HMD has officially unveiled the HMD Skyline smartphone featuring a Gen2 Repairability design, after speculation and teasers. This innovation enables straightforward, at-home repairs by simply turning a single screw to pop open the back cover using a screwdriver and guitar pick.
It features a 6.55-inch pOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, and HDR10 video playback, and is runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC. It includes a Custom Button that users can configure to perform specific actions, such as launching their favourite game, navigating home, or activating a personal assistant, based on different press actions.
It is equipped with a 108MP rear camera featuring Hybrid OIS, alongside a 13MP ultra-wide lens and a 50MP telephoto camera optimized for 50mm portraits, the phone also boasts a 50MP front camera with autofocus and eye-tracking capabilities. An upcoming August update will introduce support for 4K selfie videos.
Gen2 Repairability Design -
The new design significantly reduces the number of steps required to repair the HMD Skyline screen by 65% compared to HMD’s previous repairable smartphone, the G22. Opening the back cover of the HMD Skyline involves a simple counter-clockwise twist to release a corner, revealing an elegant mechanism: a screw-driven rotating arm with a spring that retracts upon release. Turning it engages a cam lobe against a plate on the back cover, securely clipping it back together when closed.
Once the back cover is off, access is granted to a series of screws for removing and disconnecting the display cable, allowing for easy screen replacement. The HMD Skyline utilizes a foam gasket around the display perimeter to maintain its IP54 rating.
The battery is equipped with a built-in plastic liner that can be separated by hand, facilitating quick removal from the chassis. Once the battery is extracted, any remaining adhesive residue can be cleaned off, and fresh adhesive strips applied before installing a new battery. According to HMD, the Gen2 repairability of the HMD Skyline allows users to address issues such as bent charging ports, scratched back covers, screen replacements, and battery replacements with ease.
Detox Mode -
The new built-in Detox Mode includes a bespoke app and contact-blocking feature, allowing users to customize their detox experience according to their preferences. It helps them focus on the real world and enjoy balanced smartphone usage whenever they seek a break from the digital world.
The phone is powered by a 4600mAh battery that promises up to 48 hours of use. Supporting 33W fast charging and Qi wireless charging, it allows charging with any magnetized Qi2 charger. The battery is touted to retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 800 full charging cycles, as per company claims.
HMD Skyline Specifications -
| Display | 6.55-inch (1080 x 2400 pixels) FHD+ 20:9 aspect ratio pOLED display, 144Hz refresh rate up to 1000 nits brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection |
| Processor | Up to 2.4GHz Octa Core Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 710 GPU |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB / 12GB RAM, 128GB / 256GB storage, expandable memory up to 1TB with microSD |
| OS/UI | Android 14, 2 years of updates, 3 years of security patches |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, eSIM) |
| Rear Cameras | 108MP rear camera with Hybrid OIS+EIS, LED flash, 13 MP Ultra-wide camera, 50 MP telephoto camera, Capture Fusion technology, 50mm Portrait mode, 4K video capture, OZO Spatial Audio capture with wind-noise cancellation |
| Front Camera | 50MP auto-focus front-facing camera with Eye-tracking focus |
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 2x Quick access buttons, USB Type-C audio, Stereo Speakers, OZO Playback, Dust and water resistance (IP54) |
| Dimensions | 159.84 x 75.66 x 8.9mm |
| Weight | 209.5g |
| Connectivity | 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ax (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS/A-GPS, Galileo L1/L5 dual-band, GLONASS, BDS, USB Type-C, NFC |
| Battery/Charger | 4600 mAh (user replaceable) battery with 33W wired charging, (QC4.0 and PD3.0 PPS compatible), 15W magnetic wireless charging, 5w reverse wireless charging, Qi2 certified |
Pricing and Availability -
HMD Skyline comes in Neon Pink and Twisted Black colours, and it is already on sale on HMD.com in select countries. Self-repair support is offered through iFixit in select markets.
HMD Skyline Prices are -
- 8GB RAM/128GB storage version - £399 (USD 518 / Rs. 43,340 approx.) / €499 (USD 545 / Rs. 45,620 approx.)
- 12GB RAM/256GB storage version - £499 (USD 648 / Rs. 54,200 approx.) / €599 (USD 654 / Rs. 54,765 approx.)
