Qi2 wireless charging is available for the first time on an Android phone

After numerous leaks, HMD has officially unveiled the Skyline, a new Android smartphone with a design reminiscent of classic Lumia phones. This Finnish brand’s latest offering is notable for being the first Android device to support Qi2 wireless charging, allowing for magnetic wireless charging akin to Apple’s MagSafe. This technology enables faster, more efficient, and cooler wireless charging, supporting 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging.

For those who prefer traditional methods, the Skyline also supports 33W wired charging for its 4,600mAh battery. Interestingly, the battery is replaceable, as highlighted in a promotional video where the rear cover can be removed using a tool similar to a SIM tray ejector.

The phone’s hardware design stands out with a square-cut body and rounded bezel corners, evoking memories of the Nokia Lumia 920. HMD has partnered with iFixit to ensure the device is repairable. Another notable feature is a remappable button on the left side, which can launch apps with a double-tap or press-and-hold.

Spec-wise, the Skyline positions itself as an upper mid-range phone, featuring a 6.55-inch 144Hz OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and 1,000 nits peak brightness. It is powered by a mid-tier Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, with options for 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. The phone also includes a microSD card slot for up to 512GB of additional space.

Camera-wise, the Skyline is the most impressive HMD phone in recent times. It boasts a rear camera setup with a 108MP main camera with OIS, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP 2x telephoto shooter, alongside a 50MP selfie camera with autofocus and 4K support.

The device runs on a “Balance Interface” skin atop Android 14, featuring a Detox Mode aimed at enhancing digital wellbeing and more soothing system sounds. However, it falls short in software updates, offering only two OS updates and three years of security patches, unlike the five to seven years offered by Samsung and Google.

Other features include Gorilla Glass 3 on the front, tempered glass on the back, Bluetooth 5.2, an IP54 rating, NFC, a side fingerprint scanner, and Wi-Fi 6E. The Skyline is listed on HMD’s UK and US websites, priced at £399.99 for the 8GB/128GB model and £499.99 for the 12GB/256GB variant.

Compared to the Pixel 8a, the Skyline is at least £100 cheaper and offers benefits such as Qi2 charging, faster wired charging, a larger battery, a telephoto camera, and expandable storage. However, Google’s device excels in image processing, water resistance, a longer update policy, and a brighter screen. Despite this, it’s refreshing to see HMD re-enter the market with more than just low-end phones.