HMD Skyline : In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, HMD Global has made a bold statement with the introduction of the Skyline.
This device marks a significant milestone for the company, as it continues to establish itself as a standalone brand following its departure from the Nokia namesake.
The Skyline isn’t just another mid-range offering; it’s a testament to HMD’s commitment to sustainability, repairability, and user-centric design.
Let’s dive into what makes the HMD Skyline a compelling choice for tech-savvy consumers and eco-conscious users alike.
HMD Skyline Design and Build: A Fresh Take on Smartphone Aesthetics
The HMD Skyline immediately catches the eye with its distinctive design. Available in three striking colors – Neon Pink, Twisted Black, and Blue Topaz – the phone caters to various tastes, from the bold to the sophisticated.
Our review unit, sporting the Blue Topaz shade, showcases a mesmerizing metallic finish that shifts between blue and green hues as light plays across its surface.
HMD has opted for an angular chassis, giving the Skyline a modern, almost futuristic appearance.
The aluminum frame features sharp corners, contrasting nicely with the more rounded edges of the display.
This design choice not only sets the Skyline apart visually but also contributes to a secure grip.
The front of the device is dominated by a 6.55-inch display with a center-aligned punch-hole camera, maximizing screen real estate.
Flip the phone over, and you’ll find a rectangular camera module housing the triple-lens setup, slightly raised but well-integrated into the overall design.
Weighing in at 209.5g, the Skyline has a substantial feel that imparts a sense of quality.
It’s not the lightest phone in its class, but the weight distribution is well-balanced, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods.
One of the Skyline’s standout features is its focus on repairability. HMD has designed the phone with modular components, allowing for easy replacement of key parts like the battery, screen, and charging port.
This approach not only extends the device’s lifespan but also aligns with growing consumer demand for more sustainable tech products.
HMD Skyline Display: Vibrant Visuals and Smooth Performance
The HMD Skyline boasts a 6.55-inch pOLED display that’s a treat for the eyes. The ‘p’ in pOLED stands for polymer, indicating the use of a plastic substrate instead of glass.
This choice enhances durability without compromising on visual quality.
With a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels), the screen delivers crisp text and sharp images.
Colors are rich and vibrant, though not overly saturated, striking a nice balance between eye-catching and natural.
The display supports HDR10 playback, elevating the viewing experience when consuming compatible content.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Skyline’s display is its 144Hz refresh rate.
This high refresh rate ensures buttery-smooth scrolling and fluid animations, making everything from casual browsing to intense gaming a joy.
The phone offers options to adjust the refresh rate, allowing users to balance performance and battery life according to their preferences.
Brightness is another strong suit, with the display capable of reaching up to 1,000 nits at peak levels.
This ensures good visibility even under direct sunlight, though it falls slightly short of some flagship devices that can push beyond 1,500 nits.
HMD Skyline Performance: Punching Above Its Weight
Under the hood, the HMD Skyline is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset.
This mid-range processor delivers a surprisingly robust performance, handling everyday tasks with ease and even managing more demanding applications without breaking a sweat.
The phone comes with 8GB of RAM in the base model, with an option for 12GB in higher configurations.
This generous amount of memory ensures smooth multitasking and helps future-proof the device to some extent.
Storage options include 128GB and 256GB variants, with the added bonus of microSD card support for those needing extra space.
In real-world use, the Skyline feels snappy and responsive. Apps launch quickly, and switching between them is seamless.
The phone handles popular games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile with ease, maintaining stable frame rates even at higher graphics settings.
Benchmark results paint a positive picture as well. In AnTuTu v10, the Skyline scored an impressive 581,311 points, while Geekbench 6 saw it achieve 2,899 points in multi-core tests.
These numbers put it comfortably ahead of many competitors in its price range.
HMD Skyline Camera Capabilities: Versatility Meets Quality
The camera system on the HMD Skyline is a triple-lens affair, headlined by a 108MP main sensor.
This high-resolution camera is capable of capturing stunning detail in good lighting conditions.
It uses pixel binning technology to produce 12MP images by default, combining data from multiple pixels to enhance low-light performance and reduce noise.
Accompanying the main sensor is a 50MP telephoto lens offering 2x optical zoom. This allows for closer shots without significant loss in quality.
