Important points of ZDNET
- HMD Skyline is the first Android smartphone to support Qi2 wireless charging. This means it can be magnetically attached to compatible accessories.
- User-repairable devices are also available, and the company will provide spare displays, batteries, and other parts for at least seven years.
- For $500, expect trade-offs such as middling camera and graphics performance and a noisy vibration motor.
More purchasing options
In between testing the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Apple iPhone 16, I $500 HMD Skyline. At a fraction of the price of the aforementioned flagship models, I expected the Skyline experience to be bare-bones, middling, and frankly not much to write home about. As soon as I started testing, I realized how wrong I was.
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Skyline’s highlights are three features: self-healing, an action button, and Qi2 wireless charging. Yes, I said the Q word. Two years after the Wireless Power Consortium first announced the Qi2 standard, the feature is finally coming to Android smartphones. Did anyone expect that HMD would be the first manufacturer to offer it?
Qi2 allows you to magnetically snap your device to supported accessories, from charging stations to car mounts to grip attachments. In the simplest terms, it’s MagSafe for Android. Previously, Android smartphones required a magnetic ring accessory to provide such functionality, but Qi2 is built directly into the handset. So, the first thing I did after taking the Skyline out of the box was to prop it up. Charging stand purchased from Belkin –And then it clicked!
Also: Finally, a budget-friendly iPhone car mount with Qi2 charging.
Of course, the attachment part is only half the Qi2 story. The standard also allows handsets to charge at 15W (vs. 5W), which is closer to the speed of wired charging on some phones. To reap the benefits, you need to make sure your wireless charger is Qi2 certified.
Skyline’s industrial design is reminiscent of older Nokia Lumia phones, with sharp edges, rounded display corners, and a smooth aluminum finish. With HMD’s pink tones, the Skyline really pops. However, while it looks great in photos, it’s slippery to hold, the corners often dig into your palm, and it’s not very comfortable to use with one hand. Fortunately, a case solves both of these problems, so we highly recommend purchasing one.
Also: Why I’m recommending the standard iPhone 16 over the Pro this year (and I’m not alone)
Along the side of the phone, there is a recessed power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner. The scanner works well and often registers my thumb or index finger on the first tap, but I wish the HMD had an “unlock when pressed” option. Currently, the scanner is active even when your phone’s display is turned off, so it’s possible to accidentally press it while it’s in your pocket.
I’m more interested in Skyline’s custom button on the left side of the phone. I think it’s a knock-off of the iPhone’s action button, but HMD offers a more functional and intuitive software experience. For example, you can register a long press function. and Press twice to access system settings (i.e., turn on the flashlight, open the camera app, change the sound profile) and app-based shortcuts (i.e., start ChatGPT voice mode, navigate to your home in Google Maps, etc.) You will see a vertically stacked list containing the. (Open YouTube).
The Skyline is powered by a mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset and 8GB of RAM, and I found this combination to be sufficient to handle my daily activities. This includes loading photos and videos while scrolling through Reddit and threads, replying to emails, and streaming NFL games during breaks. Stutters and slowdowns are easy to ignore unless your phone has just started up or you’ve downloaded multiple apps in the background.
Also: Microsoft’s new laptop repairability surprises iFixit and sets a high bar for rivals (looking at you, Apple)
I suspect that the 144Hz refresh rate display, which remained fixed throughout the test, has something to do with the phone’s ease of movement. The move from 120 Hz on flagship phones to 144 Hz on Skyline isn’t as big a revelation as it might seem, but I’ve doomscrolled through enough phones to notice the difference. The addition of frames makes web browsing and game play much smoother. .
Of the three cameras on the phone, we found the 108MP main lens to be the most reliable, with a detailed output that doesn’t go beyond saturation. This may not be acceptable to everyone, especially if you want to take “Instagram-worthy” photos when shooting. Telephoto lenses also don’t have optical image stabilization, so zoomed-in videos can look shaky than you’d like.
Skyline has one final aspect to consider when purchasing a cell phone, and that is repairability. HMD has teamed up with iFixit to allow users to easily remove the back cover (by loosening the locking screw at the bottom and hollowing out the back seal with a guitar pick) to replace defective or aging parts, including the battery. I built a mobile phone. charging boards, speakers, etc.
HMD says the initiative will last seven years. This means that you can purchase and replace spare parts until 2031. It’s admirable that cell phone manufacturers have self-repair capabilities, and I’d like to see them do the same. Others will follow suit.
Also, my biggest regret is updating my iPhone to iOS 18 (which is not a big deal).
While it’s true that consumers are spending more time with their phones before upgrading, my concerns about Skyline’s longevity have to do with the HMD’s software support. The company has only promised to provide Android OS updates for two years and security patches for three years, so Skyline, which is still running Android 14, will not receive any additional features beyond Android 16.
ZDNET purchase advice
For $500, HMD Skyline This is one of the most interesting mid-range phones I’ve tested this year. Whether you should buy one or not depends on which features of your phone are important to you. If fast wireless charging, compatibility with magnet-based accessories, and the ability to easily repair your phone are high on your priority list, Skyline is your best choice for Android.
Otherwise, consider competing devices such as: google pixel 8a, Samsung Galaxy S24 FE,and One Plus 12Rall have the same price but better performance, camera quality, and software support.
