Nokia was once one of the biggest phone manufacturers in the world but placing its bets on Microsoft's mobile platform instead of Android seemed to be a fatal mistake. The company sunk into obscurity and eventually sold its soul to HMD before it was too late. HMD released Nokia-branded phones for a while, but it seems no longer.
The HMD Skyline is the newest smartphone from the company, and just looking at it, it certainly seems like it pulls some DNA from iconic Nokia devices out of the archives. That's not what makes the phone notable though. It is very easy to repair by yourself, but it is also the very first Android device with magnetic wireless charging.
The HMD Skyline Brings Back A Nokia-esque Design, With Android-First Qi2 Charging
HMD hasn't been resting this year, with quite a few phones already released and likely more to be released. July has been a busy month and the company clearly doesn't want to be left out, as they've just announced the HMD Skyline. It's a midrange device and it certainly does a few things differently.
The Design
When I first saw renders of the HMD Skyline, it was instantly reminiscent of some of Nokia's Lumia devices from over 10 years ago. For instance, the Nokia Lumia 920. While I still see that resemblance, it is probably best compared to the Nokia N9, especially with the way the side profile tapers at the top and bottom. It's far from a usual smartphone design in 2024, but it manages to stand out in a good way.
The device is available in a Neon Pink (which actually looks nice enough that I could see myself rocking it) and a Twisted Black colorway. It has a metal frame and opts for a glass back. It is also IP54-certified.
Gen 2 Repairability Makes This Incredibly Easy To Fix On Your Own
The HMD Skyline manages to look really good while bringing what the company calls Gen 2 repairability. What does that mean? Well, apparently, you'll find this incredibly easy to repair and you'll be able to change out the screen or battery in less than 10 minutes. I'm hooked; tell me more.
Apparently, the back panel will come off by taking out a single screw. Using kits and parts from iFixit or HMD themselves, you'll be able to change your display ($95), battery cover ($30), battery ($25), or charging port ($20), all by yourself. I don't tend to need to repair phones I own more than once in their time with me, but for people who bump and drop their devices a lot, this will help a lot.
The Screen
The device's design obviously means that you don't get a maximized screen-to-body ratio, but you do still get a nice-sized display. It's a 6.55-inch FHD+ OLED unit with 1,000 nits of peak brightness and a 144Hz refresh rate. It's covered with Gorilla Glass 3, which is over 10 years old at this point, so don't expect cutting-edge drop resistance.
The Chipset And Memory
The Skyline is a midrange phone and the chipset makes sure that you keep that in mind. It has a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, which really isn't the worst that you can get, but don't expect it to be ripping fast. It shouldn't disappoint you in daily use though.
It comes in two storage configurations: an 8/128GB model and a 12/256GB option, and in case that's not enough storage for you (as it likely won't be), you get a microSD slot to expand your storage. It has Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC as well.
The Battery And Charging
The phone has an “okay” 4,600mAh battery inside, which I can't really complain about. It has 33W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, which again, is just alright. However, in the charging department, the real thing of note is that the 15W wireless charging it comes with is of the Qi2 variety, and not the regular Qi one.
What does that mean though? Well, Qi2 isn't any faster than regular Qi, but it brings the major addition of magnetic wireless charging (basically, Apple's MagSafe). This means your HMD Skyline will be able to magnetically attach to charging accessories, which saves you the trouble of needing to perfectly align it, and also opens up a world of magnetic accessories. This is the very first Android phone with this tech and I'm very glad it is finally here, even if in an unexpected vessel.
The Cameras
HMD intends the Skyline to be a device for creators, so it did what it could to ensure that the camera setup is a versatile and capable one, both on the front and the back of the smartphone.
The main camera is a 108MP unit with “Hybrid OIS”, which on paper, is great for the price. It's paired with a 50MP 4x telephoto and a 13MP ultrawide camera. You also get a 50MP camera on the front that has eye-tracking autofocus.
The Software
The HMD Skyline runs on Android 14 and the software is as you'd expect, but there's one feature the company is trying to market hard, and it's called Detox Mode. This mode serves as a detox for the smartphone-addicted by only allowing you access to certain applications or contacts. This is perfect for when you've been using social media a bit too much each day. The feature isn't particularly unique though, as Focus Mode on most Android devices gives you a similar experience.
You also get a Custom Button on the side of the device which you can map to certain actions on your phone. You can get it to do different things depending on whether you hold it or double-tap it. You will get two years of OS updates and an additional year of security updates.
The Pricing And Availability
The device is going to be available to interested customers in the United States starting next month (though the company didn't specify a date). You'll be able to get it from HMD's website, Amazon, and other retailers in the country, starting at $499.
