The landscape of smartphones is ever-evolving, and in this rapidly changing environment, few brands have the storied legacy of Nokia. HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has sought to resurrect the iconic brand in recent years, catering to both nostalgic users and new consumers. With the release of the HMD Skyline, the company ventures back into the premium segment, aiming to rekindle the allure that once made Nokia a household name. This review delves deep into every aspect of the HMD Skyline, evaluating its design, display, performance, camera capabilities, software, battery life, and overall value proposition.
Design and Build Quality
The HMD Skyline is a testament to Nokia’s historic reputation for crafting durable and well-designed phones. At first glance, the Skyline exudes a premium aura, with its sleek aluminum frame and glass back. The design strikes a balance between modern aesthetics and functional durability, a nod to the ruggedness Nokia was once famous for. The phone’s edges are slightly curved, making it comfortable to hold, while the brushed aluminum finish on the frame adds a touch of sophistication.
The Skyline features an IP68 rating, making it resistant to dust and water, a standard expectation in the premium segment. The back panel, crafted from Gorilla Glass Victus, adds an extra layer of protection against scratches and accidental drops. The placement of the buttons is intuitive, with the power button doubling as a fingerprint sensor. The inclusion of a physical fingerprint sensor rather than an under-display one might seem outdated to some, but it offers a reliable and fast unlocking experience.
At 8.5mm thick and weighing around 200g, the Skyline feels substantial in hand without being overly bulky. The weight distribution is well-balanced, making it comfortable for extended use. HMD Global offers the Skyline in three color variants: Midnight Blue, Arctic White, and Charcoal Black. Each color option is subtle yet striking, catering to both conservative and adventurous users.
Display
The HMD Skyline features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels, translating to a pixel density of approximately 525 PPI. This Quad HD+ panel delivers sharp visuals, vibrant colors, and deep blacks, making it a joy to consume media on the device. The display supports HDR10+, ensuring that content viewed on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video is rich in detail and contrast.
One of the standout features of the Skyline’s display is its 120Hz refresh rate. This high refresh rate makes scrolling through menus and webpages incredibly smooth, while also enhancing the gaming experience. The touch sampling rate of 240Hz further adds to the responsiveness, particularly noticeable in fast-paced games.
The brightness levels on the Skyline are impressive, with a peak brightness of 1200 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. The automatic brightness adjustment works well, quickly adapting to changing light conditions. The minimal bezels surrounding the display contribute to an immersive viewing experience, and the small punch-hole cutout for the front camera is unobtrusive, allowing for maximum screen real estate.
While the display is undoubtedly one of the Skyline’s strong suits, there is a noticeable color shift when viewing the screen at extreme angles. This is a minor drawback that most users might overlook, but it’s worth mentioning for those who are particularly discerning about display quality.
Performance
Under the hood, the HMD Skyline is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. This combination ensures that the phone can handle anything thrown at it, from intensive multitasking to demanding games. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a flagship-level chipset, offering top-tier performance and efficiency.
In benchmark tests, the Skyline scores impressively, with AnTuTu scores surpassing 1.2 million, placing it in direct competition with other flagship devices from brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus. In real-world usage, the phone performs exceptionally well. Apps open quickly, and transitions between tasks are seamless. The phone’s thermal management is also commendable, with minimal throttling even during prolonged gaming sessions.
The HMD Skyline comes with 256GB of UFS 4.0 internal storage, which is not expandable. While 256GB is sufficient for most users, the lack of expandable storage might be a drawback for those who prefer to keep large media libraries on their devices. On the connectivity front, the Skyline supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC, ensuring that it is future-proof in terms of wireless technology.
Camera System
Nokia phones have traditionally been known for their exceptional camera quality, and the HMD Skyline seeks to continue that legacy. The phone features a quad-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 108MP primary sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 5MP macro lens. The camera module is housed in a rectangular bump, which protrudes slightly from the back panel.
The 108MP primary sensor, equipped with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), is the star of the show. In well-lit conditions, the camera captures stunningly detailed images with accurate colors and excellent dynamic range. The level of detail is particularly impressive when images are viewed at full resolution. The ultra-wide-angle lens offers a 123-degree field of view, capturing expansive landscapes with minimal distortion at the edges.
The telephoto lens provides 3x optical zoom, and up to 30x digital zoom. While the optical zoom produces sharp and detailed images, the quality understandably deteriorates at higher digital zoom levels. The macro lens, though a nice addition, is somewhat of a novelty and produces decent close-up shots, though not on par with the other lenses.
In low-light conditions, the HMD Skyline’s camera performs admirably. The primary sensor utilizes pixel-binning technology, combining multiple pixels into one to enhance light sensitivity. The result is bright and detailed images with reduced noise. The Night Mode further enhances low-light photography, pulling in more light and improving the overall quality of the images.
