HMD Skyline has a distinctive design and build that combines aesthetics with practicality. Design-wise, the phone is a real deal with sharp corners and flat sides, reminiscent of the Nokia N9, giving it a unique look. Its side frame is rounded for a comfortable grip, although the sharp corners might be a bit uncomfortable until you get used to them. HMD selected distinctive colorways for their prized Skyline model, thus making it stand out:
- Neon Pink
- Twisted Black
- Blue Topaz.
The handset is as premium as they come. The back cover is made of frosted glass, which is removable. This helps provide easy access to the battery and other components. An additional custom button on the left side of the phone with a textured surface enables easy access.
The Volume Rocker and Power Button are located on the right side. Notably, the power button lies flush with the frame and might be hard to find. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner, while functional and useful, may not be as convenient as an under-display sensor.
The HMD Skyline is a bulky and heavy phone. Although the ergonomic design and flat side may be decisive, you could be surprised the moment you actually handle it in your grasp. Measuring 159.8 x 76 x 8.9 mm and weighing 209.5g, you will certainly feel its weight and massive size in your hand and pocket.
As expected, the handset is waterproof certified. It has IP54 Water and Dust Resistance and offers modest protection against dust and water.
- DIY Serviceable: Designed with repairability in mind, allowing you to replace parts like the screen, charging port, and battery.
- T3 Torx Screwdriver Required: The back panel is secured with a T3 Torx screw, making it easy to remove and reattach.
Overall, the HMD Skyline is a uniquely designed mid-range smartphone, built to be stylish and practical, with a focus on repairability and durability.
The phone boasts a versatile camera setup designed to capture high-quality photos and videos.
Capture high-quality selfies and 1080p@30/60fps with the 50 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF lens. It is perfect for perfect for high-resolution selfies and video calls.
The main camera consists of:
- 108MP Main Camera: Wide lens with PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for detailed and sharp photos.
- 50 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom:
- 50 MP Resolution: Captures high-quality, detailed images.
- Aperture: f/2.0, which helps in low-light conditions.
- Sensor Size: 1/2.76″ sensor size, with 0.64µm pixel size.
- PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus): Provides fast and accurate focusing.
- Optical Zoom: 2x optical zoom allows for capturing subjects from a distance without losing image quality.
This telephoto lens complements the primary and ultra-wide lenses, providing versatility for various photography scenarios.
- 13 MP, f/2.5, (ultrawide), 1/3″, 1.12µm: Captures a wider field of view, perfect for landscapes and group shots.
The main camera features an LED flash and HDR. It records 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, with gyro-EIS
The device has a great display to provide you with an awesome viewing experience. The P-OLED is known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks when viewing pictures and videos. This type of display has several characteristics that make it great for immersive viewing. These include:
- Flexible and Lightweight: The use of plastic makes P-OLED displays thinner and lighter than traditional glass-based OLED displays.
- Durability: P-OLED displays can be more resistant to impacts and less prone to shattering compared to glass.
- Cost-Effective: Manufacturing P-OLED displays can be less expensive, which can help reduce the overall cost of the device.
- Quality: P-OLED displays offer similar image quality to AMOLED displays, including deep blacks, high contrast ratios, and vibrant colors
The 6.55 inches provides a large and immersive viewing area. 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution offers a high pixel density of approximately 402 ppi for sharp and clear images.
144Hz, which is way above the standard 120Hz for most mid-range to high-end smartphones ensures smooth visuals and a responsive experience, particularly beneficial for gaming and scrolling.
HDR10+ Support delivers excellent color accuracy and contrast, making movies and photos look stunning. High brightness levels, up to 1,000 nits) ensure good visibility even in direct sunlight.
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 provides necessary protection to the P-OLED display, providing necessary durability and long-term usability of the phone by ensuring continued optimized viewing.
The phone is powered by the Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) chipset. It is built on a 4 nm process technology which enhances performance and energy efficiency. The chip comes integrated with
- CPU: Octa-core (4×2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) for seamless multitasking
- GPU: Adreno 710 for smooth gaming
The chipset is well-designed to deliver smooth multitasking, gaming, and overall performance.
- Cloud storage: Google Drive
- RAM: 8GB, 12GB
- Internal storage: 128GB 256 GB
- MicroSD card support up to:512 GB
You can choose from either the 128GB 8GB RAM, or 256GB 12GB RAM models with the variants based on storage specs.
