After weeks of leaks and rumors, HMD finally released the Skyline, its most powerful smartphone to date. Without a doubt, one of the hot topics circling around the Skyline has to do with its design, somewhat reminiscent of the now-defunct Nokia Lumia line, albeit with sharp rectangular edges and a uniqueness all its own.
HMD introduces the Skyline with a Gen 2 repairability design that will let users easily open it up for repair, including screen replacement and battery replacement. That is remarkable, as most brands have moved toward sealing devices to prevent water and dust ingress.
The HMD Skyline packs a 6.5-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 144Hz, powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset. It will come in two RAM options: 8GB and 12GB, whereas storage options are 128GB and 256GB.
On the back, it has installed a camera setup that includes a 108MP main camera, OIS, a 13MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50 MP telephoto lens. HMD has fitted the camera with AI capabilities, including AI Capture Fashion for maximum details in photos.
It comes with a 4,600mAh battery with support for up to 33W wired charging and 15W Qi2 wireless charging. It will run stock Android 14 with the promise of 2 years OS updates and 3 years security patches. One of the more interesting features is Detox Mode, which restricts some app notifications and limits access to social media for a more focused experience.
Across the board, the pricing for the Skyline starts at $399 for the 8GB/128GB model and $499 for the 12GB/256GB model. Just weeks ago, HMD sealed confirmation that Skyline is coming to Kenya in August at KES 58,000. Color options include Neon Pink and Twisted Black.
The Skyline embodies a most exciting repairable design in this class, which has come with advanced features to make it a niche in the smartphone market; it will be awaited how users use it.