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Kodak Ektra review

6.8/10 AVG.
RATING
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Kodak Ektra
Kodak Ektra
Kodak Ektra
Kodak Ektra
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6.8/10
Informr score
The Kodak Ektra currently has an Informr score of 6.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 11 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Grippy textured leather back
  • Good 13MP selfie shooter
  • microSD support
  • USB-C fast charging

What's bad

  • Slow, dull camera
  • Display brightness
  • Price
  • Weak battery life
  • Feels cheap in the hand

The brand alone tells you the Kodak Ektra hopes to offer a stellar mobile photography experience. But when you mix a camera and a phone, it has to do both well to succeed. This is a magic mix few have found outside the flagship market.

Does this new release from Kodak stand up to the competition? Reviewers have been snapping pictures and tapping screens. Now they’re weighing in on what they think.

Let’s see what they’re saying…

Reviewers loved the look of the phone. Its metal rim, textured leather back and large rear camera gives a clean, retro-inspired look. Unfortunately, when reviewers picked up the phone, opinions shifted.

Stuff said, “It feels too light in your hand, lacking the substance you’d expect from something supposedly built from metal.” Others found the bulbous grip on the end great for taking pictures but cumbersome when trying to use the phone as an actual phone.

Reviews didn’t fare better around front either. The 5-inch 1080p LCD offered great viewing angles and detailed images. But many reviewers noted the color was cool and the screen bezels made the phone larger than they’d like. Brightness reviews were a mixed bag with some mentioning trouble in sunlight and others having no issues.

Opinions pick up again on the performance front. A deca-core 2.3Ghz MediaTek processor and 3GB of RAM kept the phone moving along well enough for most reviewers. PC Magazine summed up experiences well, saying, “There were some instances when the phone felt a bit slow when switching between apps, but that appears to be due to the unresponsive capacitive buttons that don't seem to register touches very well.”

Unfortunately, the phone includes an older version of Android—6.0 Marshmallow—with no sign of updates on the horizon. However, reviewers noted that Kodak didn’t fill the phone with bloatware or change much about the Android interface. Out of the 32GB of internal storage, roughly 21GB is available for use.

This is plenty for most users. But if you’re planning on taking advantage of the camera’s RAW shooting mode, you’ll want to grab a microSD card. Reviewers found that RAW images came in at a whopping 43MB each.

You’d think with all that data, the camera would capture great images. But reviewers had issues with everything from bad white balancing to shutter lag. Notably, using the dedicated shutter button appears to take images slower than tapping the on-screen capture button.

While reviewers found they could make RAW shots look great in post-processing, the point-and-shoot experience left much to be desired. This was particularly true in low-light where light halos and muddy shots frustrated nearly everyone.

Battery life was equally disappointing. Most reviewers struggled to last a full day when using both phone and camera functions despite the 3,000mAh battery. At least the phone supports USB-C fast charging. This means you can top off quickly if you’re running low on power.

In the end, reviewers felt that the Ektra missed the mark as both a phone and a camera when compared to similarly priced competitors. Photography Blog summed up opinions well, saying, “[It] certainly looks fantastic in all those glossy online marketing shots, but in reality it doesn't quite live up to its promise, either as a camera or a smartphone.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.3 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.3 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
21+ MP, f/2
Camera
Camera
21+ MP, f/2
3000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

Bullitt has got the pricing right with the Ektra, as anything more than Rs. 20,000 would have made it too expensive to consider. In fact, we’re surprised that it has been this aggressive considering that this phone sells for much more overseas. The throwback to old-style film cameras in the design i...

- Roydon Cerejo, Gadgets 360
The Indian Express
The Indian Express

This is at the moment a novelty phone. Whoever buy this a primary phone will have to live with the weird design when they are not using it as a camera and that will be hard to justify. For the camera lovers, maybe this is a second phone they would like to carry around on their travels. But won&rsquo...

- Nandagopal Rajan, The Indian Express
PC Magazine
PC Magazine

The Kodak Ektra is a $400 Android phone that doubles as a point-and-shoot camera, sparing you the hassle of carrying around two devices. It takes solid pictures and offers a reasonable level of performance for the price. That said, it's not necessarily the best camera phone you can get.

- Jim Fisher, PC Magazine
ePHOTOzine
ePHOTOzine

The Kodak Ektra Smartphone is one of the only current smartphones to offer the retro look and style of a compact camera. There's also a large two-stage shutter release button, adding the feel of using a real camera. The smartphone doesn't come across very well when compared to the latest generation...

- Joshua Waller , ePHOTOzine
Tom's Guide
Tom's Guide

With a big bulky grip and an even bigger camera module, the Kodak Ektra may not be the sleekest or the most powerful phone, but it's still pretty charming.

- Sam Rutherford, Tom's Guide


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Kodak Ektra user manual here.


Kodak backs up the Ektra with a 2 Years parts & labour warranty.


If your Ektra has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Kodak support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Kodak's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
5"

The Kodak Ektra's screen size is 5 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.3 GHz

There is a MediaTek MT6797 Helio X20 Deca core 2.3 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system (OS).

Camera
21+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 21+ MP, f/2 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 13+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3000 mAh battery. Kodak's performance ratings are 467 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Kodak Ektra Specs

Overview
Release Date December 10, 2016
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor MediaTek MT6797 Helio X20 Deca core 2.3 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.534 W/kg
Body: 1.51 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 2 Years
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
21+ Megapixels, f/2
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, HDR, Phase detection, Exposure
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 441 pixels
Size 5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 590 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 467 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.8 x 7.3 x 1 cm (5.8 x 2.9 x 0.4 in)
Weight 164 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Kodak Ektra Reviews
Where to buy Kodak Ektra
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