The HMD Skyline is a high-end, premium smartphone offering robust network, connectivity, and communication support.
- 5G Support: Ensures fast internet speeds and connectivity for seamless browsing and streaming.
- Wi-Fi 6E: Provides faster and more reliable wireless internet access, including support for Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Hotspot.
- Bluetooth 5.2: Enables seamless pairing with other devices for data sharing, audio streaming, and more.
- USB Type-C: Offers fast data transfer and charging capabilities.
- NFC: Supports contactless payments and easy pairing with compatible devices.
- GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo: Provides accurate location tracking for navigation and location-based services.
- Dual SIM Support: Allows you to use two different phone numbers on the same device.
- Email and Messaging: Supports various email services and instant messaging apps for staying connected.
- Video Calls: Facilitates high-quality video calls through apps like Skype, Zoom, and more.
- Social Media: Access and interact with social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
These features make the HMD Skyline versatile and reliable when it comes to connectivity. It is a well-connected device, perfect for staying in touch with friends and loved ones, and accessing the internet on the go.
HMD Skyline is powered by a 4,600mAh battery, which is non-removable, but user-replaceable. The battery lasts up to 48 hours hours.
- 33W charging support (QC4.0 and PD3.0 PPS compatible)
- 5W magnetic wireless charging, 5w reverse wireless charging, Qi2 certified
- 5W reverse wireless
- Battery Life: Equipped with a 4,600mAh battery, providing long-lasting usage.
- Charging Options: Supports 33W wired charging and 30W wireless charging, ensuring quick power-ups.
- Battery Usage Monitoring: Provides detailed battery usage statistics, allowing users to identify and manage apps that consume the most power.
- Adaptive Brightness: Adjusts screen brightness based on ambient light to conserve power.
- Screen Timeout: Allows users to set the screen to turn off automatically after a period of inactivity.
- Battery Optimization Settings: Includes built-in battery optimization settings to manage power consumption by limiting background activity and adjusting screen brightness.
- Airplane Mode: Users can switch on airplane mode to disable wireless connections and save battery when not needed.
- Mute Unnecessary Sounds: Reduces power consumption by muting touch sounds and other unnecessary sounds.
- Energy-Efficient Chipset: The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset is designed to be power-efficient, reducing overall power consumption.
- Wi-Fi 6: Provides faster and more reliable wireless internet access, which can help in conserving battery life compared to using mobile data.
These features make the HMD Skyline a great choice for users who need a device with efficient power management.
- HMD Skyline Handset
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety Booklet
- USB Type C Cable
- User Guide
- Sim Pin
- 5G enabled, enabling fast uploading/downloading of large files
- Designed for easy repairs, with replaceable parts like the screen, battery, and charging port
- Good battery life and fast recharging support
- Supports wireless reverse charging.
- The camera setup is powerful and capable of 4K videos, with x2 optical zoom and IOS support.
- High-resolution display with 144Hz refresh rate and 1,000 nits peak brightness.
- Robust Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) chipset
- Enough RAM, up to 12GB and 128GB internal storage, besides MicroSD support for additional external storage.
- 3D Audio Playback for an enhanced listening experience.
- NFC Support which enables contactless payments with ease.
- Includes a 3-in-2 hybrid SIM tray for Nano SIM and microSD card.
- IP54 Water Resistance and Corning Gorilla Victus glass offer needed durability
- HMD Skyline The somewhat heavy at 209g, which might not be comfortable for all users
- Though good for durability, the IP67 water and dust-resistant, it’s not as high as some competitors.
- Only two years of core Android updates can be a concern for long-term users seeking more future-proof devices.
- No Headphone Jack, inconveniencing users who love and prefer 3.5mm jack ports to wireless headphone connectivity.
- The price point could be limiting for some users who may opt for alternative 5G devices at lower prices.
Verdict
For its price, the HMD Skyline is certainly a bargain as a mid-range smartphone. A 6.55-inch P-OLED display, 4600mAh, 108MP triple main camera, and build with repairability in mind make it worth considering. Despite some drawbacks, it still offers value for money at that price range and knocks off many models from competing brands.
- Google Pixel 8a
- Nothing Phone 2 (a)
- Vivo V40 5G
- OnePlus Nord CE4 5G
- Oppo Reno 12F 5G
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