The $300 smartphone they don't want you to know about
Here is a new ‘self-repairing’ smartphone youve never heard of. Protection is always a good thing! Get protected with Bitdefender HERE: https://bitdefend.me/ZackSC HMD has been around for a long time. Making their own phones and rocking the Nokia brand. This new line of Self Repairing Smartphones with parts available directly from iFixit is super exciting. The HMD Fusion and the HMD Skyline are what I hope to see from every manufacture. Can you imagine a world where you can buy replacement parts off the shelf for everything you own!?
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This smartphone goes to the top 3 of the best smartphone I’ve ever seen.
Finally easy removable parts
And it’s running Android and they even tell you up front they’re collecting your data and storing it.
With batteries normally being the first thing going bad, this is truly interesting. At 30$ and self replacable (no risk of repair shop deleting entire phone content like a friend of mines when they changed her folds screen protector) and no expensive bill + you know the quality of the work as you did it yourself 😊. I hope they make a flagship model with IOS and if possible slightly higher IP rating. I would ditch my Samsung if so. Tired of batteries only being great first year and screen scratching up as your under screen finger print sensor dont work well with a protector.
It’s crap brand.
I’m slightly annoyed that we’re calling a $100 display "affordable". These cost in the $20 range to make, and the margin seems unreasonable.
It we want repairs, we need parts that give some level of profitability to the phone maker, but these prices should not be artificially inflated just because you don’t have a choice of what display you can buy.
I feel like this is what the cmf is supposed to follow
Hope they will make flagship class phones.. 1" camera sensor and such.. yas
But is it waterproof and rugged?
What good is repairability when they only supply updates for two years and keep the bootloader locked? There is no hope of installing anything like LineageOS to keep the phone going for many years. The odds are that the parts will also be discontinued with the phone. A phone is only repairable if parts AND UPDATES are available. I’ll stick with my Fairphone 5. Works great on T-Mobile/Sprint networks.
IT HAS A HEADPHONE JACK?!!
Shut up and take my damn money!
Those bezels are so gross. That alone makes it a no for me.
I love your channel, and I love your philosophy, and you are my goto for phone product reviews. but I cant stand that I have to shut off the sound for chunks of the videos because of the aluminum scraping sounds. like you are scraping at my soul.
i like phones that don’t need repair
This is incredible. I do wish they had used the Nokia branding though.
We need bootloader unlock since they only support 2 years of OS upgrade! Currently Pixel wins for me until they do.
So soothing, your voice. First time on your page and this was so interesting to watch.
Looks like lumia 800❤ , finally lumia 800 with android
The same price and assistance in Europe ?
still rocking the note 10+ 5g over here, unlike ‘some’ people😄
HMD phones are great! The only pet peeve I have with the phones is that they don’t come with wireless charging
Damn, and it’s designed just great, looks uncompromising and proves that a modern device can be looking good and not like a fairphone
7:04 and how does this bitdefender co pilot garbage scan our system, by using windows recall? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Oh I like these. Wish they had a headphone jack
The skyline reminds me so much of the Nokia N9 I once had
Only thing that would make it perfect is a headphone jack – and hopefully it has support to install custom Android distributions for longevity in the case HMD drops update support.
They have declared only 2 years of Android updates and 3 years of security updates.
It is okay for YouTubers to change their phones once a year, but I want to keep my phone for a much more extended period.
Does every smartphone made by HMD are repairable? I saw the HMD Pulse is.. I wonder about the other models
>Meet a new Brand, its a "indie" company like Nothing and Fair Phone;
>See that the phone has no headphone jack;
>Pass and repeat next year.
Guess i’m still keeping my Custom rom poco F1 another year 😶
I guess if you got it on realease day 1 it would have maybe 3 years of OS updated.
Looks so much like the old polycarbonate Nokia bodies
The HMD Skyline has garnered a mix of reviews from critics, focusing on several key aspects of the phone. Here’s a summary based on available web insights:
Design and Build:
The HMD Skyline’s design is often noted for its resemblance to the classic Nokia Lumia phones, with a distinctive angular yet rounded aesthetic. Critics mention its chunkiness and weight, which might not appeal to everyone looking for a sleek, lightweight phone. However, the design is praised for its unique, bold appearance, especially in colors like Neon Pink.
