The HMD Skyline has garnered a lot of attention. What is it – is it the Nokia N9 recall? Or is it the repairability aspect that attracts people? The phone is now available in some countries (on pre-order in others), so we have to ask – would you buy it?
The design feels fairly new – we’ve seen all the rounded rectangles we can handle – and comparisons with the N9 are positive, for those who remember the MeeGo phones. However, instead of polycarbonate, it uses a modern metal and glass construction.
The phone is designed in such a way that it can be easily repaired at home by even non-professionals. All you need is a tool set from iFixit (or just use your own Torx screwdriver) and you’ll be able to replace a broken screen in just 10 minutes. This is great, but we wish HMD took software support as seriously as it took repairability – 2 OS updates and 3 years of security patches is too little.
HMD Skyline
Beyond that, the Skyline offers a surprisingly capable hardware combo. From the 6.55” FHD+ 144Hz OLED display to the 4,600mAh battery with both wired (33W) and wireless charging (15W). The wireless option is the Qi2, which has the same magnets as the Apple MagSafe system. Is this the first Android with Qi2? Maybe, we can’t think of any others.
The 108MP main camera (with OIS) can record 4K videos at 30fps and is joined by a 50MP 2x telephoto module (with 4x zoom) and a 13MP ultra wide. The 50MP selfie camera also seems impressive – we’re working on a full review, so expect detailed tests. Anyway, the microSD slot and headphone jack are a welcome sight. There are a few negatives to mention. Repairability has limited the IP rating to IP54, but the old Gorilla Glass 3 is hard to explain.
The HMD Skyline is currently priced at £400 for the 8/128GB model and £500 for the 8/256GB model in the UK. In Germany, the phone is listed as “coming soon” and is set to launch on August 9, with the 8/256GB unit priced at 550 euros.
If you want a throwback design, the OnePlus Nord 4 has an aluminium unibody. And it has the more powerful SD 7+ Gen 3 chipset, but there’s no telephoto module here. Also, the aluminium back means there’s no wireless charging, but you still have a 5,500mAh battery and 100W wired-only charging.
The Realme GT 6 has a modern design and features a 6.78″ LTPO display and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. The 50MP main camera and 50MP 2x tele lens will make for an interesting comparison with the HMD. It also has a 5,500mAh battery with 120W wired-only charging this time around.
Note that the Nord stands out with its promise of 4 OS updates and 6 years of security patches. Realme is only getting 3 OS updates and 4 years of patches, but it’s still better than HMD.
OnePlus Nord 4 • Realme GT 6 • Sony Xperia 10 VI
What about the Sony Xperia 10 VI? It’s an old-school design too. And we’ll let you in on a little secret – the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 inside the Xperia is the same hardware as the 7s Gen 2, albeit clocked at a lower speed. This phone has a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide and no tele. The 8MP selfie camera is housed in the top bezel rather than on the screen. The 5,000mAh battery offers long battery life, but only slow wired charging.
So, what do you think about the HMD Skyline?
