The Essential Home features its own Ambient OS and has the ability to connect with other IoT products in your household.
