HMD Skyline: bold design, impressive cameras, and a Detox Mode for mindful usage
Picture: Smartphone Repairable Hmd Skyline Hmd User
Human Mobile Devices (HMD) continues its admirable strategy of designing smartphones with the ability for users to replace parts. The HMD Skyline's latest release combines a striking design, impressive camera capabilities, and a Detox Mode.
The Skyline is available in Neon Pink and Twisted Black. The colours pop without feeling over the top, and the sleek chassis offers a premium feel without the premium price tag. HMD clearly targets a younger, trend-conscious crowd with this model, and it nails the aesthetic.
With its 6.5-inch display, the Skyline sits comfortably in the hand, balancing portability with screen real estate. It’s not too heavy, and despite its bold colours, it feels sturdy and well-built. The attention to detail in the design, from the placement of the cameras to the subtle curve of the edges, shows that HMD has prioritised both form and function.
In terms of protection, the front glass is an older specification Gorilla Glass 3 and waterproofing is IP54, which is adequate for splashes but not submersion.
The 6.55-inch full HD+ pOLED display on the HMD Skyline ensures that whatever you’re viewing looks crisp and colourful. The display offers solid brightness (1,000 nits) and colour accuracy, whether scrolling through social media, watching videos, or editing photos. It's vibrant without feeling oversaturated, ideal for users who want to enjoy multimedia content without sacrificing clarity.
While the phone is set to a standard 60Hz refresh rate by default to save battery life, it can reach a silky smooth 144Hz for scrolling, gaming, and switching between apps, which feels fluid and snappy.
The Skyline's camera system has a 108MP main rear camera, complete with hybrid optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 13MP ultra-wide lens. The result? A versatile setup that allows users to shoot everything from wide landscape shots to detailed close-ups.
The ultra-wide has a Capture Fusion mode that blends frames from the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras to create sharp and highly detailed images. This feature is perfect for those who want their photos to have that professional edge without needing advanced equipment.
The Night Mode captures decent photos in low light. At the same time, the built-in optical image stabilisation further helps the clarity of night shots, reducing blur even when lighting conditions aren’t ideal. However, while welcome, the autofocus is a little slower than expected.
On the selfie front, the 50MP front-facing camera with autofocus and eye-tracking is excellent for a device in this price range. It captures sharp, well-exposed selfies even in challenging light. One particularly fun feature is the selfie gesture mode, which allows you to snap a selfie simply by making a hand gesture like the peace sign. It’s a small detail, but it makes taking selfies fun.
Under the hood, the Skyline is powered by the mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, which offers enough performance to handle everyday tasks easily. While it’s not a powerhouse compared to flagship phones, it’s more than sufficient for social media consumption, light gaming, and multitasking. Apps load quickly, and the phone’s 8GB of RAM ensures smooth switching between them.
It also comes with a sizeable 256GB of storage, which can be expanded to 512GB via a microSD card.
I didn’t experience any noticeable lag during my testing, even when juggling multiple apps, editing photos, and streaming content.
Thanks to the large 4,600mAh battery, the Skyline's battery life is above average. It comfortably lasted a full day of use without needing a recharge, whether I was out shooting photos or browsing the web. I didn’t have to worry about running out of juice midway through the day. It supports 33W wired charging (QC4.0 and PD3.0 PPS compatible), 15W magnetic wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging, and is Qi2 certified. However, while you get a colour-matched cable, there's no charger in the box.
One of the more intriguing features of the HMD Skyline is the Detox Mode, which was released via a software update last week. The Detox Mode has been tailored to help you take a break from your device through custom notifications, screen time limits, and app access to encourage more mindful usage.
I’ve only tried it briefly, but it's a thoughtful addition for anyone looking to disconnect occasionally. It's a fresh take on digital well-being, and I'm excited to see how it might help those struggling to spend less time on their small screens.
The Skyline is the first phone I’ve reviewed where I felt an immediate urge to take it apart before even turning it on. This is due to its repair-friendly build, which makes replacing and upgrading components straightforward and accessible. HMD has partnered with Ifixit for parts and online instructions on how to do the repairs. A replacement screen, including all the necessary tools, costs €100, while a new battery costs €25.
There’s only a single start screw to unlock the back of the phone, and while I was a little nervous, especially when I heard a snapping sound, the process is relatively straightforward.
HMD promises two OS updates and four years of security updates, a few years shy of Google’s Pixel lineup, which promises seven years.
The HMD Skyline sports a vibrant design, a versatile camera system, and a Detox Mode for more mindful phone usage. Sure, it’s not a flagship in terms of raw power, but that’s not what the Skyline is trying to be. It’s affordable, stylish, and full of features that make it a compelling option for those who prioritise creativity, design, and the occasional digital detox.
€400 www.hmd.com