If you’re sick of the same old smartphone experience, there’s an exciting new device landing in Australia this week, and we expect it’ll be turning heads left and right. This is due in part to the exceptionally eye-catching nature of its bold range of finishes (more on that later), but more importantly, it’s thanks to the compelling combination of its impressively high-end specs, its unique approach when it comes to repairs, how it will challenge our online habits, and all for the inexplicably affordable AUD$899 price tag.
The Human Mobile Devices (HMD) Skyline is an ambitious device looking to shake things up for a smartphone market that, let’s face it, has grown a little stale. It does this by pairing an undeniably snazzy design with a cracking camera experience for all you content creators out there. It’s also on a mission to increase repairability—no more Aussies putting up with cracked screens because they can’t afford to fix them—while simultaneously looking to support you on your digital detox* journey. This is a welcome development because any application that will save us from doomscrolling into the wee small hours of the morning is much appreciated.
If all of that’s not enough justification to explore this ambitious new addition to the smartphone market, we don’t know what is. Read on to discover more about the HMD Skyline and how it might just change your approach to smartphones.
Human Mobile Devices
If you’re as yet unfamiliar with HMD, that is about to change. Having set the scene with a number of impressive mid-range and entry-level handsets, including the Pulse Pro, the brand is now ready for its big moment with its first premium flagship device, the HMD Skyline. This is a handset that offers a high-end smartphone experience encased in an impressively refined Blue Topaz, Neon Pink, or Twisted Black casing. With its 6.55-inch screen offering FHD+ resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, along with the peace of mind that comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3’s superior scratch- and damage-resistance, you’re in for an elevated visual and tactile experience.
Not only does this device look great and feel highly polished in the hand, it has features that more than live up to its impressive aesthetic. These include up to 48 hours of battery life, backed up with 8GB/256GB memory, Qi2 wireless charging, a fingerprint sensor and face unlock, as well as a button on the device’s left side that you can customise to any function that suits your needs.. Plus, it has a pretty killer camera setup, so let’s take a closer look.
Content Creator’s Camera
Whether you love a good selfie or prioritise taking epic panoramic shots of your surroundings, the HMD Skyline has you covered. The 50MP front camera is a selfie-taking powerhouse, with handy autofocus and eye-tracking technology to ensure you get the perfect snap every time. There’s no need to mess around with awkward button-pushing with your arm outstretched, either, as in-built ‘selfie gesture’ recognition means you just have to look at the phone while making the universal peace sign, a thumbs up, or the finger-heart gesture to activate your snap.
As for the rear camera setup, you’ll find a 108 MP main lens with autofocus and optical image stabilisation, along with a 13 MP ultrawide and a 50 MP tele lens, both of which feature capture fusion technology that supports greater in-image detail. From razor-sharp portraits further enhanced by a natural bokeh effect and impressive images in low-light conditions thanks to the Night Mode 3.0 functionality, to stunning scenery and memorable group shots with the ultrawide lens, the HMD Skyline will elevate your content game.
Repairability Revolution
Nothing ruins your day quite like watching your beloved phone fall to the ground in slow motion and then having to hold your breath as you check it for damage. Another busted screen? Confirmed. What a nightmare. Getting your phone repaired in the wake of such an incident has become so prohibitively expensive that many people instead choose to simply put up with the spider-webbing effect that now runs across their screen. Not only that, getting your phone fixed is also just a massive inconvenience, particularly if you have to send your phone away for repairs.
Fortunately, this is an area in which the HMD Skyline really stands apart from the competition. This is the first smartphone that has clearly had the repair process as a primary concern from the very start of the design process, and the result is the first such device to offer Gen2 repairability. This means you can replace a cracked screen, depleted battery, scratched back cover, bent charging pins, and more, right from the comfort of your own home. You just need the affordable replacement part and an iFixit repair kit.
Ultimately, this designed-for-repair smartphone will save you money, time, and a whole lot of heartache. What a relief.
Digital Detox*
Finally, the HMD Skyline also distinguishes itself when it comes to empowering users to take charge of their mental health. We’ve all been there: scrolling away on our addictive social media platform of choice, knowing we should be getting some precious sleep, but somehow incapable of putting the damn phone down.
Well, the HMD Skyline is a smartphone that can double as the dumbphone we all need from time to time. Thanks to Detox Mode*, you can limit the impulse-driven, unthinking access to social media platforms that drives so much of our toxic smartphone behaviour. This mode empowers you to activate bespoke blocking of apps and contacts, meaning you can tailor your smartphone experience to your unique needs. In a world where we so often feel like a slave to our devices, this is a welcome way to wrestle back control.
A New Kind of Smartphone
With its striking good looks, premium camera setup, user-repair offering, and digital detox* functionality, the HMD Skyline stands alone. It’s a smartphone that has clearly been made by a team that understands and wants to empower people, rather than just seeing each of us as another pair of eyes waiting to be glued to a screen.
What’s more, the HMD Skyline is available for just AUD$899. Find it in-store and online at JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman, or online at Officeworks, Amazon, and Big W. Alternatively, you can learn more about this singular smartphone via the link below.
*Detox Mode set to become available in an upcoming software update, by the end of 2024.
