Essential is the new kid on the smartphone block. The company, from Android creator Andy Rubin, debuted its first device this week, the $699 Essential PH-1.
It's an edge-to-edge, titanium-clad phone packed with the latest hardware and some unique accessories that magnetically snap to the device. The PH-1 is just as striking as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and matches it in hardware capability, but let's break down how they really compare.
NameSamsung Galaxy S8Essential PH-1 
Lowest Price %displayPrice% %seller% $750.00 MSRP %displayPrice% %seller% $699.00 MSRP Editor Rating CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Dimensions 5.87 by 2.68 by 0.31 inches 5.6 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches Weight 5.47 oz 6.5 oz Screen Size 5.8 inches 5.71 inches Screen Type Super AMOLED HD IPS LCD Screen Resolution 2,960 by 1,440 pixels 2,560 by 1,312 pixels Camera Resolution 12MP Rear/8MP Front-Facing 13MP Dual Rear, 8MP Front-facing Wireless Specification 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth Version 5.0 5.0 microSD Slot Yes No Read the ReviewRead the Review
Design and Display
Curved, edge-to-edge screens are all the rage, and you can see why when looking at the Galaxy S8. Samsung's flagship is an attractive, eye-catching phone that combines a glass-and-metal body with a curved screen into a compact form factor. It's easy to use with one hand and stands out from the crowd of otherwise identical metal slabs. The bezel on two sides is eliminated because the screen wraps around the sides, and is minimized on the top and bottom.
The Essential goes a step further. It also has an edge-to-edge display, but it eliminates the top bezel entirely, leaving the front camera nestled in the center with the screen wrapping around it. It's a striking touch that makes the Essential stand out. Its metal body, made of durable titanium, can withstand drops; the back is ceramic.
The Essential is a hardier phone than the Galaxy S8, but one big advantage of the S8 is that it has a headphone jack, a courageous port you're not getting on the Essential. Then there's also the IP68 waterproofing. Unlike the Essential, the S8 can withstand being submerged in 5 feet of water for at least 30 minutes.
Both phones have a Quad HD display with unusual aspect ratios to accommodate the edge-to-edge design. On the Galaxy S8, you have a 5.8-inch, 2,960-by-1,440 AMOLED display that packs in 570 pixels for every inch. The Essential is slightly smaller; it has a 5.7-inch, 2,560-by-1,312 IPS LCD with 504 pixels per inch. The S8 has a higher pixel density, but you'll hardly be able to notice the difference and both should appear equally sharp.
Where you will see a difference is with the S8's AMOLED. Samsung phones have some of the best displays on the market, and the S8 provides richer, more saturated colors, inky blacks, and great outdoor visibility. We haven't tested the Essential, so we'll have to reserve judgment, but IPS displays are noted for more accurate color reproduction and viewing angles, so it may simply come down to a matter of preference.
Processor, Battery, and Camera
The S8 and the Essential are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and come with 4GB of RAM under the hood. It's a powerful chipset with buttery smooth performance, impressive graphic capabilities, and a modem with support for upcoming gigabit LTE networks.
We'll need to run benchmark tests to see how the two phones stack up, but in our experience phones that run a lighter Android skin than Samsung's TouchWiz tend to have better performance, so that may be where the Essential pulls ahead. It also has more internal storage (128GB versus the S8's 64GB). On the other hand, the S8 has a microSD slot, so you can always add more space if you need it.
Both phones have dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and the new Bluetooth 5.0 standard.
See How We Test Cell Phones
Battery life is hard to judge without running our test, in which we stream full-screen video over LTE at maximum screen brightness. The S8, with its 3,000mAh cell, clocked 5 hours, 45 minutes, a fairly average runtime. The Essential will have a slightly larger 3,040mAh battery, but it could have a better or worse runtime depending on screen brightness, background processes, and optimization.
When we tested the Galaxy S8, we declared it to have the "best camera ever." The 12-megapixel rear sensor has OIS, is sharp, takes detailed low-light shots, and includes features like bokeh and manual controls with RAW capture. The Essential comes with a set of dual 13-megapixel cameras, one RGB and the other monochrome. It also has phase detection and laser autofocus. We don't have any comparison shots to look at, but if the Essential has camera performance similar to the Google Pixel XL, it could very well give the S8 a run for its money.
Software and Features
Software is where things get interesting. As you might expect from the creator of Android, the Essential will come running the very latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat. But beyond that, we have surprisingly few details about what kind of special features will be onboard, aside from the presence of an AI assistant.
We anticipate the UI skin being close to stock. The Essential phone can be purchased with a 360-degree camera (an extra $50) that attaches magnetically to a port on the back. You'll also get a docking station that lets you charge the phone without a cord. Eventually, it'll have a whole range of accessories, similar to Moto Mods.
The S8 also runs Nougat, but with a heavy layer of its TouchWiz skin on top. It comes with the Bixby AI assistant that's activated by a physical button on the side of the device (still not available) and has an always-on screen that shows you time, date, notifications, and music controls.
The Galaxy S8 similarly supports accessories like Gear VR for gaming, now with a motion-enabled controller, a refresh of the Gear 360 camera, and Samsung Dex, essentially giving you a desktop experience powered by your mobile device. It's not as modular as what the Essential plans to offer, but it's a more comprehensive set of accessories.
Price, Availability, and Conclusions
The Essential will be sold unlocked for $699. It's more affordable than the Galaxy S8, which can range in price from $720 to $750 depending on your carrier. The Essential also supports a comprehensive set of GSM, CDMA, and LTE bands, which should allow it to work with all major US carriers.
But the one thing the Essential doesn't have is official carrier support; it won't be sold in carrier stores and it remains to be seen if it can take advantage of features like Wi-Fi calling, HD Voice, and VoLTE. Not being sold in carrier stores limits the potential consumer base of the Essential; most people still buy their phones in brick-and-mortar outlets, so not having a physical presence is hard to swing. When it comes to marketing, distribution, and brand identity, Samsung just can't be beat.