HMD’s new smartphone boasts repairability and has a Detox mode


Nokia's brand owner has announced a mid-range smartphone, Skyline, which comes with a Detox mode and offers easier repairability.

HMD is known for making dumbphones, such as the revived Nokia models, and promotes them as a way to avoid the distractions caused by social media platforms and apps.

This year, HMD launched a limited version of the “Boring phone,” a featureless flip-style device co-branded with Heineken and Bodega. The company aims to “encourage young people to enjoy better real-life connections.”

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The new HMD smartphone, Skyline, incorporates some of this mindset. One distinguishable feature is a Detox mode, which comes with a bespoke app and contact blocking.

The company claims that this mode allows users to tailor detox to their needs, as opposed to most of its competitors, which usually “only silence apps and notifications.”

Another distinguishing characteristic, apart from the pink color, is what the company calls Gen2's repairability. The phone is made from parts such as replaceable batteries that can be changed without bringing the device into the repair shop.

The iFixt website offers tools and parts, while HMD promises easy-to-fix guides. The company has launched repairable phones before, including HMD Pulse and a few Nokia-branded models.

The most notable feature of the hardware is its camera system. The front camera packs 50MP along with autofocus, eye-tracking features, and selfie gestures. Meanwhile, the rear camera has a triple camera setup with a 108MP main camera featuring optic image stabilization, 13MP ultrawide, and 50MP telephoto.

Otherwise, the Skyline seems like any usual mid-range Android smartphone. The 6.55-inch pOLED FHD+ screen supports up to 144 Hz refresh rate and the phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 gen 2 system on a chip.

HMD claims that a replaceable 4.600 mAh battery can last up to 48 hours of use. The phone has a 33W charging support and 15W magnetic charging.

There will be few versions of the phone available, with either 8/12 GB RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. Skyline is run on Android OS with minor tweaks made by HMD.

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The smartphone will be available in August at the starting price of $499.