Which would you get: Essential Phone or OnePlus 5T?

by Preslav Kateliev / Dec 14, 2017, 9:19 AM

Which would you get: Essential Phone or OnePlus 5T?

The Essential Phone is the first phone to come out of Android co-creator Andy Rubin's new company. His quest is simple (but not easy) — build a flagship-grade smartphone, which gives users all the essential basics with no additional bloat and needless bells and whistles on top. Allow a window for innovation to stay open through a special magnetic connector for additional modules.

It's a cool phone, sure, but it launched at the ambitious price of $699. For a first product that is only noticed by us smartphone geeks, that's rather risque. Talking about actually launching — the phone took its sweet time between announcement, pre-orders, and actual shipping. All of those factors made the Essential Phone... not very popular. Just 4 months after launch, it's already down to $450 over at amazon — quite a bargain, really.

Then, we have the OnePlus 5T — a phone with humble beginnings. Its ancestor — the OnePlus One was the first “flagship killer”, with its top-tier hardware, and mind-boggling $300 price-tag. The company has grown since and so has its pricing. Its latest warrior, the OnePlus 5T, starts at $499. So, it's actually more expensive than the Essential Phone — who would've seen that one coming, right?

With all that said — which of these two phones would you rather buy, considering they are only $50 apart?

Essential Phone or OnePlus 5T?

Essential all the way!

33.85%

OnePlus 5T is where it's at!

66.15%

Options

35 Comments

1. MrShazam

Posts: 987; Member since: Jun 22, 2017

OnePlus 5T all the way.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 9:24 AM 4

28. yalokiy

Posts: 953; Member since: Aug 01, 2016

Not a fair comparison. It's a new company and their first phone. OnePlus has already an established fan base and 5t is just a remake of 5.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 1:26 PM 0

29. MrShazam

Except, the OnePlus One, my first ever Android Smartphone, was a major success...even way better than the OnePlus Two; which I think was failure, more of a downgrade.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 1:36 PM 0

2. GreenMan

Posts: 2697; Member since: Nov 09, 2015

I'd vote for Essential but... I don't think I can get over "The Cyclops" effect. G'Day!

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 9:25 AM 4

7. Peacetoall unregistered

same here green man. essential phone is better

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 10:17 AM 1

3. Zylam

Posts: 1813; Member since: Oct 20, 2010

The camera is the ultimate deciding factor for a huge number of people and the Essential just doesn't have it.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 9:34 AM 3

18. Bondurant

Posts: 780; Member since: Jun 04, 2014

Nor does that one plus. So in both cases, phone not being used as primary camera.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 11:39 AM 2

27. maherk

Posts: 6770; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

I believe it was Android Police who posted a video comparing both, and as it is atm, the caneras aren't that different when it comes to quality. The 2nd camera which was meant for low light conditions is rarely triggered. If OP fixes this, then they will be able to compete with the likes of Pixel 2, Note 8, and iPhone X.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 1:24 PM 0

4. Nine1Sickness

Posts: 896; Member since: Jan 30, 2011

The essential phone would be a perfect phone if it didn’t have that baby notch.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 9:44 AM 0

8. Peacetoall unregistered

youre talking about baby notch there are people who buy a ugly phone with the adult notch and camel camera hump

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 10:20 AM 12

5. kkmkk

Posts: 699; Member since: May 06, 2013

5t because it just the better device over whole + it has an amazing rom/root support

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 9:44 AM 3

10. MrShazam

Yup, and it's got more of the essentials than the essential phone, including a headphone jack and decent camera.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 10:35 AM 1

6. torr310

Posts: 1645; Member since: Oct 27, 2011

OnePlus mainly due to the history of the company and support.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 9:49 AM 2

9. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

Both!!!!!!

