This is the Essential Phone, it’s a brand-new Android smartphone with a very special heritage.
You see this phone is the brainchild of the man who actually created Android.
In many ways then this has been designed to be the Android phone that trumps all Android phones and on paper at least, it looks incredible.
For starters there’s that huge bezel-less display that curves all the way up to the top of the screen and even wraps around the front-facing camera.
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Essential
It looks odd but seasoned Android users will realise it’s a stroke of genius. Google never uses that space in the top centre of your phone’s screen, and so by sticking the camera in the way you’re optimising space.
In case you’re wondering the camera is an 8MP sensor that’s capable of capturing 4K video footage.
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Essential
The screen is impressive, as you’d expect. It’s a 5.71-inch QHD display that boasts a resolution of 2560 x 1312.
There’s a fingerprint sensor on the back and a dual-camera system that uses both colour and monochrome sensors to capture exceptional low-light photos.
You’ll also notice a number of small gold connectors, these are magnetic ports which will allow Essential to build accessories that connect to the phone.
At the moment there’s only one, a 360-degree camera, but the company plans to build many more.
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Essential
In terms of the phone’s design we’ll admit that other than the display, it’s not exactly groundbreaking.
What sets it apart though is its durability. The Essential phone is tough, and we mean really tough. With a titanium frame, ceramic back and Gorilla Glass 5 display this phone is about as indestructible as they come.
There’s good and bad news on availability. The Essential phone is currently only available in the US for the not unreasonable sum of $699.
That doesn’t mean it won’t be launching elsewhere, in fact it seems very likely that it will, however it does mean that you’re going to have to be a little patient.
In the mean time however, here are some amazing smartphones you can actually buy:
Apple iPhone 7
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Eduardo Munoz / Reuters
This is Apple’s best iPhone ever, and if we’re honest it’s one of their most innovative devices yet. It has an incredible camera, is water-resistant and boasts a stunning bright new display. Of course it can’t escape the rumours surrounding next year’s device but if you’re looking to buy a smartphone right now, and Apple are on your radar, this is the phone for you.
Google Pixel
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The Huffington Post UK
This is Google’s iPhone. It’s that simple. As such there are achievements and compromises. If you’re after an incredibly well-built, powerful Android flagship, Google have given you a truly five-star smartphone. If you’re a photographer, the Pixel’s camera and cloud storage option make this a no brainer. It's not cheap though, with the XL costing over £800.
OnePlus 3T
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The Huffington Post UK
The OnePlus 3T is simply a continuation of the ethos that makes OnePlus phones so good. It’s exceptionally well-built, powerful and offers you everything you could want in an affordable and meaningful package. No smartphone will give you more value for money.
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Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
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Bloomberg via Getty Images
With a new curved back and larger 5.5-inch display the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is more about evolution than revolution. The S7 edge now sports a water-resistant body, embedded camera and a MicroSD card slot. The S7 edge is also Samsung's most powerful smartphone yet, so powerful in fact that Samsung have actually had to equip a tiny water-cooling system inside the phone. The good news though is that means you'll never have to worry about getting a warm hand.
Apple iPhone SE
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The Huffington Post UK
Incredibly, Apple's familiar-looking iPhone SE manages to boast the same performance as its top-of-the-range iPhone 6s making it the most powerful 4-inch smartphone available. If you're keen to return to the days of one-handed texting then Apple's bite-sized iPhone is the smartphone for you.
LG G5
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
The LG G5 sets itself apart from rivals like the S7, Xperia XA and the iPhone 6s by being something utterly unique. The G5 is the first commercial 'modular' phone, allowing you to swap out the bottom for new accessories. So far there's an audio one made in partnership with Bang & Olufsen and a camera-focused attachment which gives you extra camera controls.
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Huawei P9
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JACK TAYLOR via Getty Images
The Huawei P9 is a smartphone designed for capturing life. Thanks to a partnership with photography legends Leica this dual-lens camera can take pictures that'll put your dedicated camera to shame. Of course it helps that the P9 is also a pretty great Android smartphone as well.
Google Nexus 5X
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The Nexus 5X strikes the ultimate balance between power and affordability. Taking over the responsibility from the frankly excellent Nexus 5, Google's new smartphone boast an ultra-light body but still crams in a fingerprint sensor, the latest version of Android marshmallow and a Full-HD display.