HMD has very clearly been making moves towards its general brand look for some time now especially after dropping the Nokia label from its device. With this new approach, it seems like the company wants to be different and it’s one thing that is currently missing in the smartphone market right now. So when we received the brand new HMD Skyline, it was very clear that the brand wanted to offer devices that from the first look bring something unique. But what else does the HMD Skyline bring to justify its KES 60,000 price point?
Design & Display
HMD has been marketing the Skyline as a device designed for creators with features like the selfie camera and the design taking center-stage. From the box, the phone stands out. You can get the phone in other colour options, but the pink choice is one I would see many people go for. The smartphone comes in this unique rectangular look that pays homage to the fallen Nokia Lumia lineup but also comes with its modern twist. The sharp edges probably wouldn’t appeal to everyone but I liked seeing how different from every other phone that tries to have rounded corners.
There are generally no issues when it comes to handling the edges, as they are also slightly chipped to help one’s hand easily hold the phone. The look is slightly chunky/beefy but the phone itself is lighter than it looks. The matte finish on both the frame and the back also adds to the appeal as you don’t have to worry about fingerprint smudges. I also liked how subtle and minimalistic the rear camera bump is, not having to scream and even being small enough not to bother when having the phone lying on a table.
The other standout feature is the third Custom button on the left-hand side which seems to be slowly making a comeback in several brands. This can be customized to perform a quick action of your choosing. By default, a long press will switch between vibrate and sound, while a double press will activate the flashlight. Having easy access to functions you’d normally have to turn your phone on to access is incredibly handy, and double pressing the power button goes straight to camera mode à la Pixel phones. These are minor yet functional design choices that many will appreciate.
The other main draw about this phone is its repairability as you can easily open the back cover through a single screw at the bottom. Having tried to open it, I was surprised how practical, safe and easy the whole process is, enabling one to either replace a battery or check an issue without having to get scammed by the fundis. It was honestly refreshing to see a brand bring this process back as most modern phones have to be super airtight for water and dust resistance.
The HMD Skyline sports a big pOLED 6.5-inch display surrounded by fairly thin bezels but ones that many would say stand out with current standards. Personally, I didn’t mind the size. With FHD+ (1080 x 2400) resolution, the display offers enough visual quality for your daily quality complemented heavily by a 144Hz maximum refresh rate that ensures those buttery smooth scrolls on your social media and email apps. It was also a treat to see game graphics flow smoothly due to this feature. The biggest setback? 1000 nits of peak brightness! I would have wished for the screen to light up a little more outdoors during those sunny days but it is still visible enough.
Performance
Midrange phones offer a balance of performance and affordability, but there will always be some drawbacks to suit the price range. With the HMD Skyline, it’s clear that it has looked to the past to keep its cost low. The device sports a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 that does its job to offer that smooth experience paired with 12GB RAM that ensures you can keep enough apps open in the background without glitches.
Some would have wished that it came in this year’s standard chipset which is a valid argument. You want to see a phone for 2024 have that high-flying performance we see in current-day mobile CPUs.
Generally, the phone will give you the daily performance levels you need from your basic to the graphic-heavy apps and games. But you will have to make sure you limit the quality of graphics on your games, for example.
Camera
The HMD Skyline comes with a 108Mp main rear camera with autofocus. You should expect solid and vivid shots that capture lighting well and deliver accurate colours which is what basic mobile photography is all about. The 13MP wide and 50MP telephoto also do well to deliver in their tasks without making you suffer in terms of quality. You won’t get that “wow” factor when it comes to high definition in your photos but the phone tends to love that natural light while outdoors.
You also get a couple of settings that you can enjoy tinkering with including the beautifier scale, HDR mode, stability sensor, aspect ratio and more. The 4x zoom on the telephoto lens is also one that offers great detail in your shots which is a huge plus.
As mentioned before, the 50MP front camera is one of the standout features on the Skyline capturing shots that are detailed and filled with favourable colours, especially in Portrait mode. So creators and avid selfie enthusiasts can enjoy when it comes to capturing photos or even videos for vlogs.
There’s also a Selfie Gesture mechanic you can use to take a shot. Putting up a peace sign, thumbs up, finger heart sign, or two-hand heart sign will activate a timer on the front camera to snap a shot. It isn’t anything new, but it’s a great way to quickly pose for a selfie.
Battery & Charging
The phone packs a 4600mAh battery which I would have wished got to at least 5000mAh but didn’t hurt as much when it came to lasting a whole day under light work like watching YouTube videos and listening to music while replying to texts.
The charging was even more surprising seeing that it comes with Qi2 support, meaning you can get to wirelessly juice it up. Being able to securely stick the Skyline on a magnetic wireless charging pad without a special case is fantastic. 15W might be a tad slow but efficient enough if you want your phone slowly charging overnight. The phone’s 33W wired charging ensures you’re able to recharge your phone from 20% to 100% in about an hour which is solid although I would have loved to see 60W that has become the standard for this price range.
Verdict
Generally, the phone is impressively different. From the design, repairability, refresh rate, and Qi2 support, there are several aspects the HMD Skyline thrives on. There are more features we would have loved to see the device offer but it is a solid start from HMD and we can’t wait to see what more the company offers soon.
Would you get the HMD Skyline?
