HMD started using the Nokia brand as it gained a foothold in the market. Its latest release stands alone. The HMD Skyline is a mid-range handset that focuses on being stylish while allowing consumers to repair a damaged device at home.
Unfortunately, a fundamental problem lies at the heart of the HMD Skyline.
The Skyline is being pitched as a phone you can repair at home. Parts are available through iFixit, and my review sample came with a full set of screwdrivers and bits so I could experience the DIY disassembly process myself. If there’s damage to the USB port, you can fix it rather than buy a new phone. Cracked screens can be switched out. If there are issues with the battery, you can order a replacement.
It’s not an easy fix, there’s a lot of glue still used in construction you’ll need to break through, and there’s no concession to fat fingers. You will need the correct tools, screwdrivers, levers and picks to get in and get out. Yet it is possible to do so by carefully following the instructions, so credit should be given.
It’s a great step towards sustainable devices, and the hardware should be kept in good condition for many years.
Yet HMD only supports the Skyline smartphone with two major Android updates. Given that it comes with Android 14, which is set to be replaced by Android 15 in the next few months, the second and final Android update for the device is broadly scheduled for November 2025. Three years of security updates offer a little more peace of mind, but not much.
Yet similarly priced handsets offer at least five years of software support, and Google’s Pixel 8a reaches out to seven years of software and security updates. All the repair capability in the world is worth nothing if you can’t keep your personal data secure.
For many, this is going to be a dealbreaker.
This lack of synergy between hardware and software is all the more disappointing because HMD has a solid smartphone in the Skyline. The company started out by licencing the Nokia phone branding as it established itself in the market. Switching away from Nokia to the HMD brand only began in September 2023, and less than a year later, we have what is arguably the company’s defining phone.
Those with long memories have already picked out the subtle sloping design of the phone’s edges alongside a square forward-facing profile of the display as a nod to Nokia’s Fabula design language seen across many Windows Phone devices. The Skyline sits just as nicely in the hand as those older phones, but its less stable on a desk where the off-centre camera creates a bot of a wobble (Fabula predominantly pushed centreline cameras).
Those coming to the design afresh will find a unique look that stands out in the current crop of phones; which is not an easy task given the dominance of any main display. This is helped by the Neon Pink model standing out without being garish, although I think many will go with the more subtle Twisted Black.
At $500, the Skyline is in the upper reach of the mid-range, yet the specifications seem even higher than that. Sure, it’s not the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but the SnapDragon 7 Gen 2 is a capable chipset that delivers enough power for day-to-day use. This phone will not be used for high-end gaming, nor will it be the home for demanding mission-critical apps. What it offers is a smooth experience for your web browser and your key apps, as well as processing photos and videos.
The camera specs are a cut above the normal at this price point as well; the Skyline has a 108-megapixel main camera lens, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with x2 optical zoom and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera.
Processing on the pictures is geared towards a more natural look, typical of Nokia handsets of old, rather than the high saturation seen in the likes of Oppo and Honor. The telephoto camera is a similar story, although the colors tend to be a touch more vibrant than the main camera.
It is limited to x2 optical zoom, and I suspect this is one area where the target price has limited the specifications. Digital zoom offers options for x3 and x4, but these are crops and zooms from the main camera lens rather than the telephoto. x4 is okay, but x4 feels ambitious.
The Skyline also offers a 50-megapixel selfie camera, which again holds up well in terms of natural color reproduction levels. However, there are moments when you can lose definition in darker conditions compared to the sharp details you get in good light.
The choices around the battery show signs of compromises being made. At 4,600 mAh it is one of the smaller batteries in the market at this price point, with 5.000 mAh more prevalent. Charging is slow, with a maximum of 33W from a wired charger, and you’ll have to supply your own as there is no charger in the retail packaging. A full charge, even at 33W, will take well over an hour.
Wireless charging is present, which is not always a given in this price range. It’s a feature I always welcome for its convenience in my lifestyle, even if it only offers 15W. I’m at my desk often enough to make this work.
HMD’s Android implementation is one of the cleanest available. Google’s Pixel series is just as clean but has several additional first-party apps that aren’t available to HMD. Nevertheless, the relative lack of bloatware—be it third-party or apps that use cloud-based services—is welcome. Some are still here (Amazon and Booking.com seem to be everywhere, but thankfully, they can be quickly uninstalled.
HMD’s big addition to the Android user interface is the custom button. This sits opposite the power button and can trigger actions either with a press and hold, or a double press. The double-press custom option is also available on the power button. This is a solid idea implemented by other manufacturers in various forms over the years. You can only pick from a pre-determined list of actions in one of the most unintuitive “picker” dialogs I have seen in a long time.
The heavily trailed Detox mode—which will limit social media alerts and notifications—will arrive in a later update. Having used a similar feature with other manufacturers, it’s not something that appeals to me, although it has found an audience given the wide adoption of the principle.
As with any handset, the compromises and the champions have to be decided on during the design process. Some phones go for a large and vibrant screen, a few lean into photography above all else, while battery life is the target for others.
HMD’s move to put repairability at the heart of the Skyline helps it stand out in an almost unique way—the Fairphone 5 is probably the closest comparison. That likely compromises some parts of the design to allow for more protection around components that consumers will handle (such as the battery and its connectors). It’s quick to describe, easy to understand and accomplish, and even though many will never use it, they will find comfort and security because the option is there.
Today, the HMD Skyline is a phone that does its best to stand out, not just because of the decision to make it user-repairable but also because of the identifiable design and the custom button. Yet the weaker display and the short-lived nature of the software support sit heavily in my mind.
Disclaimer: HMD supplied an HMS Skyline for review purposes.
