Appearence
Some people will find the smartphone is similar in design to a Kodak camera sold in 1941. This device is inspired by the classic camera. So when viewed from behind, few think this is a smartphone. While other companies are struggling to design their phones beautifully. A very strange style for Kodak Ektra.
The case is made of alloy, combined with a special design, which allows the user to hold the phone firmly. There’s a dedicated shutter button and a bulge at the bottom of the camera that feels like you’re holding a camera. For added convenience, Kodak also designed the Ektra a bundle and strap. Private, priced at £ 29 and £ 59 respectively. Both are made from real leather and have either black or brown color to choose from.
Design and Build Quality
At first glance, the Kodak Ektra sort of stands out from the crowd, with a look that nods toward those classic cameras you see in old shops or magazines. It is pretty clear the whole thing is built with photography in mind, just look at that big camera bump, the leatherette-style back, and the metal frame, they really scream “camera” more than “phone”. The back is wrapped in this faux-leather material, which adds a bit of nostalgia, and also gives a comfortable grip, so it ends up feeling more like holding a traditional camera than a modern smartphone. Then the camera module itself, it is large and round, with a visible bulge that carries the 21-megapixel sensor, the dual-LED flash, and this textured metal ring, it basically looks like a camera lens. That choice is visually pleasing for photo fans, though not everyone will love it, especially people who like the sleek, minimalist vibe that most contemporary phones go for.
The Kodak Ektra is also on the substantial side, measuring 147.8 x 73.4 x 9.7 mm , and weighing about 163 grams. It is not the thinnest or lightest thing around, but its heft and thickness make it feel sturdy, like it’s meant to last. The metal frame contributes to that whole durable impression, you get the feeling the Ektra is built to handle the everyday grind. Still, that sticking camera bump can make it feel a little off when you set it down on a table, and because it sticks out more, you can expect extra scuffs, and general wear as time goes on.
The front of the Kodak Ektra is mostly taken up by a 5-inch IPS LCD screen, running at 1080 x 1920 pixels, so you end up with around 441 pixels per inch. That panel is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass, which does a decent job against little scrapes and small knocks. In day to day use the display looks sharp and lively, with solid color rendering and okay viewing angles, you know, nothing super dramatic but it holds up. That said it’s not quite as bright or as punchy as the AMOLED panels you’ll see on some rival phones, so if you’re often out in direct sunlight, or just using it in very bright places, you might notice the difference.
As for the buttons, the physical controls on the Kodak Ektra feel nicely set, like they’re placed where your hand naturally lands. On the right edge you get the volume rocker, the power button, and also that dedicated two stage camera shutter button, which is kind of rare these days. That shutter control gives the whole camera-first vibe, letting you half press to lock focus, then fully press to take the shot, pretty much the same behavior you’d expect from a more traditional camera. Having a separate shutter button is one of those thoughtful touches that really signals Kodak is aiming for a more genuine photography experience, not just “camera features” in name only.
Down at the bottom you’ll see the USB Type-C port for charging and data sync, plus a single speaker grille. The top part includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, and yeah, that’s becoming less common on newer smartphones, but it’s still a nice bonus if you like wired audio. Overall the look and build of the Kodak Ektra feels unusual, and honestly pretty well done, like it can stand apart from the usual fleet of near identical candy bar designs. Still, the thicker body and the noticeable camera bump might not match everyone’s taste, and some people will definitely see that as a drawback.
Hardware
So, the Kodak Ektra photo smartphone, it comes with a 5-inch Full HD screen, plus a MediaTek Helio X20 10-core processor inside, along with 3GB RAM and 32GB built-in space. You can also grow the memory by using a MicroSD card , up to 128GB, which is nice. In terms of connectivity it supports 11ac Wi‑Fi, and Bluetooth 4.1. The device includes a rear-facing speaker too, and a USB-C port meant for fast charging. The battery is non-removable, and it’s rated at 3000 mAh, nothing too small there.
Camera
For the rear camera, you get a 20 megapixel sensor, f / 2.0 aperture, autofocus, and 6-axis optical image stabilization, so it’s pretty solid. That said, some of Samsung’s other premium phones do use a wider aperture, so low-light folks might notice a difference.
One of the reasons the Kodak Ektra feels “camera-like” is that it has that big 26.5 mm 6P lens , and the surface is coated with anti-glare. There’s also a separate shutter button, which lets you pop open imaging applications quickly , and it helps users feel more like they are actually taking photos with a real camera. The Kodak Ektra includes a 13MP front camera as well , with f / 2.2 aperture, and it supports autofocus.
Kodak Ektra is equipped with its proprietary software. The camera application, produced by Arcsoft, offers a variety of shooting modes, which can customize the ISO settings, white balance and exposure as you would on a camera. Other software is also available on Kodak Ektra such as the 4K Super video recording application and the Snapseed image editing software.
Software and User Experience
The Kodak Ektra runs on a mostly near stock version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, with only a handful of modifications ,and little custom tweaks meant to better the camera experience. Going this route, meaning, staying with a largely unmodified Android base, should feel comforting to people who like a clean software setup with no “ extra “ bloatware stuff. But at the same time , it also means the Kodak Ektra doesn’t get some of the extra tricks and performance tweaks you often see in custom Android skins from other makers.
The interface itself feels pretty straight ahead, easy to move around in, and it uses that familiar layout that you basically recognize right away if you’ve touched any Android device before. The home screen, app drawer, and notification shade are all pretty much standard Android fare, with no big deviations from the stock look. That said, the simplicity is kinda a two sided coin: it keeps things uncluttered and user friendly, yet it also leaves out some of the more advanced features plus the extra personalization options you might find on other phones.
One area where the Kodak Ektra does stand out, is in its camera app, which is pretty customizable and meant to give you more of a professional photography experience than you’d normally expect. The mode dial , lets users shift between different shooting modes fast, and that’s honestly a useful trick. The manual mode also gives a level of control that you just don’t see very often on smartphones, and it feels a bit more deliberate. Still, the camera app can be kinda slow to come up, and sometimes there’s that little delay between tapping the shutter button and the photo actually being captured. That can be annoying, especially if you’re trying to photograph something that moves quickly.
Another area where the Kodak Ektra kinda falls short is software updates. When it launched, the phone was already on Android 6.0 Marshmallow , and that release was already about a year old. Kodak did later push an update to Android 7.0 Nougat, but after that, it doesn’t seem to have received anything else. No ongoing upgrades like this is a real letdown, mainly for people who care about the newest security patches, and also those extra features that usually come along with newer versions.
Conclude
We still do not know much about this phone. However, at the very attractive price of Kodak Ektra, many people will love it. This price is also in line with Kodak’s other high quality photography products. In addition, the design of the machine is also very unique. This is a bonus point for Kodak Ektra.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.