HMD’s new Skyline smartphone designed with DIY repairability in mind

HMD, which now calls itself Human Mobile Devices, has introduced a smartphone it says can be easily repaired at home.

The HMD Skyline’s back is removed by turning one screw and levering it out with a guitar pick. The screen, any bent ports, and a depleted battery can be accessed and fixed. The phone has been rated 9/10 by iFixit for repairability.

Skyline launches in Neon Pink and Twisted Black and is available now at hmd.com for £399 for the 8/128GB model and £499 for the 12/256GB model.

Kyle Wiens, CEO at iFixit, said, “Human Mobile Devices has set a new bar for repairable design. This is what happens when a design team considers repair from the start. Human Mobile Devices’ approach to disassembly is a quantum leap forward.”

An internal screw-driven camshaft speeds up disassembly. One screw opens the back cover. A screw-driven rotating arm has a spring to pull it back down when released. Its cam lobe pushes against a plate on the back cover, which clips back together once a repair is done.

Once the back cover is removed, an array of screws disconnects the display cable and the screen is removable. A foam gasket around the display perimeter maintains its IP54 rating. The battery comes with a built-in plastic liner that is pulled to separate the battery from the chassis. Once the battery is out, the plastic is peeled from underneath.

Lars Silberbauer, Global CMO of Human Mobile Devices, said, “We are making smartphones easy to repair, and we inspired the digital detox for ‘balanced relationships’ with technology when we brought back feature phones. Skyline is the next step: it’s repair and detox all in one. And it looks absolutely beautiful.”

HMD’s Global Head of Insight, Adam Ferguson, will be speaking about HMD’s repair ethos at the Mobile News Circular Summit secondary market conference.