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Nomu S10 and Nomu S30 unboxing initial impressions

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We recently received review units to two of Chinese handset maker Nomu’s new unlocked smartphones, the S10 and S30. Launching this week, the devices are powered by Android 6.0 and feature IP68 waterproof protection. Moreover, they each boast a downright insane battery at 5,000mAh capacity. In terms of specs to price ratio, the handsets come in rather aggressively at $100 and $230, respectively.

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A Qualifying Statement

We’ve only had these phones in our possession for a few days, so do not look for this to be a comprehensive review. Rather, this will be more of a piece that details what comes in the box, how the devices stack up against each other, and what we think of them so far. A full review will follow in the coming weeks.

Quick Comparison

While the two phones do share a number of features and traits between them, there are are obviously going to be differences. Here’s a quick breakdown of each model.

Nomu S10

  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow
  • 5.0-inch display at 1280 x 720 pixel resolution; Gorilla Glass 3
  • Quad-core Mediatek 1.5GHz processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB internal storage; microSD expansion card slot for 32GB
  • 8-megapixel (interpolated to 13-megapixel) rear camera
  • 5-megapixel front-facing camera
  • Dual-SIM
  • 5000mAh battery
  • 2G GSM:850/900/1800/1900(B5/B8/B3/B2)
  • 3G WCDMA:900/2100(B8/B1)
  • 4G FDD-LTE:800/900/1800/2100/2600(B20/B8/B3/B1/B7)
  • TDD-LTE:2300(B40)

Nomu S30

  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow
  • 5.5-inch display at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution; Gorilla Glass 4
  • Octa-core Mediatek 2.0GHz processor
  • 4GB RAM
  • 64GB internal storage; microSD expansion card slot for 32GB
  • 13-megapixel (interpolated to 16-megapixel) rear camera
  • 5-megapixel (interpolated to 8-megapixel)front-facing camera
  • Dual-SIM
  • 5000mAh battery
  • 2G GSM:850/900/1800/1900(B5/B8/B3/B2)
  • 3G WCDMA:900/2100(B8/B1)
  • 4G FDD-LTE:850/900/1900/2100(B5/B8/B2/B1)
  • FDD-LTE:800/900/1800/2100/2600(B1/B3/B7/B8/B20)

What’s In The Box?

We’re not sure if the review units we received are actual retail model boxes but we suspect they might be. But, with that said, it’s a no-frills experience that doesn’t give you any more than it needs to. The cardboard box is brown and features only the Nomu brand embossed on the top; the bottom has a sticker with the model number and serial number.

nomu_box

Inside you find the phone, a pair of headphones, and a wall charger and USB cable. The outlet plug, for what it’s worth, is not going to work here in the United States. You’ll want to either get an adapter or just use one of your existing units to plug the cable in.

The quick-start guide details the basics of the phone, indicating where all of the ports and buttons are. It does have multiple languages, one of which is English.

Initial Impressions

Taking the phone out of the box and powering it on, you get the sense that these phones are rugged and ready for various conditions. Indeed, the IP68 ratings, utilitarian design, and general aesthetics signal the S10 and S30 are the sort of phones that a construction worker, contractor, or field worker might enjoy having. They’re not unlike what Kyocera is doing with its DuraForce line.

nomu_s10_angle

Both models have very distinct and angular corners with rubber edges. The S10 has a little bit more of a rough and tumble build that looks like something out of Battlestar Galactica. Moreover, the orange and black colors look sharp and unlike anything else we’ve spent time with.

The S30, for its part, doesn’t look to be as waterproof or built to spill. In fact, we had to double-check and triple-check that it was IP68 rated before putting it into water. The back of this one has more of a plastic shell with carbon fiber design and silver aluminum/titanium side. It would easily pass for an early generation of Droid from Verizon and Motorola.

Android

Hey look, it’s a nearly stock Android experience! Props to Nomu for not doing much to mess with the look and feel of the phone. It’s easy for a Chinese hardware maker to put a “foreign” spin on things that doesn’t resonate with US buyers. Fortunately, it appears that there’s not much done here to customize the interface.

With that said, the icons look like something you’d find in an old version of Android, perhaps something around the Ice Cream Sandwich and Jellybean era. It confused us at first, because we though, “wasn’t this supposed to be Android 6.0?” Alas, it does run Marshmallow, but with an interesting approach.

Looking through the settings we see a number of options that don’t come standard with Android. Be it gestures, flip to mute, or other subtle tweaks, it’s a nice mix additional options. And, while they may not be something we specifically use, there’s nothing here that feels out of place. If someone were just getting into Android or smartphones, we see things that would actually appeal to them or make the experience better.

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While there are a handful of the major Google apps present on the S10, you’ll have to head to the Play Store to pick up a few of them. Present are Calendar, Chrome, Gmail, Google, and Play Store. You’ll need to manually install others such as YouTube, Hangouts, Drive, Mesenger, or Google+.

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The S30, by contrast, had nearly all of the above (no YouTube) as well as Photos, the full suite of Google Play clients, and Android Pay.

Sound and Camera

We tested the speakers out on both models and found the S10 to get really distorted at the higher volumes. Moreover, it was a flat and unappealing experience. Perhaps related to a couple of water droplets that were still on the speaker, we heard some minor rattling or extra noise that should not have been present. The S30, by comparison, was louder and more full.

nomu_s30_speaker

Same thing goes for the camera. The S10 is so-so, if not a little less than desired, while the S30 comes in with more of what you’d hope for in a smartphone. Keeping price in mind, we can see where corners have to be cut. It’s not always the RAM and storage that makes the difference; sometimes it’s the internal components, too.

In short, the S10 is probably around a 2/5 stars with the S30 closer to a 3/5 stars. We’ll get a better sense for both the audio and camera features over the coming days and weeks.

Waterproof Protection

We’re always reluctant to put phones into water, even when they carry a certified rating. Our philosophy is that unless you absolutely have to, there’s no reason to tempt fate. And, while these two phones do protect the ports and speakers, there’s always that slight risk that you could “do it wrong”.

With that in mind, we did submerge both phones into water, albeit briefly. It just so happened that it had rained for two days straight here at the office. Going outside, we found a couple of puddles in which to dunk the phones. Both continued to work immediately after and in the hours to follow.

We are compelled to tell you, however, that the S30 seems to be just ever so wonky at times. It’s hard to say if it’s related to the water or something else in the hardware and software, but the home screen likes to bug out. By that we mean it acts as if you were long pressing on it to change the wallpaper. It flits and flickers and a quick press of the home key brings things back in line. We also saw traces of this when navigating around the device in various apps, too.

A Note About Network Support

One of the best features of most unlocked phones is the almost universal support for GSM carriers. Here in the US we have two major players competing on the GSM 4G LTE front, AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint, for their parts, offer their own 4G technology with CDMA.

Every so often a phone comes along that sounds so appealing on paper that you simply can’t pass it up. That is, until you look closely at the supported networks. Alas, the Nomu S10 and Nomu S30 don’t have the same support for 4G LTE that you might expect or hope for in the US.

While there are a few frequencies allowed for, you’re going to have a tough time getting nationwide coverage, especially at higher speeds. Take a look at the respective carrier bands and frequencies and you may end up with 3G speeds at best.

The last thing we want to do is endorse something that you end up buying only to find out it doesn’t work in your area. After all, a smartphone is rather dumb if it has not data to support it.

Understanding that our readers are not entirely US-based, we are certainly not going to write this one off. There are obviously going to be users who may benefit from such a device. We’ll do our best to put together as thorough of a review as possible in the next few weeks and circle back.

Where to Buy

Already set and looking to pick one of these up? There are a number of places to do so, including Gearbest, Everbuying, Geekbuying, and AliExpress. As part of a launch event, you can head to Nomu’s promotional page to check out more details. As a refresher, the Nomu S10 runs $100-$120 while the Nomu S30 fetches approximately $230.

In the meanwhile, feel free to learn more at the links below:

You can now pre-order Daydream View VR and Chromecast Ultra

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Good news! The Chromecast Ultra and Daydream View headset are finally available in the Google Store. These devices were launched at Google’s October event along with Pixel.

Interested customers can pre-order the Daydream VR headset for $79, which is cheaper than other VR headsets like the Gear VR ($99) and HTC Vive ($799). Google’s headset only works with powerful Android phones labeled as “Daydream Ready.”

So far the Pixel is the only Daydream Ready phone, but it’s still early days; we’ll see more compatible Android phones coming out in 2017. The headset is covered in a soft fabric and comes in three colors: Snow, Slate and Crimson. Right now Slate is the only color available. You can pre-order the headset from Google or Verizon in the US, UK and Germany. The shipping date for all three markets is 2-3 weeks.

daydream-view

The Chromecast Ultra is also available for pre-order. The new dongle supports 4K streaming,  HDR support, Dolby Vision and even an ethernet port on the device. It’s also 1.8x faster than other Chromecasts. Because of the better specs, the Ultra is $69 – a far cry from the other $35 models. But you get what you pay for, and if you’re really set on streaming in 4K, the Ultra won’t let you down.

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Google Store: Daydream View | Chromecast Ultra

Geekbuying’s limited time deal has exclusive pricing on various Xiaomi phones

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Are you in the hunt for a low-cost alternative to the big name smartphones? Have you ever considered Xiaomi? As a giant Chinese cell phone maker, Xiaomi may not be a name that you know yet. You will, though. Trust us.

Look at the hardware that comprises the various Xioami smartphone models and compare them to the competition from the likes of Samsung, LG, or HTC. Now, look at the difference in price. Indeed, the Xiaomi stuff comes in much less expensive.

Geekbuying, an online retailer that we’ve become fans of over the last year, is hosting a Xiaomi Exclusive Sale for the next few days. Starting immediately, you can knock off even more money across a variety of already-inexpensive models.

Here are three models to start with; each speaks to a different level of user needs and performance. Note that most models come in a variety of color and memory options.

redmi_pro

Xiaomi Redmi Pro

Powered by Android 6.0 with a custom MIUI 8 interface, the Redmi Pro features a 5.5-inch display at 1080p full HD resolution. In terms of performance, you’ll get a Mediatek deca-core processor at 2.1GHz, 3GB RAM, and 32GB internal storage. Need more space? Throis in a microSD card and load even more media.

As for cameras, the Redmi Pro offers up a rear 13-megapixel Sony IMX258 and Samsung 5-megapixel pair; around front is another 5-megapixel unit. Wrapped in a brushed metal body, the phone also houses a 4050mAh with fast charge capability.

ONLY $190

xiaomi_mi5

Xiaomi Mi5

Slightly smaller at 5.1-inches, this one still boasts a full HD display at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Internally, the Mi5 offers up a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage.

Cameras come in the form of a 16-megapixel rear shooter and a front-facing 4.0-megapixel picture snapper. Powered by Android 6.0, the MIUI 7 is an excellent interface with plenty of customization.

ONLY $250

mi5_pro

Xiaomi Mi5 Pro

A powerhouse of a device, the Mi5 Pro boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (2.15GHz) with 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage space. Moreover, it packs a 16-megapixel rear camera and front-side 4.0-megapixel shooter.

You’ll come for the 5.1-inch full HD display with curved glass, but stay for the ceramic body.Rounding things out, the phone packs a 3,000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, NFC, fingerprint reader, and dual-SIM support.

ONLY $370

Suffice it to say, there are a ton of fantastic deals being offered through Geekbuying right now. Take a look and you’ll certainly find something awesome that speaks to your needs. You’ll want to act fast on these deals as they’re only offered through the end of the month!

Unlocked Moto Z Play starts selling in the US for $449

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At IFA 2016 in Berlin a few months ago, Motorola announced the bran new Moto Z Play. And so far, the handset has been available exclusively from Verizon.

But if you’re not into buying a phone that comes with an unlocked bootloader and pre-installed Verizon software, then you might be pleased to know that the unlocked Moto Z Play version is now available for purchase.

While the Motorola website is currently only taking pre-orders for the handset, customers can purchase the unlocked Moto Z Play from Amazon, B&H and Best Buy.

motrola-z-play-front-view

motrola-z-play-back-view

The phone offers a great set of specifications and is sold for an affordable $449. The Moto Z Play comes boasting a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution.

It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset working in combination with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (users can expand to up to 2TB via a microSD).

In the photo department, the mobile phone features a 16MP main camera with dual color LED flash plus a 5MP selfie snapper with front-facing LED.

motrola-z-play-side

motrola-z-play-main-camera-view

The Moto Z Play takes advantage of a 3,150 mAh battery which according to Lenovo can offer up to 50 hours of battery life (on standby mode, obviously).

The device also bundles a 3.5mm audio jack and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. But given Motorola’s good track record with providing updates, the phone should be treated to the stock Android Nougat experience soon enough.

Besides the great spec list, the phone gives off a genuine premium feel. It has a metal frame with a glass back and a fingerprint scanner is located below the display under the Home button.

The Z Play is compatible with the same Mods as the Z and Z Force smartphones, which are a tad more expensive.

ZTE teases eye-tracking, self-adhesive phone, expected in 2017

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Lots of smartphone models get released on the market every month, but most of them are pretty standard. Even major smartphone producers like Samsung or Apple usually stick to the fundamental principles when releasing a new handset into the wild.

However, there are companies that like to experiment design-wise in an attempt to push the boundaries of the smartphone industry. Like Chinese handset maker ZTE. A few months ago, the company announced Project CSX – an initiative meant to uncover and crowdsource innovative smartphone ideas. Now ZTE has announced it finally has a “winner” device to show us.

So what makes the phone special? First and foremost, the prototype is said to take advantage eye-tracking software. This basically means the phone will be able to track your eye movements and “know” when you are looking at it.

zte-project-csx-phone-dimensions

This function will supposedly allow users of this futuristic smartphone to scroll through book pages without employing their hands. The feat should also work when users need to skip through videos or audio tracks. A set of cameras are fitted on the top and bottom bezel to provide eye-tracking support.

Another atypical feature of the Project CSX handset its self-adhesive backing. Basically, users will be able to stick their phone on a variety of surfaces. It’s certainly not a new concept, but the feature hasn’t gone mainstream yet.

In the spec department, it’s possible (but not final) we’ll see the phone make a debut with a 5.5-inch LCD display with 1440 x 2560-pixel resolution (534ppi) and Snapdragon 823 chipset (or the latest) on the inside. The phone should be offered in 4GB of RAM/64GB and 6GB of RAM/128GB variants.

zte-project-csx-smartphone-colors

The primary camera could take advantage of a 16MP sensor with f/1.8, OIS, laser autofocus and dual-LED flash, while the two front-facing cameras would bundle an 8MP sensor with f/1.8, OIS and autofocus.

ZTE’s upcoming phone will bundle a 3,500-4,000 mAh battery and run on Android Nougat.

Thousands of mobile phone enthusiasts from 176 countries participating in voting for the winning device. The competition had users divided between the adhesive smartphone and other creative ideas including a bunch of intelligent smartphone covers, a stock Android flagship phone from ZTE, a VR-interactive diving mask, and a power glove.

ZTE said it is committed to bringing the device to the market in 2017. The designed behind the winning idea will be invited to join ZTE at the CES 2017 conference in Las Vegas.

Meet Natalie and her UMi Plus (PROMOTED)

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Hello UMi fans! Today we have a post and video for you, with the UMi Plus as the subject.

In this video you will see Natalie, a girl full of vitality and energy, during one of her typical days. As you can see, she does quite some a few activities every day and she has always the smartphone in her hands; she needs a product which is powerful, snappy and which has as much stamina as she has, and that’s not easy, we can assure you!

But since we released the UMi Plus, she immediately fell in love with it and it has become her number one technological gadget by far. The design, the feeling, the performances and the huge 4000mAh battery allows her to enjoy a day of work: to call and hang with friends, to chill at the cafè watching videos and surfing the web, to explore the city with GPS and to take photos and videos without worrying to run out of juice. She can finally leave the heavy power bank at home and she can stop looking for electrical sockets when entering public places.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us!

If interested, you can purchase the UMi Plus from the e-shops below:

Gearbest: http://bit.ly/PLUSgearbest
Tomtop: http://bit.ly/plusTomtp
Everbuying: http://bit.ly/everbuyingplus
igogo: http://bit.ly/igogoplus
Coolicool: http://bit.ly/CLCPLUS
Banggood: http://bit.ly/BGPLUS

Samsung Galaxy Note7 users really love the phablet, over a million are still using it

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Earlier this month, Samsung put an end to global production of the faulty Galaxy Note7. The Korean tech giant also specifically asked owners of the phablet to return the potentially dangerous phones and take advantage of the available ailments.

The company is now trying to entice users to bring in their Galaxy Note7, by offering $100 credit towards the purchase of another Galaxy phone. But some people just love their Galaxy Note7 too much to part with it.

According to the latest statistics coming out of South Korean publication Korean JoongAng Daily a lot of users have no immediate plans of returning the tablet. The report cites a few customers, among them being Mr. Park, a 43-year old office worker.

He admits that due his demanding job, he didn’t exchange the phablet because he simply didn’t have the time. Interestingly enough he admits he might interested in purchasing the Galaxy S8 when it comes out next year, but until that he’ not really looking to “downgrade”.

[graphiq id=”18kkdS5SAPr” title=”Samsung Galaxy S7″ width=”500″ height=”748″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/18kkdS5SAPr” link=”https://www.graphiq.com” link_text=”Visualization by Graphiq” ]

Statistic provided by mobile service providers disclose that less than a 10% of Note7 users have returned their phablet to receive refund and exchanges. Worldwide, it appears that over one million users are still using the handset.

It seems most Galaxy Note7 users are choosing to hope for the best. As far as their devices are working they don’t really see an impending need to return them.

For its part, Samsung is trying to provide Note7 refugees with a worthy alternative, that being the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. On top of the $100 credit offered, Samsung has also recently used an update which bestows Galaxy Note7 specific features on the two S7 flagships like the always-on display setting.

However at this point, it doesn’t seem these attempts to make the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge more attractive, are really enough to change the mind of Galaxy Note7 users.

T-Mobile to pay a fine of $48 million for false marketing

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Hey, remember when T-Mobile lied about its new unlimited plan? Well the FCC sure does, and now it’s making T-Mobile pay. How much you ask? $48 million dollars, which is just pocket change for these big companies.

In 2015 we found out that T-Mobile was slowing down data for customers in the top 3% data usage tier – about 17GB of data/month. Customers only found out about this after a bunch of complaints were lodged against the carrier. MetroPCS users were also throttled under this tier as well.

Buyer’s Guide: T-Mobile

But the FCC says the throttling itself isn’t the issue. It’s the way T-Mobile marketed it. Saying that a cellular plan is unlimited, while throttling users at the same time is too deceptive, plus it violates the 2010 Open Internet transparency rule.

The rule covers disclosures about “network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of service.” and applies to service descriptions, including expected and actual broadband speed and latency, among others.

In a statement, FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc said,

“Consumers should not have to guess whether so-called ‘unlimited’ data plans contain key restrictions, like speed constraints, data caps, and other material limitations.”

T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers that were affected by this throttling are eligible for 4GB of additional mobile data under the Simple Choice MINT plan. They also get a 20% discount on in-stock phone accessories.

T-Mobile will pay for this through a $35.5 million consumer benefit program, while another $7.5 million will be paid directly to the US Treasury. Finally, $5 million in services and equipment will be provided to schools in the United States.

Have you been affected by T-Mobile throttling? Do you use at least 17GB of data per month? Let us know in the comments below.

Verizon starts sales of Pixel phones, but the Pixel XL 128GB is not available

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Google’s brand new smartphone duo – the Pixel and Pixel XL – have just landed in brick and mortar Verizon stores.

But if you were planning to purchase the 128GB version of the Pixel XL, you won’t like what we’re about to tell you next. Verizon’s Jeffrey Nelson announced in a Tweet the Pixel XL 128GB is already sold-out (most likely through pre-orders). All other models are still currently available including the 32GB of the Pixel and Pixel XL and Pixel with 128GB onboard.

Buyer’s Guide: Verizon

The Google Store also lists the Pixel XL as out of stock (every model), so the chances of picking up the 128GB Pixel XL seem pretty slim at this point. Unless Best Buy starts offering it.

The Pixel XL offers a slighter larger screen, 5.5-inch compared to 5-inch and a beefier battery (3,450 vs 2,770). It also comes boasting a more advanced QHD resolution compared to the Pixel’s 1080p.

google_pixel_xl_09

If you haven’t pre-ordered your Pixel from the Google Play Store, you can still go pick up one of the available models at Verizon. However, take into consideration to phones will come pre-installed with a suite of the carrier’s apps and with a locked bootloader.

On the bright side of things, customers can purchase a Pixel 32GB for $27/month over 24 months or $649 outright. As for the 128GB version, the phone is sold for $749 upfront or $31.24/month over 24 months, while the Pixel XL 32GB can be yours for $769 outright or $32/month over 24 months.

To customers who have a 10GB (or more) data plan, Verizon will offer a $25 per month credit toward a 24-month payment plan. Which means that instead of paying $27 per month for a Pixel 32GB you’ll end up spending $2/month. Which is indeed quite tempting.

Kodak launches the Ektra – an Android smartphone with analog camera feel

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Kodak, once one of the world’s biggest camera makers, has been trying to enter the Android smartphone market, for a few years now.

The photography equipment maker unveiled its first smartphone at CES 2015. The device, named IM5 bundled a pretty mediocre set of specs, so ended up mostly being ignored by Android fans. But Kodak it’s not giving up on its plans to offer a mind-blowing Android smartphone.

kodak-ektra-is-not-exactly-skinny

kodak-ektra-front-view

kodak-ektra-with-phone-case

This week Kodak unveiled the Ektra. If the name sounds familiar that’s because Kodak has named the new Android product after its iconic 35mm camera from the 40s.

And unlike the utterly uninspiring IM5 (even the name is a boring one), the Ektra is quite stunning and vintage-looking. Despite being a brand with a long history, Kodak has little influence in today’s photography world. That’s why the company is trying to dab into different waters for a change.

As it was to be expected, the Ektra is a photo-centric smartphone. The main snapper itself features a 21MP sensor with f/2.0 lens and Optical Image Stabilization. It offers Phase Detection AF and 4K video recording. Kodak also throws in a dual-LED, dual-tone LED flash which lives on the back of the device. The phone also takes advantages of a substantial 13MP selfie camera. Naturally Kodak has bundled an impressive palette of image editing features.

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kodak-ektra-real-leather-cases

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Kodak chose to partner up with Bullitt – a smartphone maker for hire –  for Ektra, and the company has chosen Snapseed as its default photo-editing app.

Kodak allows users to complement the handset with leather phone accessories that look very much like old school camera cases. Actually the phone itself gives off strong analog camera vibes, visually.

In the specs department, the Ektra fears a lot better than its predecessor – the IM5. The phone features a 5-inch display with 1080p resolution and a has a octa-core MediaTek Helio X20 chipset working in combination with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (a microSD card slot allows for memory expansion). The phone is kept alive by a chunky 3,000 mAh battery which shouldn’t exhaust itself too quickly.

kodak-ektra-carrying-case

Ektra will ship out with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, but at this point we don’t know whether the phone will be treated to 7.0 Nougat or not.

On the outside, the Ektra employs a lot of plastic. There’s faux leather on the back, but the plastic sides are made to look like they boast a metal finish. A handy Kodak shutter button allows the camera app to launch immediately. A half-press is all it’s needed to activate focus.

For the time being, Kodak will offer its second smartphone in Europe for €499 a pop. And if things go well, the company might think of brining the Ektra in the United States, as well, sometimes in early 2017.