HMD Global has long made clear its intention to launch smartphones under its own brand, not under Nokia. Many models have emerged since then, but today the company has taken a significant step forward. Not because it’s new HMD Skyline It looks really interesting, but due to its meaning in terms of repairability, it is a subject of great importance in the technology world and one that HMD Global has managed to surprise.

Quite reminiscent of the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia N9, the new HMD Skyline stands out for allowing the user to replace the back cover, the battery and even the screen from home using only a screwdriver and a pick. guitar. A very interesting proposal that we will get to know better below.

HMD Skyline technical sheet

Removable

According to HMD Global, the new HMD Skyline features “Gen2 repairability.” It’s a term the company uses to describe how easy it is to repair the terminal. One example the company offers is that the number of steps required to replace the screen is 65% fewer than its first repairable smartphone, the Nokia G22.

The terminal contains an internal screw-driven camshaft, which speeds up disassembly. Once the cover is removed, you have access to a number of screws. disconnect and remove the display cableit falls off automatically. To install a new one, simply clean off the remaining adhesive and add a few new adhesive strips while maintaining IP54 resistance. The battery, as well as bent charging ports and the back cover, can also be replaced thanks to iFixit.

Repairability of HMD Skyline | Image: HMD

In terms of design, the HMD Skyline is made of recycled aluminum and is reminiscent of Nokia phones with Windows Phone (may they rest in peace). The back, protected by tempered glass, has a two-part finish, a pattern that is repeated on the front, giving it a rather peculiar appearance. The display with curved corners is integrated into the chassis, which has flatter corners. If someone has used a Lumia 920 or a Nokia N9, the result is very, very similar.

The interesting thing is that customizable side buttonSimilar to the action button on the latest iPhones, the HMD Skyline button can be customized to perform different actions when we press and hold it and/or double-press it (launch an app, summon an assistant, etc.).

In full hertz and mid-range motor

Neon Pink HMD Skyline | Image: HMD

Speaking of the screen, HMD Globe has implemented a 6.55-inch pOLED panel with FullHD+ resolution (2,400 x 1,080 pixels), 144 Hz refresh rate and HDR10 compatibility. The screen format is quite elongated (20:9) and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, although it is not the latest version, but it should be suitable for this.

There are eight or 12 under the hood gigabyte The RAM and internal storage are up to 256 GB, which, interestingly, can be expanded with microSD cards up to 512 GB (something that is increasingly rare). The engine is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (Qualcomm’s premium mid-range) powered by a 4,600 mAh battery with fast and wireless charging of 33 and 15 watts respectively. As we said, they are replaceable.

Twisted Black HMD Skyline | Image: HMD Global

The operating system is Android 14 and is perhaps one of the most compromised points. Not because the version is not up to date, but because HMD Global only promises to offer two years of major updates and three years of security patches. There are already brands that offer up to seven years of updates and it is a real shame that a repairable terminal with such great potential has become obsolete in such a short time.

Let’s talk about the camera

HMD Skyline Camera | Image: HMD

One of the legacies left to us by the Nokia Lumia series is the camera. Years ago, the Nokia Lumia 1020 surprised with its 41 megapixel sensor and very good results (it must be said that it has not aged very well). HMD aims to continue this legacy, but goes one step further.

A mounted on the rear 108 megapixel main sensorThe 13° wide angle and 50° telephoto and four times optical zoom are accompanied by a hybrid stabilization system (OIS + EIS). On the front we find a 50 megapixel sensor with eye tracking to improve the focus of selfies. In addition, from August, 4K recording will be possible with the front camera.

HMD Skyline versions and price

Two colours of HMD Skyline | Image: HMD Global

HE HMD Skyline It will be available in two versions of RAM and internal storage and in two colors: Neon Pink (pink) and Twisted Black (black). Their prices are as follows:

• HMD Skyline (8/128 GB): 499.99 Euros.
• HMD Skyline (12/512 GB): 599.99 Euros.

Images | HMD Global

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