Repairable smartphone with an Achilles heel

HMD started using the Nokia brand as it gained a foothold in the market. Its latest version is unique. The HMD Skyline is a mid-range phone that focuses on being stylish while allowing consumers to repair a broken device at home.

Unfortunately, there is a fundamental problem at the heart of the Skyline HMD.

The Skyline is billed as a phone you can repair at home. Parts are available from iFixit, and my review unit came with a full set of screwdrivers and bits so I could experience the DIY process. If the USB port is broken, you can repair it instead of buying a new phone. Cracked screens can be replaced. If you’re having trouble with the battery, you can order a replacement.

It’s not an easy fix, the construction still uses a lot of glue that has to be pierced, and there’s no room for fat fingers. You’ll need the right tools, screwdrivers, levers and lock picks to get in and out. However, it can be done if you follow the instructions carefully, so kudos to that.

This is a big step towards sustainable devices, and the equipment should remain in good condition for many years to come.

However, HMD only supports the Skyline smartphone with two major Android updates. Given that it comes with Android 14, which is set to be replaced by Android 15 in the next few months, the second and final Android update for the device is generally scheduled for November 2025. Three years of security updates provides a little more peace of mind, but not much.

However, similarly priced phones offer at least five years of software support, while Google’s Pixel 8a offers seven years of software and security updates. All the repair options in the world are worthless if you can’t protect your personal data.

For many, this will be a decisive moment.

This lack of synergy between hardware and software is all the more disappointing given that HMD has a solid Skyline smartphone. The company started out licensing Nokia’s phone brand once it established itself in the market. The transition from Nokia to HMD didn’t begin until September 2023, and less than a year later we have what could be considered the company’s defining phone.

Those with long memories will have already recognized the phone’s subtle, sloping edge design, along with the square, forward-facing display profile, as a nod to Nokia’s Fabula design language, seen in many Windows Phone devices. The Skyline feels just as good in the hand as those older phones, but it’s less stable on a desk, where the off-center camera causes a slight wobble (Fabula mostly moved the center cameras).

Those who take a fresh approach to design will find a unique look that stands out in the current crop of phones; no easy feat given the dominance of any main display. This is helped by the Neon Pink model, which stands out without being garish, although I think many will opt for the more subtle Twisted Black.

At $500, the Skyline is at the upper end of the mid-range, but the specs seem to be even higher. Sure, it’s not the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but the SnapDragon 7 Gen 2 is a capable chipset that provides enough power for everyday use. This phone won’t be used for high-end gaming or be home to demanding mission-critical apps. It offers smooth performance for browsing the web and key apps, as well as photo and video processing.

The camera specs are also a cut above other models in this price range; the Skyline has a 108-megapixel main lens, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.

The photo processing is geared towards a more natural look typical of old Nokia phones, rather than the high saturation seen on Oppo and Honor phones. The same goes for the telephoto lens, although the colors are a bit more vibrant than on the main camera.

It’s limited to x2 optical zoom, and I suspect that’s one area where the target price has limited the specs. The digital zoom offers x3 and x4 options, but those are crops and zooms from the camera’s main lens, not the telephoto lens. x4 is fine, but x4 seems ambitious.

The Skyline also offers a 50-megapixel selfie camera that also does a good job of rendering colors naturally, but there are times when you might lose definition in darker conditions compared to the sharp detail you get in good light.

The battery choice is a compromise. At 4,600mAh, it’s one of the smaller batteries on the market in this price range, with 5,000mAh batteries being more common. Charging is slow, maxing out at 33W from a wired charger, and you’ll need to supply your own, as there’s no charger included in the retail box. A full charge, even at 33W, will take over an hour.

Wireless charging is present, which isn’t always a given at this price point. It’s a feature I always welcome for its convenience to my lifestyle, even if it only offers 15W. I sit at a desk often enough for this to work.

HMD’s implementation of Android is one of the cleanest available. Google’s Pixel series is similarly clean, but it does have a few extra first-party apps that aren’t available for HMD. Still, the relative lack of bloatware — whether third-party apps or apps that use cloud services — is welcome. Some is still here (Amazon and Booking.com seem to be everywhere, but fortunately they can be quickly uninstalled).

The HMD’s big addition to the Android UI is the custom button. It’s right across from the power button and can trigger actions by pressing and holding or double-tapping. A custom double-tapping option is also available on the power button. It’s a solid idea that’s been implemented by other manufacturers in various forms over the years. You can only choose from a pre-defined list of actions in one of the most unintuitive “selector” dialogs I’ve seen in a long time.

A heavily delayed Detox mode — which will limit alerts and social media notifications — will arrive in a later update. Given the similar feature from other manufacturers, it’s not something I’m particularly drawn to, though it has found an audience due to its widespread adoption.

As with any phone, compromises and winners have to be determined in the design process. Some phones focus on a large, vibrant screen, some on photography above all else, while for others, battery life is the goal.

HMD’s move to put repairability at the heart of the Skyline helps it stand out in an almost unique way — the Fairphone 5 is probably the closest comparison. It’s likely that it’s ripping out some parts of the design to allow for more protection around the components consumers will be dealing with (like the battery and its connectors). It’s quick to describe, easy to understand and do, and even if many will never use it, they’ll find comfort and security in the fact that the option is there.

Today, the HMD Skyline is a phone that does everything it can to stand out, not just because of its decision to make it user-repairable, but also because of its recognizable design and custom button. But its weaker display and the short-lived nature of software support are still etched in my memory.

Disclaimer: HMD provided HMS Skyline for review purposes.