Rounding out the trio is a 13MP ultra-wide camera, providing a 120-degree field of view for those expansive landscape shots or group photos.
In practice, the camera system performs admirably. Daylight shots exhibit excellent detail and natural colors.
The HDR processing is effective without being overly aggressive, preserving highlights and shadows well. Night mode impresses too, bringing out details in low-light scenarios without introducing too much noise.
The telephoto lens is a welcome addition, offering clear shots at 2x zoom and maintaining decent quality up to about 5x with digital zoom.
The ultra-wide camera, while not quite matching the main sensor in terms of detail, still produces pleasing results with minimal distortion at the edges.
Video capabilities are solid, with the Skyline able to record 4K footage at 30fps from both the rear and front cameras.
Electronic image stabilization (EIS) helps keep footage steady, though it’s not quite as effective as optical stabilization found in some higher-end devices.
Speaking of the front camera, the 32MP selfie shooter doesn’t disappoint. It captures sharp self-portraits with good color accuracy and offers various beautification options for those who prefer a more polished look.
HMD Skyline Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power with Quick Top-Ups
The HMD Skyline comes equipped with a 4,600mAh battery, which might seem modest compared to some competitors pushing 5,000mAh or more.
However, thanks to efficient power management and the adaptive refresh rate display, the Skyline comfortably lasts through a full day of moderate to heavy use.
In our testing, the phone consistently provided 6-7 hours of screen-on time, including a mix of web browsing, social media use, video streaming, and some light gaming.
Power users might find themselves reaching for the charger by evening, but for most, the Skyline should easily last from morning to night.
When it comes to charging, HMD has included 33W wired fast charging support.
This isn’t the fastest in the market, but it’s certainly quick enough for most users.
In our tests, the phone charged from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes, with a full charge taking just over an hour.
The Skyline also supports 15W wireless charging, a feature not always found in this price range.
While slower than wired charging, it’s a convenient option for overnight charging or topping up during the day.
There’s even support for 5W reverse wireless charging, allowing you to share some juice with other Qi-compatible devices in a pinch.
HMD Skyline Software and User Experience: Clean, Customizable, and Committed
The HMD Skyline runs on Android 14 out of the box, with HMD’s light customization layer on top.
The company has taken a near-stock approach to Android, which results in a clean, bloatware-free experience that many users will appreciate.
HMD has added a few thoughtful touches to enhance usability. The custom button on the side of the device can be programmed to perform different actions with single, double, or long presses.
This level of customization allows users to quickly access their most-used features or apps.
The company has committed to providing two years of major Android updates and three years of security patches for the Skyline.
While not as lengthy as some competitors offering up to five years of updates, it’s still a respectable commitment that should keep the phone secure and up-to-date for the majority of its practical lifespan.
One area where the Skyline stands out is its focus on privacy and security.
The phone comes with HMD’s security suite, which includes features like app permission monitoring, a secure folder for sensitive data, and a privacy dashboard that gives you a clear overview of how your data is being accessed.
HMD Skyline Conclusion: A Compelling Mid-Range Contender
The HMD Skyline represents a significant step forward for the company in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. It successfully balances performance, design, and sustainability, offering a package that’s hard to ignore for its price point.
Pros:
– Striking design with a focus on repairability
– Smooth 144Hz pOLED display
– Capable camera system with versatile lens options
– Solid performance for everyday tasks and gaming
– Clean, near-stock Android experience
– Wireless charging support
Cons:
– Only two years of major Android updates promised
– IP54 rating falls short of some competitors offering IP67/68
– Lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack may disappoint some users
The HMD Skyline is an excellent choice for users who value a balance of performance, style, and sustainability.
Its repairable design sets it apart in a market where planned obsolescence is often the norm.
While it may not boast the absolute latest specs or the longest software support, it offers a well-rounded package that should satisfy most users’ needs.
For those in the market for a mid-range device that doesn’t feel like a compromise, the HMD Skyline is definitely worth considering.
It proves that you don’t need to break the bank to get a phone that looks good, performs well, and aligns with eco-conscious values.
As HMD continues to carve out its identity in the post-Nokia era, the Skyline stands as a promising sign of things to come from the Finnish manufacturer.