According to the number of downloads of its camera app, Essential has sold no more than 50,000 units. While the accuracy of this number is arguable, hitting such a low volume of sales may not be as bad for the start-up as it sounds.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Essential-has-only-sold-50-000-phones-but-that-may-not-be-as-bad-as-it-sounds.271834.0.html