HMD Skyline review

Competition

The HMD Skyline tries to be a complete all-arounder for about €500 while offering a couple of unique features - easy repairability being the highlight. The additional Custom Button is another unique functionality, while the microSD card slot and the wireless charging capabilities are bonuses worth considering.

But what about the Skyline's general qualities? How does the phone stack against the similarly priced competition?

Well, if we take the OnePlus Nord 4, for example, the Skyline takes the back seat. The Nord 4 has a brighter display with better HDR capabilities and higher resolution, a faster chipset, arguably better main camera performance, longer battery life and faster charging. On the other hand, the Skyline's nicer ultrawide camera and excellent 2x zoom camera make a good case for a generally better and more versatile camera experience. Still, the slightly cheaper Nord 4 might be enough to sway some buyers on the fence.

OnePlus Nord 4 • Motorola Edge 50 Pro • Realme GT 6T

For roughly the same price, you can also get the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, which turns out to be a very capable upper midranger with the same camera setup - main, telephoto and ultrawide. Furthermore, the telephoto has a 3x optical reach, and the 50MP selfie camera with AF produces slightly better stills than the Skyline, too. The chip and the display are slightly better on the Edge 50 Pro, too, while the faster wired and wireless charging make up for the rather unimpressive battery life.

Compared to the Realme GT 6T, the Skyline has only a few advantages that make it hard to justify the €100 difference. It offers a dedicated zoom camera, better ultrawide and a selfie cam with AF. It also has a microSD card slot and supports wireless charging. On the other hand, the Realme GT 6T edges out Skyline in key aspects such as main camera performance, display quality, fast charging, battery life and overall performance with a more powerful chip. And although hard to repair, it has a higher IP65 ingress protection.

Oppo Reno12 Pro • Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro • Google Pixel 8a

The Oppo Reno12 Pro is another device worth considering as it challenges the Skyline's camera system with a nice 2x zoom camera and selfie unit with AF. It's hard to tell which one takes the better photos, but the Reno12 Pro might be a better choice for low-light conditions. Additionally, the Oppo has higher base storage with a microSD card slot, faster charging and longer battery life. And again, it's a bit cheaper than the Skyline.

It would be unwise to overlook the Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro as it fits the price bracket perfectly. The handset doesn't impress with camera prowess, so the Skyline might be a better fit if that's your priority. The F6 Pro, however, outperforms HMD's contender with ease, and it offers a better display, faster charging and twice the base storage too. Surprisingly enough, the Skyline's battery endurance is better.

Lastly, we have the Pixel 8a as a potential contender. It's considerably cheaper again than the Skyline and a good choice if you are in the market for a compact solution. Despite missing a telephoto camera, the Pixel 8a is hands-down the better phone for photography. After all, it's the Pixels' shtick. It's one of the few handsets with slower charging than the Skyline. Last year's flagship Tensor G3 SoC is also more desirable than the SD7s Gen 2, and the Pixel 8a's build may not have a service hatch, but it's IP67-rated against water and dust.

Verdict

Undoubtedly, the HMD Skyline is a standout smartphone. It's unique with its self-repair program, allowing you to replace the battery, display, and charging port independently. It also offers some ingress protection and an additional Custom Button. The unique looks and premium build make a stronger case for buying it. We are also happy to see a nice 13MP ultrawide camera on board, a potent 2x zoom unit and a selfie with AF.

However, it seems like HMD tried to appeal to the user base by mostly relying on a few rare features and may have missed the forest for the trees if you allow us the metaphor. The display, for example, is a step back from what the industry is offering in this class. The full 144Hz refresh rate can be utilized only in one static 144Hz mode, and it does not get as bright as we would have wished. The chipset often falls short of the competition; charging could be faster, battery life could be better, and low-light photography needs some work.

Pros

• Premium looking design, IP54-rated.
• Easy DIY repairability with a detachable back and a program for genuine replacement parts.
• Three proper cameras on the back, excellent 2x zoom, selfie with AF.
• Speakrs get extremely loud.
• All cameras work well during the day, that includes videos.
• MicroSD card slot, Custom Button, wireless charging, reverse one too.

Cons

• The low-light camera experience could be better.
• No EIS on 4K videos.
• The display isn't as bright as the competition.
• Battery life is disappointing.
• Charging speed is somewhat slow, and no charger in the box.
• Faster chipsets at the same price.