The Essential Smartphone Is Geared to Take on Both Apple's iPhone 8 and Samsung's Galaxy S8

There’s a new competitor in the smartphone space, and the company was founded by one of the creators of Android.

Andy Rubin is now the founder and CEO of Essential, a tech startup aimed at delivering products that simplify and create solutions for consumer’s lives. Today, Essential has introduced its first delivery of gadgets, and there’s a smartphone that will likely rival Android and Apple. The Essential PH-1 or the Essential phone, as it’s being called, features a large 19:10 display screen, a titanium body and ceramic back. It uses a Qualcomm 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and comes with 128GB of storage — specs, similar to what is currently being used in Androids and it’s expected to be compatible with all service providers. Although Essential has a clear logo, it does not show up on the phone and there is no trace of any branding on its products, thus far.

Rubin wrote a blog post explaining his decision to start Essential:

For all the good Android has done to help bring technology to nearly everyone it has also helped create this weird new world where people are forced to fight with the very technology that was supposed to simplify their lives. Was this what we had intended? Was this the best we could do?

I left that night reflecting deeply on what was great and what was frustrating with the current state of technology today. After another long talk with my friend we decided that I needed to start a new kind of company using 21st century methods to build products for the way people want to live in the 21st century.”

While the Essential phone comes equipped with built-in front and dual rear cameras, what’s truly unique about the essential phone is its wireless accessories. So far, there’s the 360 camera, an Essential charging dock that magnetically snaps on to the phone, and headphones that have yet to be revealed. All of the products are expected to be in sync with the magnetic connector. A “fast” wall charger, headphone adapter, and a USB cable are shipped with each phone.

You can pre-order the Essential phone for $699 USD or $749 USD with the 360 camera in four colors, Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White and Ocean Depths by visiting Essential.com.