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 10:23 AM 0

12. bvalde09

Posts: 191; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

Coming from somebody who was at the same crossroad one month ago. The essential was a better deal for me as 399.99 vs. 559.00. I didn't want the 499 model since I wanted the 128GB storage. The big factor for me is that I read a bunch of review from One plus 5 owners who spend the same amount of $ and in just 4 months a new version came out.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 10:41 AM 0

13. piyath

Posts: 2445; Member since: Mar 23, 2012

Among the two I think Essential phone gets more bang for your buck. It's more capable and futuristic imo. It has 1Gbps modem where as OP5T has a 600Mbps modem. It's display is nearly as large as ON5T but body is considerably smaller thus provide better ergonomics. It's screen has higher PPI count 504 vs 401 and all though it's LCD it's very high quality. It has 128 GB native storage where as OP5T has only 64 GB in the entry model. It's build by high quality ceramic materials opposed to just aluminum and it's more futuristic looking too. It supports modular components and thus future proof and can be added more components and functionality in the future. All it's bugs will be fixed by software updates. Also it is $50 cheaper. OP5T's only strength is it's 6GB ram opposed to Essential's 4 GB ram but I don't think that will make a huge difference in day to day usage.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 10:44 AM 2

20. lallolu

Posts: 732; Member since: Sep 18, 2012

OP5T also has a better camera.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 11:40 AM 0

21. ScottsoNJ56

Posts: 95; Member since: Oct 01, 2017

OP5T has a better camera,better front camera,bigger display,bigger battery and more ram.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 12:03 PM 1

14. Droid1

Posts: 30; Member since: Oct 06, 2017

I'd vote essential if they can fix their radios. Signal sucks in mine

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 10:45 AM 1

15. fay99

Posts: 118; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

You should ask people if one of the phones is free, which one will people get?

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 11:17 AM 0

16. isprobi

Posts: 797; Member since: May 30, 2011

I considered both of them but settled on Samsung Note 8 because it has so many features and a very good camera. The Essential Phone just did not seem finished yet. I was hesitant to buy OnePlus because of the unusual Android version it runs.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 11:27 AM 0

23. tedkord

Posts: 17311; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

The Note 8 is the cream of the crop, but it's also twice the price. This poll is about more budget conscious phones.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 12:38 PM 0

24. isprobi

Yes it was more expensive when it was released. But I heard that Samsung will now give you up to $400 off if you trade in a phone. I am not sure what phones are worth the most.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 12:50 PM 0

25. tedkord

The latest phones. S7 Edge and up, etc...in considering trading in my old S7 Edge for an S8 for my son. I forget to add, the Note 8 is bigger than the others, too.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 12:52 PM 0

31. baldilocks

Posts: 1494; Member since: Dec 14, 2008

It runs the same version as the Note 8, except the OnePlus runs a much more close to stock version. The most fluid experience you can find on an Android phone.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 3:14 PM 0

19. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

I would choose the 5T most definitely. I prefer Amoled, bigger screen, dual-sim, bigger battery, no ugly notch, alert slider, great custom ROM support, dual camera's, Only 2 things the Essential phone has going for it, the ceramic body and screen-to-body ratio. Both are close to stock if you're not into romming. 1 Gbps modem vs 600 Mbps modem doesn't really matter when carriers don't even come close to these speeds soon anyway.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 11:40 AM 2

35. medtxa

Posts: 1655; Member since: Jun 02, 2014

Better screen to body ratio, only if you count the giant status bar.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 8:23 PM 0

22. DFranch

Posts: 533; Member since: Apr 20, 2012

I voted for the 5T as it is the better phone, but the Essential phone supports Verizon, which gives it one advantage. I wish more phone makers would do the same.

posted on Dec 14, 2017, 12:24 PM 0

26. DocOc

Posts: 143; Member since: Apr 23, 2014

I completely agree with you. Not enough unlocked phones support CDMA. I know the reasons for that, but it's still frustrating. I used a Verizon MVNO so 5T is not possible. I'm seriously considering the Essential Phone though. I'm not sure why people are so concerned with how good the camera is. I personally could not care less about the camera capability. A phone camera will never take amazing photos. That is what a real camera is for. Phone cameras are for catching the moment and sharing and posting.