On the front, the Skyline is equipped with a 32MP selfie camera housed in a punch-hole cutout. The front camera delivers sharp and vibrant selfies, with a good balance of exposure and color accuracy. Portrait mode works well, offering convincing bokeh effects and edge detection. Video recording on the Skyline is also impressive, with the ability to shoot in 8K at 30fps or 4K at 60fps. The presence of OIS and EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) ensures stable footage even during movement.
Software Experience
The HMD Skyline runs on a near-stock version of Android 14, with minimal bloatware and a clean user interface. HMD Global’s commitment to delivering a pure Android experience is evident in the Skyline, with the software being free of unnecessary customizations and pre-installed apps. This not only contributes to a smooth and responsive user experience but also ensures that the phone receives timely software updates.
One of the standout features of the Skyline’s software is the three-year guarantee of major Android updates and four years of security patches. This level of software support is rare in the Android ecosystem and adds significant value to the Skyline. Users can expect to receive updates up to Android 17, ensuring that the phone remains up-to-date with the latest features and security enhancements.
The software also includes some useful Nokia-specific features, such as the Glance screen, which displays notifications, time, and battery status on the lock screen without waking the phone. Another noteworthy feature is the adaptive battery, which uses AI to optimize battery life by learning user habits and prioritizing power for frequently used apps.
Overall, the software experience on the HMD Skyline is smooth, intuitive, and free from clutter. For users who appreciate a clean and straightforward Android experience, the Skyline delivers in spades.
Battery Life and Charging
The HMD Skyline is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which is fairly standard for a flagship device in 2024. Despite the high-resolution display and powerful processor, the Skyline manages to deliver impressive battery life, thanks in part to the optimizations in Android 14 and the efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
In everyday usage, which includes a mix of social media, browsing, video streaming, and some gaming, the Skyline easily lasts a full day with around 20-25% battery left by bedtime. With lighter usage, it’s possible to stretch the battery life to a day and a half. The phone also performs well in battery drain tests, lasting over 9 hours in continuous video playback at 50% brightness.
The Skyline supports 65W wired fast charging, which can charge the battery from 0 to 100% in just under 45 minutes. This is particularly useful for users who need to top up their battery quickly before heading out. The phone also supports 30W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging at 10W, which can be handy for charging accessories like wireless earbuds or another phone in a pinch.
One minor downside is that the Skyline does not come with a charger in the box, following the recent trend among flagship devices. While this is a move towards environmental sustainability, it might be inconvenient for users who don’t already own a compatible fast charger.
Audio and Multimedia
The HMD Skyline features a stereo speaker setup, with one speaker at the bottom and another in the earpiece. The speakers are loud and deliver clear audio with a good balance of bass, mids, and treble. Dolby Atmos support enhances the audio experience, particularly when watching movies or playing games that support spatial audio. While the speakers perform well for a smartphone, they don’t quite match the richness and depth of sound found in some competing flagship devices.
For those who prefer using headphones, the Skyline supports high-resolution audio via Bluetooth and the USB-C port. However, like many modern smartphones, it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which might be disappointing for users who still use wired headphones. The phone does include an adapter in the box, which is a nice touch.
The multimedia experience on the Skyline is further enhanced by the excellent display. Whether streaming videos, browsing social media, or gaming, the combination of the high-resolution screen and powerful speakers makes for an immersive experience.
Value and Competition
The HMD Skyline enters a highly competitive premium segment, going up against established players like Samsung, Apple, and OnePlus. Priced at around $899, the Skyline is positioned as a premium device, yet it undercuts some of its rivals by a significant margin.
When evaluating the value of the Skyline, it’s important to consider what it offers compared to the competition. The phone excels in design, build quality, display, and software experience. The performance is top-tier, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and the camera system is versatile and capable, particularly in well-lit conditions. The battery life is solid, and the fast charging capabilities are impressive.
However, the Skyline is not without its shortcomings. The lack of expandable storage might be a deal-breaker for some, and while the camera system is excellent, it falls short of the best-in-class offerings from competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max in certain scenarios, particularly in terms of zoom capabilities and low-light performance. The omission of a charger in the box is also a point of contention, though this is becoming increasingly common in the industry.
Final Verdict
The HMD Skyline marks a bold return for Nokia to the premium smartphone segment, and for the most part, it’s a successful one. The phone delivers a well-rounded experience, with a few standout features like its display, software experience, and design. It’s a device that will appeal to users who value a clean Android experience, reliable performance, and a solid build quality.
While it may not be the absolute best in every category, the Skyline offers excellent value for its price, particularly when compared to more expensive flagship models. For those who are nostalgic about the Nokia brand or simply looking for a premium device that doesn’t break the bank, the HMD Skyline is a compelling option that’s worth considering.