HMD Skyline repairable phone: A new first for smartphones

Annoyance! Everywhere. Sometimes disruption is positive, forcing necessary changes in an unwanted or unwanted status quo, while sometimes disruption is a force for unpleasant unrest. In any case, disruption is born from dissatisfaction.

HMD is a company not born out of discontent, but more of a phoenix that has risen from the ashes of Nokia, with a self-imposed mandate to grab the smartphone market by the lapel and give it a good shake by making affordable smartphones. , well-built, with stars, and in this case, the sexy new Skyline, fixable by your fair hands.

Yes, it’s true, although it’s not the first phone to get involved in the self-repair domain, as the Fairphone (currently the 5 model), the Nokia G22, and the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro 8 all offer it to varying degrees. of repairiness (not a word), the shiny new Skyline takes the flexibility of fixing to the next level, allowing even those with the most ham-fisted collection of butterfingers to replace the broken screen and burnt-out battery in a few minutes. . This gives it a longer lifespan and thus increases the value for money exponentially. It also marks the all-important sustainability box (cardboard), so it doesn’t end up in a landfill any longer than other cell phones.

But before we get into the trouble of fixing mistakes, let’s find out what else is under the sleek and solid 100 percent recycled aluminum, Neon Pink or Twisted Black, because the Skyline is not ‘green’. gimmick.

Indeed, it is not a mess, at the heart of this latest HMD is a sharp 8-core Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 that includes 4x Cortex-A78 cores at 2400MHz and 4x Cortex-A55 at 1950MHz, making the HMD Skyline as nimble. as the Nissan Skyline itself, which, for our young readers, is easily the most-luted after the supercar of choice for petrolheads back in the early 2000s, so that the famous name becomes synonymous with speed in the very hand. Along with this powerful processor, there is 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 16GB and 256GB, depending on whether you want to spend £400 or £500, either way, which gives you plenty of space to store whatever you choose. space.

As for the image, it is an excellent example, because the Skyline not only has a 50MP front camera with Autofocus and Eye tracking, but also the most powerful 108MP rear camera, combined with an ultrawide 13MP and a telephoto 50MP, so the image will be anything. less than epic, especially when you factor in the pro-style Capture Fusion phone function that merges the frame of the ultrawide and telephoto camera with the main camera, automatic Night Mode and, Optical Image Stabilisation.

Running on the latest Android 14 iteration, with two free OS upgrades in the bag and if needed, a fingerprint sensor, pin and, if desired, facial recognition sort security, so as not to interfere with your personal business.

Use all your peripherals, such as headphones and portable speakers, etc., through strong Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2, for those who prefer an audio cable, there is a USB Type-C port that can be used with an audio converter cable. from, or for those who ‘heart’ high-end audio, perhaps even a portable DAC to do the business of digital conversion between Skyline and headphones for the sound of a smartphone that is not only ‘acceptable’ in the ear, but actually verging on immersive.

Also all present and correct are the usual smart sensors that are supposed to be G-sensor, barometer, e-compass, ambient light sensor, and proximity sensor, plus GPS/A-GPS, Galileo L1/L5 dual-band, GLONASS, and BDS location . tech to ensure pinpoint precision wherever you wander.

So all the intelligence you think, all wrapped in a slim and solid body, feels and tactile, and feels premium in the palm of your hand, while the stunning 6.55-inch FHD + poLED touchscreen display ensures the image is clear enough to almost capture you. eyes out. Bright enough at a peak of 1000-nits to enjoy in all conditions, the display’s 144Hz refresh rate sees videos and games run smoothly.

All that sounds smashing. But then, what is ‘smashing’? Given the tendency of this generation not to protect the phone in a leather case that opens like a small book, what happens when smashing occurs due to unfactored contact with the ground? Well, you already know the answer to that, but let’s get back to the nitty gritty I teased earlier…

Even if you’ve only paid the slightest attention to this review, there’s no way you’re going to miss out on the HMD Skyline’s ability to be repaired at home. Yes, by only using a precision set, such as the ‘Minnow’ from iFixit (as provided with the review model), the problems with expensive smartphones of the not-so-distant past are also unpleasant. that rendered the nightmarish chapter of the month with Skyline.

So, the takeaway from all this is that most Brits are clumsy and a lot of time and money can be saved by ‘doing it yourself’, which is why the HMD Skyline is a game-changer for buttery. Brits’ fingers that are there seem to be a lot.

Scratched, scratched, knackered screen? Then just order the replacement, wait for delivery, and follow the very simple step-by-step instructions available online. You can buy replacements for the screen (£94.99 parts only), battery (£24.99 parts only), charging port (£19.99 parts only) and back cover (£29.99 parts only), if you don’t care when using it. USB and usually carry the Skyline in your pocket along with a bunch of buttons and loose coins.

To access the main work, you use an iFixit T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the internal camshaft that opens the back of the case, then use the opening option (like a plectrum) to release the clip and slice through the glue that holds the whole shebang together. together, then you’re in. From this point, it’s time to follow the instructions.

Right, full disclosure, I broke the end of the T3 tool off the camshaft screwhead due to over-applied pressure on the first try? Yes, yes, I do. Once a gentler approach is adopted, changing the back cover proves its simplicity – open it, replace it, clip it back – it’s easy. Changing the screen, however, requires more effort and, dare I say, a certain amount of self-confidence, but patience – and a new male approach – pays off. But then came the battery; changing the battery is very fiddlier, especially for those with fuller-figured fingers, but sticking vehemently and unwaveringly to the 21 online steps it takes to go from ‘phone with broken battery’ to ‘phone with brand new battery’ will see success without too much. a lot of swearing.

DIY doesn’t end there either; for those who are up for the challenge, you can also replace the entire charging board, speaker, SIM card tray and, well, almost many other parts no longer performing. All for a fraction of the cost and all without having to fling the phone off into the unknowable ether of the postal system.