Being modular is not its greatest trick

HMD isn’t a family identify within the US. The corporate got here to the limelight in 2016 when it took on the duty of constructing Nokia-branded telephones. Quick ahead to 2024, and the once-legendary model has been diminished to a mere stamp on underwhelming, low-spec finances gadgets. However HMD isn’t going anyplace. Final yr, the corporate titled itself “Human Cellular Units” and made the daring transfer to construct self-branded smartphones as an alternative of constant to financial institution on Nokia’s legacy. In got here a spate of HMD gadgets, together with the HMD Barbie cellphone, HMD Skyline, the HMD Pulse collection, and the HMD Fusion — the topic of this text.

At first look, the HMD Fusion isn’t a lot of a looker. It’s a nondescript rectangular slab that doesn’t actually have any standout design parts. Nonetheless, upon nearer inspection, you’ll see that the cellphone has a pogo pin connector on the again and clearly seen screws which are simply begging to be opened. These two parts type the entire enchantment of the HMD Fusion, a modular cellphone with a robust deal with repairability.

Once I hear mods, I instantly consider Motorola and the Z collection — or, extra just lately, CMF and its Cellphone 1. HMD desires to convey again the modular period with the Fusion, and despite the fact that the snap-on equipment the corporate gives aren’t as cool as what Motorola had again within the day, the truth that they’re obtainable free of charge with the finances cellphone is a pleasant contact. There’s no add-on speaker or a battery case. As a substitute, the HMD Fusion gives 4 “outfits”: “Informal,” “Flashy,” “Rugged,” and “Gaming.”

In India, the place I reside, HMD gives all of them bundled with the cellphone at no further value. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re in Europe, you may need to purchase them individually.

Anyway, I acquired the Informal, Flashy, and Gaming outfits with the assessment unit. The Informal outfit is basically only a plastic cowl for the cellphone. It doesn’t carry out any tips like the opposite two do, that are extra fascinating.

The Flashy outfit, because the identify suggests, provides a hoop mild to your system. It’s a color-changing RGB rectangular LED connected to a tough silicone case. The sunshine itself matches across the major digicam setup and will be pulled out to face you whenever you’re taking selfies. The nice factor is that, in contrast to third-party cellular ring lights that require batteries or an exterior energy supply, the HMD Fusion’s Flashy Outfit attracts energy instantly from the cellphone by the pins.

When related, you’ll see a bulb icon within the digicam app of the cellphone, tapping which turns the ring mild on/off. You additionally get further choices to alter the colour and brightness degree of the sunshine. In the course of the day, I may hardly discover any distinction between photographs and movies taken with the ring mild on and people taken with out it. Its impact is most obvious in low-light conditions, particularly with the completely different coloration choices you may select. Actually, I’d say it’s a cool gimmick to have, however nothing that provides dramatically to the cellphone’s performance.

You may simply do with out the Flahsy outfit by including extra lights and coloration results to your photographs and movies with the scores of photograph enhancing apps on the market. In reality, you’d in all probability be higher off with that possibility.

Whereas it’s pretty simple to snap on the Flahsy outfit, it’s such a cosy match that you simply actually must struggle with it to get it off the cellphone. I made a few folks round me attempt to take the Flashy Outfit off the Fusion, and everybody struggled with the duty. At one level throughout my testing, a pogo pin (one in every of six) from the outfit got here flying out as I pulled it other than the cellphone. The sunshine nonetheless labored, however I’m afraid common switching between outfits may trigger extra harm to the pogo pins or the cellphone’s connector itself.

Fortuitously, the Flashy outfit has an unintended use case, if you happen to ever handle to interrupt all of the pins: the ring mild acts like a cellphone stand, however solely when it’s positioned horizontally.

The Gaming Outfit was extra helpful throughout my time with the HMD Fusion. Just like the Flashy Outfit, it’s powered by the cellphone’s pogo pin connection. The controller itself is fairly commonplace, with joysticks, a D-pad, motion buttons, triggers, and extra. A 3.5mm headphone jack is a pleasant contact, which, by the way in which, additionally options individually on the cellphone.

I performed Asphalt 8 utilizing the controller and located it to be a surprisingly nice expertise. There was no lag, and the controls had been very responsive. The controller itself doesn’t suck an excessive amount of energy and has a pleasant grip on it.

It’s nice that the Gaming Outfit is a part of the package deal and never one thing one has to purchase individually. That’s as a result of you may’t dock another cellphone in it. It’s solely suitable with the HMD Fusion. You may have the choice of connecting the controller through a cable to a different Android cellphone or an Android TV to play video games. I’m unsure I’m ever going to try this, but it surely’s good to have the choice.

I went to the India launch of the HMD Fusion after having freshly watched “Purchase Now: The Buying Conspiracy” on Netflix. The documentary is a actuality examine on how tech manufacturers guarantee we purchase new gadgets yearly and the impression our limitless purchases are having on the planet. On the other aspect of the spectrum, HMD is likely one of the few smartphone makers pledging sustainability with long-term availability of components for its gadgets.

Whereas many states within the US implement robust Proper to Restore legal guidelines that mandate components availability, we have now but to see the likes of Apple and Google overtly announce pledges for his or her respective gadgets. DIY repairs are nonetheless a grey space for the large cellphone makers, with current laws forcing them to the desk. So, I actually admire the truth that HMD has promised to supply restore components for the Fusion for seven years. In reality, the benefit of repairs may be the cellphone’s greatest trick.

HMD has partnered with iFixit to make restore components and manuals obtainable for the Fusion until 2032! Since iFixit isn’t in all places, HMD will type completely different restore partnerships in different nations the place the cellphone is obtainable.

Aside from repairability, HMD additionally guarantees sustainability. The corporate has confirmed that future variations of the Fusion, at any time when they launch, can be backwards suitable with the present modules, a.okay.a “Outfits.” Fans may even 3D print their very own Fusion modules utilizing the corporate’s software program toolkit that features key dimensions, {hardware} interface, and software program improvement APIs required for creating the outfits.

The HMD Fusion is a $249 cellphone and options the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip. For probably the most half, the cellphone works simply superb, but it surely’s not snappy or something. The UI of the cellphone feels laggy at occasions, and I very a lot hate the pre-installed bloatware.

One other destructive facet of the cellphone is that it guarantees solely two years of software program updates. That’s means too little for a tool lately, particularly if opponents just like the Nothing Cellphone 2a provide three years of updates. Heck, the cheaper Samsung Galaxy A15 will get 4 years of software program updates. I ponder what use will seven years of components be if the software program expertise of the cellphone deteriorates in a few years.

In conclusion, I’m definitely intrigued by the HMD Fusion. It stands out not for its efficiency or design however for its deal with repairability. Its sometimes laggy UI and restricted software program assist maintain it again from being one of many greatest low cost telephones on the market, however the distinctive pogo pin system and interchangeable “outfits” add an fascinating twist.