Introduction
The wait is finally over! After the pixelated teaser months ago, we finally have official news to share about the ultimate device from HMD Global! The Skyline is announced and this is no where close to the average devices we have seen from the past. This is a device that is crafted from the ground up , listening to the feedback from end users. This is what the fans have been asking for the longest time and its finally delivered. This device currently ticks all the specs wish that I want to see on the successor to the Nokia X30 5G.
HMD Skyline
DESIGN & REPAIRABILITY
We can’t get pass the device specification without paying tribute to the revival of the fabula design. Contrary to popular thoughts, the fabula design which was finalized on the Nokia N9 was indeed an evolution from the designs of Nokia N8. The design further evolved with the Lumia series and now, its back in its latest avatar. A combination of metal and polycarbonate for the ultimate durability and ease of repairability.
In fact, when the device was shown to media a week ago, it took roughly about 9 minutes or so to dismantle the body to take apart the display , get access to the battery and reassembling it back, all while answering the many questions we had. That is indeed a flex that no other competitors can claim! With collaboration with iFixit, HMD Global designed a device that you can easily disassemble ,change and reassemble with no hassle and anyone can do it. IFixit scored the HMD Skyline 9/10 for ease or repairability. Parts like display, battery and charging board are available for reasonable price which means you can easily swap them for original parts and have an extended peace of mind.
Coming up in Neon Pink and Black, the design of HMD Skyline pays tribute to one of the greatest mobile design ever crafted. The evolved design is original and indeed should be made standard for future HMD device. The camera placement is eccentric, which is acceptable though my personal preference is a central placement for design symmetry. We also now understand why Mr Lars gripped the top and bottom half of the device when it was teased earlier. A programmable button that can be programmed to do a specific task or launch a specific application or even as a DEDICATED CAMERA BUTTON!
Hardware
Powering the device is a Snapdragon 7 Gen 2, a formidable upper midrange processor. Coming in at 8GB and 12GB RAM edition with 128GB and 256GB memory, we finally have an expandable storage for a camera centric device that was missing on devices like the Nokia 9 Pureview and the X30. The large 4600mAh battery should be able to give you a solid one day battery life and easily up to 2 days for light users.
If you missed Qi wireless charging , do take note that you can finally charge your Nokia Clarity Earbuds with Skyline directly as it now not only supports wireless Qi2 charging but also reverse wireless charging. It also supports 33W speed charge with a brick charger which is decently fast.
On the multimedia side, a P-OLED punch hole display at FHD+ resolution capable of HDR playback at 144Hz refresh rate and a set of stereo speakers will keep your eyes and ears glued to the device.
Pureview Camera?
Ultimately it all boils down to the camera performance, and this is a burden for any company that aspires to continue the legacy of Nokia.
Perhaps for the better, HMD will discontinue the Pureview branding. Does it matter? Well, while it is definitely a good marketing strategy, ultimately the actual camera output decides the fate of the device. And the Nokia G42 is a testament to this statement. Brilliantly executed affordable device that can rival Pureview devices.
This time around , HMD Global is taking no chance in the camera department and the Skyline is equipped with one of the most robust camera hardware on board. A triple camera sensor over the back which includes a 108MP OIS camera from Samsung, a 50MP telephoto and a 13MP UW camera. On the front is a 50MP sensor with eye auto focus functionality.The Portrait mode is interesting as it now outputs a 50mm equivalent shots. Nightmode 3.0 is set to dethrone the already capable Nokia X30 with better low light images and this is one of the highlights of the device that I am eager to test out.The device will be able to shoot in 4K HDR with both the front and rear sensors with plenty of added features. As good as it sounds, the software execution matters the most and this is definitely an area that I will be testing in depth in the coming weeks once the device arrives.
Verdict
Specification is just half of the story. On paper, the HMD Skyline is a device that can aptly be designated as the flagship killer. It is a robust device in terms of its design, hardware and ease of repairability. Indeed, the Skyline is an elevated experience compared to their previous offerings. It ticks all the boxes on my wish-list and all that remains is the software aspect of the device. While it might be too early to pass a judgement, I say that the SKYLINE is a winner. This device now competes at a higher level than ever before.
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