Tech Blog #187 | HMD Skyline: Reminiscence of Nokia N9...

The era of Nokia is over now. Now, there's no brand named Nokia as it was retrieved by HMD. And now, it is HMD. I hope they won't make the same mistakes as Nokia did. When analyzing the first released smartphones by HMD, I thought this may not go well because they weren't paying attention to the context. But they proved it wrong by this smartphone

The HMD Skyline stands out in the crowded smartphone market with its combination of top-tier features and user-centric design. With a sleek, glass front protected by Gorilla Glass 3 and an aluminum frame, it exudes a premium feel. The glass back adds to its elegance while ensuring durability. Its repair-it-yourself capability, IP54 dust and splash resistance, and the unique Neon Pink color variant with matching UI elements are sure to catch the eye of any discerning user. The device's thickness and weight are yet to be disclosed, but it promises a balanced feel in hand, complemented by a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for secure and convenient access.

The Skyline boasts a stunning 6.55-inch P-OLED display with a refresh rate of 144Hz, offering a silky smooth visual experience. The screen's brightness peaks at 1000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright sunlight. With a resolution of 1080P pixels and HDR10 support, the display delivers sharp, vibrant images and video content, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming. The Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection adds a layer of durability to this visually impressive screen.

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, the HMD Skyline is built for performance. Its octa-core CPU, consisting of four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.40 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.95 GHz, ensures efficient multitasking and smooth operation. The Adreno 710 GPU handles graphics-intensive tasks with ease. Available in two variants—128GB of internal storage with 8GB of RAM and 256GB with 12GB of RAM—users have ample space and speed for all their apps, media, and files. The inclusion of a microSDXC card slot allows for expandable storage, further enhancing its versatility.

Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the Skyline's impressive camera setup. The triple rear camera system includes a 108 MP wide lens with PDAF and OIS, a 50 MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 13 MP ultrawide lens. This versatile array ensures high-quality photos in various conditions, from detailed close-ups to expansive landscapes. The camera supports 4K video recording at 30fps and 1080p at 30fps with gyro-EIS for stable footage. The 50 MP front camera, also with autofocus, is perfect for sharp and vibrant selfies and video calls, supporting 1080p video recording at 30fps.

The HMD Skyline is equipped with a 4600 mAh battery, ensuring long-lasting usage on a single charge. Its support for 33W wired charging (PD3.0 PPS, QC4) and 15W wireless charging (Qi2) provides flexibility and convenience, although users will need to supply their own charger. The device also supports 5W reverse wireless charging, allowing it to power other compatible devices on the go.

Running on Android 14, the HMD Skyline offers the latest features and security updates, with the promise of up to two major Android upgrades. The software is optimized with AI enhancements, delivering a smarter and more intuitive user experience. The unique Detox Mode, accessible via a custom button on the left side, aims to reduce distractions, although it currently defaults to a torch function until a future update. The overall software package ensures a seamless, user-friendly experience with regular updates from HMD.

Priced at around 500 EUR, the HMD Skyline offers exceptional value for its high-end features and robust build quality. Its combination of advanced display technology, powerful performance, versatile cameras, and innovative software features makes it a compelling choice for both tech enthusiasts and everyday users. With its distinctive design and repairability, the Skyline sets a new standard in the premium smartphone segment, promising a satisfying and enduring user experience.