HMD launches Skyline smartphone for creators – and it’s highly repairable too!

This time there’s no mention of Nokia, as HMD launches the latest smartphone under its own name. The Skyline features a 108-megapixel camera and 50-megapixel selfie camera with eye-tracking autofocus.

Other features include a Detox Mode to take a break from distractions, and the phone is easily repairable too – easily opened up with the turn of just one screen, to easily pop out the screen or battery, and even make repairs to things bent charging ports.

The phone will be available in August, in two colours; Neon Pink (pictured) and Twisted Black.

Key Specifications

• 159.8 x 75.7 x 8.99mm / 209.5g
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
• 8+128, 8+256, 12+256GB RAM+Storage options, plus microSDXC support
• 6.55-inch Full HD+ DIsplay (144Hz), Peak brightness 1000 nits
• Main camera: 108-megapixel with OIS + 13MP ultrawide + 50MP telephoto
• Selfie camera: 50-megapixel with eye-tracking autofocus
• 5G + Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2 with LE Audio
• USB-C 2.0
• 4,800mAh battery with 33W wired-charging and 15W wireless charging (Qi2)

Press Release

MIAMI, FL – July 18, 2024 – Today, following a string of phone launches over the past six months, tech innovator, Human Mobile Devices (HMD), drops its eagerly awaited premium handset – HMD Skyline. It is a phone for the creators that has remarkable functionality, unrivalled repairability, and looks that could kill. Human Mobile Devices proves once again that great design doesn’t have to cost a lot.

HMD Skyline marries detox and repairability as well as impressive camera capabilities – including a 108MP hybrid OIS triple rear camera with the all-new Capture Fusion, 4 x Zoom and Portrait Mode for stunning 50mm shots with natural bokeh effect.  Its Detox Mode will bring a dumbphone function to a smartphone, designed to help users step away from that “always on” feeling by deactivating a bespoke selection of apps or contacts. HMD Skyline also debuts a new era for smartphone design called Gen2 Repairability that enables at-home, user-friendly repairs on your smartphone by simply turning one screw to pop open the back cover using a screwdriver and guitar pick.¹  

In testament to its super-powerful photo capabilities, Human Mobile Devices has turned to Gen Z superstar snapper Rosanna Elettra to test drive the new HMD Skyline, capturing ten striking images shot and edited entirely on HMD Skyline following a group of Gen Z fashionistas on a night out.

Lars Silberbauer, Global CMO of Human Mobile Devices, said;“Human Mobile Devices is human by design…and that’s what we’ve done with HMD Skyline, put consumers first. There are so many great functions on this phone to call out. The camera is a creator’s dream, but you’ve also got unrivalled repairability options and a step-changing detox mode too. We are making smartphones easy to repair, and we inspired the digital detox movement for ‘balanced relationships’ with technology when we brought back feature phones. HMD Skyline is the next step: it’s repair and detox all in one. And it looks absolutely beautiful to boot.”

Celebrity photographer Rosanna Elettra took the HMD Skyline for a test drive, she commented: “I’ve had the joy of capturing acclaimed artists like Rihanna, Central Lee, Aitch and Cara Delevingne and in this industry you can get a call out of nowhere for a job that will completely change your career so it’s great to have the option to shoot with a smartphone like HMD Skyline. What’s amazing about this device is how it’s been designed to not only be your faithful pocket camera, but also how easy it is to repair and the fact that it has Detox Mode, everyone needs a break from the digital noise so it’s definitely a welcome new Mode to a smartphone.” 

Commenting on Skyline’s Gen2 repairability and Human Mobile Devices’ on-going commitment to the issue, Kyle Wiens, CEO at iFixit said; “Human Mobile Devices has set a new bar for repairable design. This is what happens when a design team considers repair from the start. Human Mobile Devices’ approach to disassembly is a quantum leap forward”.

HMD SKYLINE

Your shots are about to take off: snap, selfie-check, and socialize (in ultrawide)

Skyline has been built with a progressive Gen Z audience firmly in mind, so the camera capabilities are standout – and seemingly endless. The 50MP front camera comes with autofocus and eye-tracking to ensure the sharpest of selfies, and with Skyline, creators don’t even need to press a button or set a timer to take a picture. The device comes with in-built ‘selfie gesture’ hardware, which means all users have to do is look at the phone while making the universal peace sign (or one of three other hand signs) to activate the camera.

The 108MP Hybrid OIS triple rear camera is equally impressive, ensuring users are ready for any shot. Portrait mode allows for stunning 50mm shots with natural bokeh effect and crisp close-ups can be achieved with the x4 zoom function. Night Mode 3.0 balances exposure and preserves detail, and stunning scenery and group shots can be captured using the 0.5 ultra-wide mode. And there’s AI Capture Fusion too to add maximum detail to zoom images.

Pop the hood and fix-it-yourself: strip back to design brilliance

The end of cracked screens ruining your day. HMD Skyline is the first mobile phone with Gen2 repairability, which means repairing your phone is easier than ever before. By just popping off the back cover and removing the screws, you (or your repair center) can repair your screen easily and quickly. The new design also allows users to fix bent charging ports, scratched back covers and depleted batteries.

HMD Skyline advances mobile phone repairability to the next level, an area Human Mobile Devices has been leading the way on in recent years. Adding weight to the notion that ‘F.I.Y is Fly,’ research revealed 45 percent of Gen Zs say they’re more likely to buy an electrical device if they can easily repair it themselves². With Skyline, repairability is a breeze. In fact, the HMD Skyline screen is 65% easier to repair than HMD’s first repairable smartphone, the G22.

Stripping back to design brilliance, Skyline’s innovative build uses an internal screw-driven camshaft to help speed up disassembly. Pop open the back cover with the turn of a single screw, then slip a pry tool underneath to reveal a simple but elegant mechanism: a screw-driven rotating arm, with a spring to pull it back down when released. Turn it, and its cam lobe pushes against a plate on the back cover, which clips back together once done.³

A smartphone with dumbphone functionality: Detox Mode shuts down your socials

And the good news just keeps on coming. In August, the super-slick smartphone for the ages will come with a powerful new built in detox mode, with bespoke app and contact blocking, allowing users to tailor their detox to their needs, focus on the real world and enjoy a balanced smartphone experience whenever they need a break from the digital world.

With the digital detox movement continuing to gather pace, particularly among Gen Z, it is a timely technological advance that stands above competitors’ detox functions, which usually only silence apps and notifications.

Availability:

Skyline launches in two distinct colourways, Neon Pink and Twisted Black. It is fixed with up to 48-hour battery³ and Qi2 magnetic charging for slick wireless charging stations.

Skyline will be coming to the US during August and available on HMD.com, Amazon and national retailers for $499.

¹ Self-repair support available through iFixit in select markets. Details available at https://www.hmd.com/self-repair 

² Based on a survey conducted by One Poll on behalf of HMD between 12th to 17th April 2024 of 1,000 mobile phone owners. 

³ Based on a real-life usage test by HMD Global. See more info at www.hmd.com/hmd-skyline.