The Skyline is HMD’s latest phone, crafted by the creators of Nokia phones. Here’s a comprehensive look at its design, performance, and features.
Build and Display
The Skyline boasts a sleek, all-metal build and features a large 6.55-inch OLED display. With a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels and a pixel density of 420 pixels per inch, the screen is sharp and vibrant. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 for added durability.
Battery and Storage
The phone houses a 4600mAh battery, which supports 33W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Skyline supports nano SIM and eSIM cards, and you can expand storage using a microSD card in the second SIM slot. It also has an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance.
Performance
Under the hood, the Skyline is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip. This is considered a lower mid-range processor by today’s standards. For comparison, the OnePlus Nord 4, which is similarly priced at $499, features the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chip, offering better performance. Despite this, the Skyline handles basic tasks like messaging and light gaming without significant slowdowns. It performs well in loading times for simpler games, though it may struggle with more intensive tasks like complex video editing.
Operating System
The Skyline runs a clean version of Android, similar to the Google Pixel experience. It includes minimal customizations from HMD, such as options for a customizable button and HMD’s own camera app. However, the phone is limited to two major Android updates and three years of security updates, which is less competitive compared to other options on the market.
Camera System
The Skyline features a quad-camera setup:
- Main Camera: 108 MP wide lens
- Telephoto Camera: 15 MP
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 13 MP
- Selfie Camera: 50 MP with autofocus
Main Camera Performance
The main camera captures sharp and detailed photos, though it struggles with highlight control, often resulting in overexposed areas. The camera performs well in good lighting conditions, delivering high-quality images with notable contrast and detail. However, in challenging lighting situations, such as high contrast or darker scenes, the photos may show some blown-out highlights or excessive darkness.
Ultra-Wide Camera Performance
The ultra-wide camera exhibits similar issues to the main camera but with amplified problems. Highlights can become overblown, and there may be increased noise in darker areas. Despite these drawbacks, the ultra-wide camera produces decent results in good lighting conditions.
Low Light Performance
In low light conditions, the Skyline’s camera tends to struggle with noise and focus. Details can be lost, and photos may appear grainy. The automatic focus also has difficulty locking in, requiring multiple attempts to achieve a sharp image.
Telephoto Camera Performance
The telephoto camera, which offers 4x zoom, does not perform well compared to its competitors. While 2x zoom shots are acceptable, the 4x zoom images can be noisy and lack detail. When compared to the Google Pixel 8, which does not advertise 4x zoom but performs better at 2x zoom, the Skyline’s telephoto capabilities fall short.
Selfie Camera
The 50 MP selfie camera delivers high detail but may struggle with noise, particularly in indoor conditions. In very bright outdoor settings, HDR performance can be inconsistent. Overall, it’s a good selfie camera, though it has room for improvement.
Video Performance
- 4K Video: The Skyline records 4K video at 30 FPS without video stabilization, resulting in shaky footage. Wind noise reduction features are not fully effective, making wind noise a significant issue.
- 1080p Video: At 1080p, the phone supports stabilization, but there are issues with focus and wind noise. The quality is better than 4K but still not ideal.
- Ultra Steady Mode: When using the ultra-wide camera in “Ultra Steady” mode, the video becomes choppy and less usable. HMD has announced an update in August that may address these issues.
Conclusion
At $499, the Skyline faces stiff competition. While it has a premium feel and decent camera performance, its video capabilities and lower-end Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip may not justify the price. For a more compelling value, the phone might be more attractive at a lower price point, such as $450 or $399. Improved chip performance or more software support could also enhance its appeal.
One of the standout features is its repairability, with HMD partnering with iFixit for easy DIY repairs. This is a significant plus, although the limited software support might detract from its overall value.
