PSA: There’s a phone you’ve probably never heard of that has not just one but two standout features that should be on way more devices. This is the HMD Skyline—a name that might sound unfamiliar, but HMD is the company that owns the Nokia brand. If you look closely, this phone has some design cues reminiscent of the old Nokia Lumia smartphones—flat edges, rounded corners. A nod to those who remember the legendary Lumia 1520.
But this 2024/2025 smartphone has two key features that every other phone company could adopt—if they wanted to. The thing is, they don’t really want to.
1. Repairability
This phone makes self-repairs shockingly simple. Notice the screw at the bottom corner? That one screw gives you access to replace the battery, charging port, back glass, and even the front display.
For example, replacing the front display glass costs just $95, and HMD has partnered with iFixit, so you can buy official repair parts directly from their website. If you don’t already own the necessary tools, an additional $5 gets you a full toolkit to open the phone. I’m no professional repair technician, but it took me literally a minute to open the back and swap out the display myself.
Some of you may remember when phones had removable backs—you could just pop the back off, swap the battery, and move on. But in recent years, smartphones have become more integrated, sacrificing repairability. Fairphone is a good example of a fully modular, repairable phone, but it comes with compromises: extra thickness, weaker performance, and lower water resistance.
Apple, on the other hand, argues that the most sustainable phone is one that never needs repairs—a nice theory, but also a convenient excuse to keep their devices locked down.
The HMD Skyline takes a balanced approach. It’s not a fully repairable phone with zero tools required, but it makes self-repairs way easier than other modern smartphones. Plus, despite being user-repairable, it still has IP54 water resistance. More phones should follow this path.
How many times have we heard that a simple battery replacement can extend a phone’s lifespan by years? Yet manufacturers continue to push sealed designs. If we want this trend to change, we need to support brands that prioritize repairability.
2. Full Qi2 Wireless Charging
The second feature of this phone is something shockingly rare in 2024/2025: full Qi2 wireless charging with built-in magnets.
Wireless charging isn’t new, but when Apple introduced MagSafe, it brought a genuinely useful improvement—magnets that perfectly align the phone with the charger for maximum efficiency. It’s such an obviously good idea that I expected every Android manufacturer to copy it immediately.
In 2023, the Qi2 wireless charging standard was updated to include magnetic alignment. In theory, this meant that every Android brand could start including built-in Qi2 magnets, making wireless charging more convenient. But for some reason, they haven’t.
Instead, some brands released “Qi2-ready” phones that require a special case with embedded magnets to achieve the same effect. OnePlus did this with the OnePlus 13, and Samsung followed with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. But why require an extra accessory when you could just build the magnets into the phone?
The HMD Skyline is currently the only non-iPhone with fully integrated Qi2 magnets. This means it snaps into place on wireless chargers, magnetic mounts, and MagSafe accessories—all without needing a special case.
It’s baffling that no other flagship Android has implemented this yet. Wireless earbud cases already include alignment magnets, so it clearly isn’t a cost issue. But for whatever reason, major phone brands just aren’t making this a priority.
More Phones Should Follow This Example
Right now, manufacturers follow trends—and unfortunately, repairability and Qi2 magnets aren’t trends at the moment. This is why companies don’t prioritize them, just like how people keep asking for smaller phones in comment sections, but no one actually buys them when they’re released.
If we want repairability and built-in Qi2 charging to become mainstream, we need to support phones that offer them.
The HMD Skyline may not be a flagship, but it’s a solid mid-range option. I bought mine for $500, and it runs near-stock Android with only a few extra features. One of my favorites? A customizable side button that can be mapped to nearly any action—just like Apple’s Action Button on the iPhone.
Specs & Downsides
- Chipset: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
- Display: 144Hz, 1080p, 1000 nits
- Battery: 4,600mAh, 33W charging
- Storage: 256GB base model + microSD card slot
- Cameras: 108MP primary + ultra-wide (good in daylight, ultra-wide is soft)
- Build: Textured back, fingerprint-resistant Topaz Blue color
- Vibration motor: One of the worst since the original Razer Phone—seriously, it feels loose.
Final Thoughts
This phone probably won’t be a best-seller, but it proves that repairability and Qi2 wireless charging with built-in magnets are 100% possible without making a phone ridiculously expensive.
It’s time for more manufacturers to follow suit—because more phones should have these features.
Rreally a good phone. I wish all phones could have these features.