Since the HMD Skyline was launched, many have asked for a comparison with the Nokia X30 5G. With the Skyline needing some software fixes and my work schedule, I finally have some time to compare both these devices.
At the time of writing, the Skyline has received 2 updates which fixed a few issues but there are still some work to be done for the Skyline. HMD has been listening to the feedback given and issuing necessary fixes along with the security update. With 4K recording stability, to 4K recording for the front camera and focus issue fixed, what is remaining to be ironed out is the Ultra Steady Recording that has artefacts and drop in frame rate and also throttling of the performance in general especially with certain apps and including the camera app leading to jittery response and even camera crash though this is rare.
While I truly believe that HMD will take note of the remaining bugs and iron them out with future updates, the comparison with Nokia X30 should not be delayed further.
Skyline vs X30
With HMD going forward with their own branding for smartphones , the Skyline is meant to showcase their renewed aspiration. In general, the Skyline is a major upgrade over the X30. The X30 remains the best Pureview device till date, and that is only because HMD would not be using the Pureview branding with their new devices.
I have done some extensive review on the HMD Skyline and the X30 individually, so I will just highlight major points here . The Skyline packs a much more powerful setup than the X30 in a design that no one could complaint. In fact, the fabula design is probably among the best design for a mobile device till date. The 2 points in favor on X30 is the more premium primary 50MP sensor, and in display finger scanner. Skyline, boast a much better self reparability score, with a higher RAM configuration, expandable memory storage, dual speaker setup with OZO Audio tuning, brighter display with faster refresh rate, Qi2 wireless charging, dedicated programmable button, 4K video recording for both front and rear camera, and a newer, more powerful camera algorithm.
But, the most surprising aspect of both these devices are the fact that the highest variant of Skyline is priced significantly lower than than the X30 in most Asian market. And, the X30 is a device that is well executed from the time of launch till date, that everything just runs smooth without issues, which to me is its biggest flex!
Performance and Battery Life
Day to day use of both these devices are pretty much comparable for general use. And even the battery life is quite similar. But, the HMD seems to have poor optimization , which has been there since its launch. The Skyline seems to heat up pretty quick, just as quick as it cools down, which leads to performance throttling! While a fully charged battery, to start the day at 6am ,connected to dual SIM 5G network , I usually have about 20% battery left with moderate use by 6pm. The standby battery drain is respectable at about 0.5% per hour at most, but I notice rapid decline in battery with random use, including when using the camera, with the device heating up quickly (warm). If HMD optimize the software and battery utilization further, the Skyline would easily last more than a day.
The dual speaker is loud and crisp, a major upgrade over the X30’s single speaker . I have mixed feelings about the haptic feedback on the Skyline though. The X30’s perform better in that aspect though this is not much of deal of many. The display on Skyline and even the X30 are beautiful , but sadly, both does not support YouTube HDR playback! And the supposedly brighter display on the Skyline is currently having inconsistent auto brightness and poor response to the surrounding brightness. This is a bug that was introduced with the recent update and I hope HMD irons this out soon.
The magnetic Qi2 wireless charging and reverse wireless charging on the Skyline is both fast and solid. Having similar protocol to the Apple’s MagSafe wireless charging protocol, we get to use the many third party wireless charging solution made for Apple devices. In my recent review, the magnetic strength is good, and having tested it on a magnetic car stand, I reiterate that the magnetic strength is adequate without any doubt.
Camera
As always, a major point to discuss is the camera setup. The Skyline boasts impressive numbers and a newer camera app with rich features. 108MP OIS primary camera, 13MP UltraWide, 50MP telephoto and a 50MP AF front facing camera. But, the best Pureview device till date ,is no slouch either. The primary 50MP OIS camera from a more premium line up does well and daylight and night performance on the X30 has been nothing less than satisfying. While the lack of 4K recording might be seen as a limitation, the X30 does very well for a stabilized 1080p 30FPS, and the Ultra Steady capture truly shines.
Day photography is good on both devices, but the Skyline has a better color accuracy overall. But, the 108MP sensor lacks detail, which is only perceivable once you zoomed in.
Since the Ultra Wide capture utilizes fusion algorithm from both primary and Ultra Wide sensor, the lack of detail is also apparent here on the Skyline compared to the X30.
Night photography is good on both , and while I prefer the more vibrant output from X30, I am starting to appreciate the output from Skyline which have a more night feel to it , but it needs to drop the heavy contrast. The nightmode on X30 allows us to manually select either the Standard on the Dark Vision mode, but on the Skyline it is decided automatically by the algorithm. Honestly, after having tested the Dark Vision in many different scenario, my conclusion is, it is not implemented well on both the devices. Dark Vision should allow dynamic longer exposure depending on available ambient night mode and produce useable output similar to Extreme Night Mode in other devices, but that is not the case here
You can catch the full video here with more photo samples:
So, the biggest question is, should you buy the Skyline? Without a doubt, YES! It is well built, have richer experience , priced aggressively and as time goes, when your colleagues start to complaint about battery drain, or the dreaded green line on their display, your Skyline remains to function well with original parts available online for self repair/exchange at affordable price. And most importantly, I am confident that HMD will continue to listen to end users feedbacks and improve the Skyline further. Having said that, the X30, THE last Pureview device, is still very much a powerful device and while the branding will not be making its way to HMD devices for now, the spirit lives on.
The final piece from HMD for the year 2024, the Fusion, will be making its global debut this week, and I will be sharing more information on this interesting modular device and its Outfits soon!
For more updates on the go, do follow me on X https://x.com/theoriginal086
