It might seem unfair to pit the recently launched Essential Phone against a smartphone behemoth like Samsung, which for two years running has won accolades for the best camera in a smartphone, even surpassing the last two iPhone cameras.

And yet the Essential Phone is a $700 Android device with top-of-the-line specs, which means it's priced and designed to compete with the Galaxy S8. So, after tossing its hat into the ring, the Essential Phone must be tested against even the battle-hardened veteran.

I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised by the Essential Phone's camera performance. Startups don't tend to produce good smartphone cameras on the first try, as seen with the first few OnePlus phones. But it seems like Essential has already found its footing with its first-ever device.

Check out how the Essential Phone fares against the undisputed champion of the smartphone cameras, the Samsung Galaxy S8: