Kraken KRH04 & KRH03 Pro Universal Smart Phone Housings Initial Thoughts & Review

March 24th, 2020

Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing Pro

With the release of the iPhone 11 Pro and two new Universal Smart Phone Housings from Kraken, there hasn't been a better time to take those underwater smart phone pics that you've always dreamed of! Gone are the days when underwater photography was inaccessible to those not willing to invest thousands into an expensive underwater photo set up. Anyone with a cell phone can take great underwater photos!

These housings are special because they're compatible with a wide range of smart phones. So even if you need to change your phone in the future, it possible that the housing will still work! Both universal smart phone housings from Kraken are the same, with one key difference - the KRH03 Pro housing comes with a built in temperature and depth sensor! So from here on out we'll be referring to both housings when we talk about one.

Availability of Kraken KRH04 Universal Smart Phone Housing: Available Now! US MSRP: $325

Availability of Kraken KRH03 Universal Smart Phone Housing (w/ temperature and depth sensor): Available Now! US MSRP: $429

Purchase the Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing:

Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing

Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing with Built in Temperature and Depth Sensor

Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing Lens Adapter

Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing Specifications

Built in vacuum port system!
Optional lens adapter available for wide angle and macro lenses
Free Kraken Dive+ App for both Android and IOS - built in color correction, compass, and full manual camera control
Housing compatible with most flagship Android phones including Galaxy S10 and Google Pixel 3/4. The Samsung Note 9 will not fit.
Maximum phone dimension are 158mm height X 83mm width X 9mm thick. The Phone should have a flat back
Depth Rating: 80m (262 ft)

Additional Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing Pro Specs

Depth sensor
Temperature sensor

Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing Features

Solid Construction

Kraken is known for designing products with solid, durable construction. You won't have to worry about scratches, cracks, or broken glass with this housing. It's made from anodized aluminum. A built in vacuum port system is a fancy feature usually found in high end camera housings. The vacuum port will create a vacuum inside the housing which tightens the seal and makes it much less likely that there will be a flood. It's almost fool proof.

As far as housings go, this is about as compact as it gets. The universal smart phone housing is certainly a great alternative to carry a compact camera like the Olympus TG-6 around. All buttons are labled and easy to press.

Compatibility

The Universal Smart Phone Housing isn't quite universal, but it comes pretty close. There's an easy way to tell if your housing is compatible or not. The maximum phone dimensions should be 158mm height X 83mm width X 9mm thick. The phone should have a flat back instead of a curved back. Overall, all iPhone models are compatible with the housing as well as most flagship Android models like the Galaxy S10 and Google Pixel 3/4. The Samsung 9 is not compatible.

Kraken and Dive+ app

You can access the full functionality of the housing through the Kraken and Dive+ app available through both IOS and Android. The app features color correction, a compass, and full manual camera control. The compass will certainly aid in underwater navigation. The color correction software is a great addition to the housing as colors are lost at depth. For photography enthusiasts, full camera control through the app will be a huge plus in taking underwater photos.

Compatible Accessories

The housing will work great with wide angle and macro lenses after purchasing a lens adapter. Wide angle lenses let you get close to your subject and get the most color out of your image. Macro lenses let you get close to small subjects to capture the most detail possible. The following lenses work great with the Universal Smart Phone Housing:

Wide Angle Lenses

Kraken Wide Lens for Smart Housing - $299
Kraken KRL-02 wet wide angle lens - $389
Kraken KRL-01 wet wide lens - $765

Macro Lenses

Conslusions

The Kraken Universal Smart Phone Housing is a great tool for smart phone photography enthusiasts. There's no other way to go for a dive and directly share your photos to Instagram as soon as your back on the boat. Starting with smart phone photography is also a great way to jump into the hobby if your just beginning as an underwater photographer. It's certainly one of the best price point available, if you already have a cell phone.

Kraken Smart Phone Underwater Photos from Original Smart Phone Housing:

Wreck reefscape in Sri Lanka. Shot with iPhone 6s Plus in Kraken Smart Phone housing and dual Kraken Hydra 5000 lights. Photo: Brent Durand

The Car Wreck outside the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Shot with iPhone 6s Plus in Kraken Smart Phone housing, UWL-09 wide-angle wet lens and dual Kraken Hydra 5000 lights. Photo: Brent Durand

Colors of the wrecks. Sri Lanka. Shot with iPhone 6s Plus in Kraken Smart Phone housing, UWL-09 wide-angle wet lens and dual Kraken Hydra 5000 lights. Photo: Brent Durand