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

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

Posted: 14 Dec 2017, 08:19 , by Preslav Kateliev

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Tags : Sprint -Sprint + Android -Android + Polls -Polls + OnePlus -OnePlus +

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 Review

13 Sep 2017
There is more to the Essential PH-1 (PH-one, phone, we see what they did there) than mere simplicity, but it is a good place to start. The beginning of such journeys usually reveal areas that need some improvement and refined development, and that is the case here.

OnePlus 5T Review

27 Nov 2017
Enter the OnePlus 5T: the latest high-end smartphone from the Chinese company. If you look at the larger picture, it might astound you to know how the OnePlus 5T stacks up against the giants in the flagship space...

Phonearena polls

Essential Phone or OnePlus 5T?: Essential all the way! 33.85% (742 votes) (742 votes); OnePlus 5T is where it's at! 66.15% (1450 votes) (1450 votes)

2192 votes

$546.00 OnePlus 5T on Amazon

$499.99 Essential Phone on Amazon

Huawei P20 & P20 Pro review

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Related phones

PhoneArena rating:

8.7 Very good

User rating:

9 Excellent

OnePlus 5T

Specifications News^[108] Rivals Size it Videos

PhoneArena rating:

4 Average

User rating:

9.8 Excellent

Essential Phone

Specifications News^[98] Rivals Size it Videos

35 Comments

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posted on 14 Dec 2017, 09:24 4

1. MrShazam (banned) (Posts: 987; Member since: 22 Jun 2017)

OnePlus 5T all the way.

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 13:26

28. yalokiy (Posts: 253; Member since: 01 Aug 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 14 Dec 2017, 13:36

29. MrShazam (banned) (Posts: 987; Member since: 22 Jun 2017)

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 14 Dec 2017, 09:25 4

2. GreenMan (Posts: 2331; Member since: 09 Nov 2015)

I'd vote for Essential but...

I don't think I can get over "The Cyclops" effect.

G'Day!

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 10:17 1

7. Peacetoall (unregistered)

same here green man. essential phone is better

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 09:34 3

3. Zylam (Posts: 1416; Member since: 20 Oct 2010)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 11:39 2

18. Bondurant (Posts: 675; Member since: 04 Jun 2014)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 13:24

27. maherk (Posts: 5586; Member since: 10 Feb 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 14 Dec 2017, 09:44

4. Nine1Sickness (Posts: 703; Member since: 30 Jan 2011)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 10:20 12

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 14 Dec 2017, 09:44 3

5. kkmkk (Posts: 672; Member since: 06 May 2013)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 10:35 1

10. MrShazam (banned) (Posts: 987; Member since: 22 Jun 2017)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 09:49 2

6. torr310 (Posts: 1389; Member since: 27 Oct 2011)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 10:23

9. cnour (banned) (Posts: 2305; Member since: 11 Sep 2014)

Both!!!!!!

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 10:41

12. bvalde09 (Posts: 191; Member since: 22 Nov 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 14 Dec 2017, 10:44 2

13. piyath (Posts: 1875; Member since: 23 Mar 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 14 Dec 2017, 11:40

20. lallolu (Posts: 631; Member since: 18 Sep 2012)

OP5T also has a better camera.

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 12:03 1

21. ScottsoNJ56 (Posts: 21; Member since: 01 Oct 2017)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 10:45 1

14. Droid1 (Posts: 8; Member since: 06 Oct 2017)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 11:17

15. fay99 (Posts: 115; Member since: 16 Mar 2012)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 11:27

16. isprobi (Posts: 745; Member since: 30 May 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 14 Dec 2017, 12:38

23. tedkord (Posts: 15995; Member since: 17 Jun 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 14 Dec 2017, 12:50

24. isprobi (Posts: 745; Member since: 30 May 2011)

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 14 Dec 2017, 12:52

25. tedkord (Posts: 15995; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

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 14 Dec 2017, 15:14

31. baldilocks (Posts: 1025; Member since: 14 Dec 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 14 Dec 2017, 11:40 2

19. RebelwithoutaClue (Posts: 4335; Member since: 05 Apr 2013)

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 14 Dec 2017, 20:23

35. medtxa (Posts: 1585; Member since: 02 Jun 2014)

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

posted on 14 Dec 2017, 12:24

22. DFranch (Posts: 332; Member since: 20 Apr 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 14 Dec 2017, 12:55

26. DocOc (Posts: 142; Member since: 23 Apr 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.