Repairability:
One of the standout features of the Skyline is its repairability. The phone’s collaboration with iFixit allows for user-replaceable parts like the back cover, battery, and screen. This is highlighted as a significant advantage for sustainability and user convenience. However, critics point out that at the time of some reviews, replacement parts were not yet available, and the IP54 rating for water resistance is lower than competitors, potentially due to its focus on repairability.
Performance:
The phone is equipped with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, which provides decent performance for a mid-range device. However, it’s noted that the Skyline might not match the performance of some competitors at similar price points, like the Google Pixel 8a or OnePlus Nord 4. The software support is also a point of criticism, with HMD promising only two years of OS updates and three years of security patches, which is seen as limiting for a device that emphasizes longevity through repairability.
Camera:
The camera system on the HMD Skyline includes a 108MP main sensor, which has received mixed reviews. While some appreciate the camera setup for its versatility with zoom capabilities, the overall image quality, especially in low light, and the consistency of the camera software are criticized. The front-facing camera is praised for its 50MP sensor with autofocus, useful for selfies and video calls.
Battery and Charging:
Battery life is generally well-regarded, with the Skyline offering up to 48 hours of usage per charge under certain conditions. However, its charging speed is not the fastest in its class, and the absence of a charger in the box has been noted. The support for Qi2 wireless charging is a plus, although there’s mention of compatibility issues with some existing wireless chargers.
Software and User Experience:
HMD’s approach to Android is described as clean and user-friendly, with features like a customizable button and the upcoming Detox Mode for digital wellness. However, the limited software update support is a recurring critique, potentially undermining the phone’s repairability promise by not keeping the software current for as long as some users might expect.
Overall Verdict:
Critics generally agree that while the HMD Skyline introduces novel features like repairability and a nostalgic design, it falls short in some areas like camera performance, software support, and design appeal. It’s often recommended for those who value the ability to repair their phone but might not be the best choice for users prioritizing long-term software support or cutting-edge specs.
In summary, the HMD Skyline is praised for its repairability and unique design but criticized for its software support, camera performance, and some design choices. It’s seen as a step in the right direction for HMD but with room for improvement to fully compete in the mid-range market.
I love the idea, I’d love to have one. Hopefully the phone itself is decent, otherwise this will never ever catch on. And if it doesn’t catch on they will stop making parts for it in a year which basically defeats the purpose. I really hope this succeeds
my next phone
The EU "Regulation 2023/1542" states that by February 18, 2027, portable batteries must be designed so that end-users can easily remove and replace them at any time during the product’s lifetime. HMD seems to be ahead of schedule in hopes of scoring some points, which is a good thing.
Yes! A giant leap forward!
ty!
I begg of you mute those metallic scratches it triggers me every time I cannot mute it myself since I wouldn’t miss you’re soothing voice
I want the same with a 6000mAh battery and no camera hole inside the screen.
In my region there are 1 versions, both with 256GB storage. One has 8GB of RAM and the other has 12GB. The price difference is $160.
Are there any other difference apart from the RAM?
I bought an HMD Skyline because of this video; and now I am writing this comment on that device. I am ending up liking it better than I figured I was. My biggest problem is with the fingerprint sensor placement. It’s not very accurate, but it’s alao always trying to read my fingerprints when I don’t intend for it to do so. I’ve even had it try to read my palm.
but is it a great phone?
If this had a headphone jack, it would be perfect.
What do you do with phones after testing them? You wouldn’t be willing to ship them to a viewer would ya? With most phones it might not be worth it but these look pretty repairable 🙂
Love it. Are they using ai? Prefer not
I was kind of hoping the battery would just be chillin under the backplate like they used to and not glued in, but overall, this is definitely a step in the right direction!
This is the Project Aria phone we wanted
But it’s ugly!! like jeez how can you make something this ugly?
The literally only downside, is the ip54 rating.
I really wish that they would make a repairable phone that also had update support for more than 3 years. I do my banking on my phone and have basically all my personal info accessible through my phone in one way or another which is already risky enough as it is without going years without security updates. At least the Skyline seems to have decent specs for a current phone, which I’m not sure can be said about the Nokia repairable phones.
1:45 did you say FIVE ZERO MP in the front camera??