The HMD Skyline is a mid-range Android phone built around easy self-repair. HMD announced it on July 18, 2024, and sales in Europe began the same day. In the US, it went on sale in August 2024 at $499.99 for the 8GB/256GB model. In Europe, it started at €499 for 8GB/128GB. It was HMD’s first premium phone under its own brand.
Design and display
The Skyline has a flat, angular body that recalls classic Nokia Lumia phones. The frame is made of recycled aluminum, and the back is tempered glass. The phone weighs 209.5 g and is 8.9 mm thick. It carries an IP54 rating, so it handles dust and splashes but not submersion.
Repairability is the main idea. HMD calls it Gen2 repairability: the back cover, display, battery and charging port can be replaced at home. Spare parts and guides come through iFixit in select markets.
The 6.55-inch pOLED screen has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 144Hz refresh rate. Peak brightness reaches 1,000 nits, and Gorilla Glass 3 covers the front. A customizable side button gives quick access to apps and features.
Performance
The phone runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, a 4nm chip with an Adreno 710 GPU. It comes with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. A microSD slot adds up to 512GB, although it shares space with a SIM slot.
Cameras
The rear setup has three cameras. The main sensor has 108MP, autofocus and optical stabilization. Next to it are a 13MP ultrawide camera and a 50MP telephoto camera, with zoom from 0.5x to 4x. On the front, a 50MP selfie camera has autofocus with eye tracking. The rear cameras record 4K video at 30fps.
Battery and charging
The 4,600mAh battery is user-replaceable, and HMD rates it for up to 48 hours. Wired charging reaches 33W, and the phone supports Qi2 magnetic wireless charging at 15W. It can also charge accessories with 5W reverse wireless charging. No charger is included in the box.
Software and updates
The Skyline launched with Android 14 and a clean interface. HMD promised two OS upgrades and three years of security updates. The Android 15 update has already arrived. A Detox Mode can limit apps, contacts and notifications to cut screen time.
Connectivity includes 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC and eSIM. The USB-C port runs at USB 2.0 speed, and there is no headphone jack.
Should you buy the HMD Skyline?
The Skyline suits buyers who want to fix their own phone and keep it longer. Its sharp design, wireless charging and expandable storage are other strong points. However, the update policy is short for a phone built to last. In July 2025, HMD also scaled back its US operations, while promising to keep supporting existing US customers. Buyers in the US should keep that in mind.
