The Kodak Ektra Smartphone sacrifices design for a premium camera system

The Kodak Ektra, which will theoretically satisfy the thirst of photo-conscious smartphone users, boasts of a better camera system than its current competitors. However, the priority of a DSLR-like camera in a handheld might be too much of a sacrifice to consider the upcoming handheld as an overall success.

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According to the Australian Financial Review, Kodak is looking to appeal to a particular niche in the smartphone market with the creation of the Ektra Smartphone. By working on a camera system that the company has been developing for decades and putting it into a smartphone, Kodak is getting the attention of individuals whose priority is photo quality. This way, the company is not directly challenging Samsung, Apple or Google. And by partnering up with Bullitt, a company that specialises in the building of unconventional handsets, Kodak seems to have created what it set out to.

The Ektra has a 21 megapixel rear camera, which has a Sony IMX230 sensor, and a 13 megapixel front camera. The device has 6 axis optical image stabilisation and a Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) with HDR features. It is also capable of 4K video recording and has its own dedicated shutter button.

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Apart from its camera system, the Ektra’s remaining specifications are as grand. It runs on 3GB of RAM and the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system. A MediaTek Helio X20 DecaCore processor powers the handheld, while a 3,000 mAh battery keeps it relatively reliable throughout the day.

However, the Kodak Ektra Smartphone does have one major drawback -- it’s design. Though it is clear that Kodak wanted the unit to look differently from its competitors, as it does resemble a pocket camera, it might not appeal to a large group of people. The camera significantly protrudes from the body of the phone and the device sports a textured finish that is has been a favourite in the smartphone industry.

The Kodak Ektra Smartphone will be released in Europe later this year at EUR499 (AU$710). The global release is still unknown.