The HMD Skyline has attracted a lot of attention. What is it – is it nostalgia for the Nokia N9? Or is it the repairability angle that draws people in? The phone is now available in some countries (on pre-order in others), so we have to ask – will you buy one?
The design feels quite fresh – we’ve seen all the rounded rectangles that we can handle – and the comparison with the N9 is a positive one, for those who remember the MeeGo phone. However, instead of polycarbonate, this one uses a modern metal-and-glass construction.
The phone is designed to be easily repaired at home by non-pros. You just need a tool set from iFixit (or just use your own Torx screwdrivers) and you should be able to replace a cracked screen in just 10 minutes. This is awesome, but we wish HMD took software support as seriously as it did repairability – 2 OS updates and 3 years of security patches is too short.
HMD Skyline
That aside, 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 Qi2, which has magnets similar to the Apple MagSafe system. Is this the first Android with Qi2? It might be, we can’t think of any other.
The 108MP main camera (with OIS) can record 4K video at 30fps and is joined by a 50MP 2x telephoto module (with 4x zoom) and a 13MP ultra wide. The 50MP selfie camera seems impressive too – 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. The repairability has limited the IP rating to IP54, but the old Gorilla Glass 3 is harder to explain.
The HMD Skyline is currently £400 in the UK for the 8/128GB model and £500 for the 8/256GB one. In Germany, the phone shows as “coming soon” with a launch set for August 9 and a price tag of €550 for the 8/256GB unit.
If you want throwback design, the OnePlus Nord 4 has an aluminum unibody. And it features the more powerful SD 7+ Gen 3 chipset, but there’s no telephoto module here. Also, the aluminum back means no wireless charging, but you’re still left with a 5,500mAh battery and 100W wired-only charging.
The Realme GT 6 is a modern design and flaunts a 6.78” LTPO display and a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. The 50MP main camera and 50MP 2x tele lens will make for an interesting comparison with the HMD. This one also has a 5,500mAh battery with 120W wired-only charging this time.
Note that the Nord stands out with a promise of 4 OS updates and 6 years of security patches. The Realme is only getting 3 OS updates and 4 years of patches, but that’s still better than the HMD.
OnePlus Nord 4 • Realme GT 6 • Sony Xperia 10 VI
What about a Sony Xperia 10 VI? That’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 7s Gen 2, though at lower clock speeds. This phone has a 50MP main camera, 8MP ultra wide and no tele. The 8MP selfie camera is tucked into the top bezel rather than being 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?
