Kodak Made a Phone with a 21MP Camera Strapped to the Back

Max Buondonno October 21, 2016

Plenty know Kodak as a pretty good camera maker, but many may not know that they’ve been trying to get into the smartphone business. Their latest attempt is called the Ektra (named after the company’s 1940s rangefinder), and it’s an Android-powered smartphone with one main focus (obviously): the camera.

On the back of the Ektra, Kodak built in a 21MP ‘fast-focus’ camera with an f/2.0 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), Kodak’s non-reflective lens coating, 4K video recording, and auto focus. The company touts that this is the perfect camera for enthusiasts and professional photographers since it can capture really nice images and features a custom camera application with a manual mode and plenty of features for total control over the sensor. On the front, Kodak didn’t go easy on this department either as a 13MP camera with phase detection auto focus and HDR imaging is also present. If you’re a heavy selfie taker, you’ll probably love this. Otherwise, your Duo calls are gonna look great.

Obviously, to accompany this classy camera is a classy design, and it looks like Kodak pulls this off at least according to the released pictures. A leather finish is present on the back, while chrome rings and accents accompany the dark tones found all around this device. I do have to say, I’m a fan of this look, so I’m really looking forward to seeing if I can get my hands on it. Sure, it’s kind of boxy, but I’ve never really been a fan of super round phones like the LG G5.

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Spec wise, Kodak loaded the Ektra with a deca-core Helio X20 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 5-inch 1080p HD display, 32GB of expandable storage via microSD card, a 3000mAh battery, and Android Marshmallow. Obviously, these aren’t flagship level specs, but they should get the job done. And with the main focus on the cameras, I guess you can’t really ask for much more.

Kodak says a European roll out of the Ektra is expected to launch some time in December, while the company touts a US launch may come eventually. £449 (about $549) is the price of the handset, while we expect to hear more about the device in the coming weeks as we approach Christmas 2016.