characteristics, price and technical data sheet

• The new HMD smartphone starts at €499.99 and allows us to change the screen, battery, back cover and even the charging port from home.

• The device resembles the classic Nokia Lumia and is intended to be a fairly competitive mid-range premium device.

HMD Global has long made it clear that it intends to release smartphones under its own brand rather than under the Nokia umbrella. Several models have appeared since then, but today the company has just taken a major step forward. Not because it’s new HMD Skyline It looks really interesting, but because of everything it means in terms of repairability, a topic of paramount importance in the world of tech, HMD Global has managed to surprise.

And the new HMD Skyline, very reminiscent of the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia N9, stands out in that it allows the user to change the back cover, battery and even the screen, all from home, using only a screwdriver and a pick. guitar. A very interesting proposal, which we will get to know better below.

HMD Skyline Technical Datasheet

Removable

According to HMD Global, the new HMD Skyline features “second-generation repairability,” a term the company uses to describe how easy it is to repair a handset. As an example, the company cited that the number of steps to replace a screen is 65 percent fewer than its first repairable smartphone, the Nokia G22.

The terminal has an internal camshaft driven by a screw, which makes disassembly quick. Once the cover is open, you have access to a series of screws that allow disconnect and remove the screen cablewhich falls off automatically. To install a new one, you just need to clean off the remaining adhesive and add some new adhesive strips, while maintaining IP54 resistance. The battery is also replaceable, as are the bent charging ports and the back cover, all thanks to iFixit.

The HMD Skyline is made from recycled aluminum and is reminiscent of Nokia’s Windows Phone handsets (may they rest in peace). The back, protected by tempered glass, has a two-piece finish that gives it a very distinctive look, with the pattern repeated on the front. The curved screen is integrated into the body, which has straighter corners. If you’ve owned a Lumia 920 or Nokia N9, the look is very, very similar.

Something interesting is this customizable side button. Similar to the action button on the latest iPhones, the HMD Skyline button can be customized to perform different actions when we hold it down and/or double-tap it (launch an app, call Assistant, etc.).

At full hertz and in the mid-range of engine speeds

Speaking of the screen, HMD Globa has implemented a 6.55-inch pOLED panel with a FullHD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels), a refresh rate of 144 Hz and HDR10 compatibility. The screen format is quite elongated (20:9) and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, not the latest version, but it should be adequate.

Under the hood we have eight or 12 gigabytes RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage, which, curiously, can be expanded with MicroSD cards up to 512 GB (this is becoming increasingly rare). The engine is Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (the mid-range from Qualcomm), which is powered by a 4600 mAh battery with fast and wireless charging of 33 and 15 W, respectively. As we have already said, it is interchangeable.

The operating system is Android 14 and is perhaps one of the weakest points. Not because the version is outdated, but because HMD Global is committed to offering only two years of major updates and three years of security patches. There are already brands offering updates for up to seven years, and it is a shame that a repairable terminal with such great potential will become obsolete in such a short time.

Let’s talk about the camera

One of the legacies that the Nokia Lumia series left us is the camera. Years ago, the Nokia Lumia 1020 surprised us with a 41-megapixel sensor and decent results (which, it must be said, haven’t aged too well). HMD is looking to renew that legacy, but taking it one step further.

At the rear is installed Main sensor 108 megapixelsa wide-angle 13 and a telephoto 50 lens with 4x optical zoom, all accompanied by a hybrid stabilization system (OIS + EIS). On the front panel, we see a 50-megapixel sensor with eye tracking for improved selfie focusing. In addition, starting in August, it will be possible to record in 4K using the front camera.

HMD Skyline Versions and Price

He HMD Skyline It will be available in two RAM and storage options and two colors: Neon Pink and Twisted Black. Their prices are as follows:

Images | HMD Global

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