Verdict
Though its concealment is far from swell , being able-bodied to replace it ( or a busted shelling ) makes the HMD Fusion an easygoing passport for families , chance event - prone people , budget seekers and eco - warriors likewise .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
While HMD might be the new nipper on the block , its creators are well - versed . The Swedish grouping in charge of their production has been making repairable Nokia handset for years .
Now take a fling at building its own blade through easy serve and sustainable handset , HMD is already making a new name for itself .
In tandem with iFixit , the HMD Fusion is a lulu . And while it ’s not quite running on the gallant raise dreams of something like the Framework laptop , it ’s a howling step in the right direction for the right person .
Design
The HMD Fusion is a > £ 200 handset that , by virtue of its unique engineering , looks anything but . Visible screws signal its Lego - like plan of attack to life . It look like it ’s missing a rear case . There ’s a reason for that .
The rear chassis brings attention to its battery , with recessed Au contacts showcasing its interesting approach to add-on and attention deficit disorder - ons . Further up , its raised tv camera regalia more tight matches other handsets of the time .
Its logotype is small and centered , with its full name on the dispirited third in a neat and sharp face .
Where it just shake things up is around the outer edge . The left side is left naked , with the bottom housing a two - objet d’art speaker unit grill , a centered USB - vitamin C port , a microphone , and a welcome 3.5 millimeter headphone jack .
The right side keep a volume cradle , dual fingermark / power button , and small else . That leaves the top offer just another microphone for ripe measure , and the left side housing the SIM / MicroSD batting order time slot .
It ’s a comparatively grandiloquent equipment with just enough heaviness to sit well in your hand . And at around 200 grams , there ’s a level of ponderosity that speaks character and deserving .
All of this comes in a rather basic composition board package . There ’s a simple rubber case included that ’s more inflexible than what other bargain handsets typically put up . But like them , there ’s no courser included .
Screen
The 20:9 , 6.56 - inch screenland impart quite a lot to be desired . With extremist - bargain handsets like theMoto G35 5Goffering sharp and smooth Full HD displays at a reduced price , the HMD Fusion ’s 720p panel is disappointing .
There ’s also a minute of chin , and the touch reactivity feels miss . It does n’t bother me , but it speaks to its supposed note value proposal next to today ’s option .
90Hz is a slender saving grace for smooth scrolling , but its middling brightness at around 500 nits mean it ’s far from the best for cram the last episode of a new cyclosis show on your break or at the park .
Even being IPS , viewing Angle are n’t enceinte , with brightness carry a rapid nosedive when not take in straight on .
In everyday indoor conditions , it ’s largely precise and vivid . It ’s just a little oil production compared to the smoother , sharp , brighter , and more colorful displays on tatty handsets .
Similarly , the small speakers of the HMD Fusion leave much to the imagination . This is hardly a startling revolution in the budget handset infinite , but one always worth considering .
Its bottom - firing talker can get in good order loud , as most tend to , but at even lower volume cracking for personal listening in an indoor setting , there ’s an certify want of affectionateness in shows , lack bass voice in euphony , and an overall diminished character in atmospherical audio frequency .
At the destruction of the day , this is a budget gadget with repairability at its heart . If you handle to smash it , the cost of a replacement panel should n’t have you bound to supplant the whole matter .
Camera
An interesting premix of camera technical school is the HMD Fusions crux and crutch . The rear 108MP rear crap-shooter can take a banging 70Mb shot of a couch if you want it to . It still struggles to capture the details at a decent range , however , and punching in professor that quickly .
But when you ’re just snapping everyday photos , it does an admiral business of show what matters in the moment .
Looking back at pic taken around Manchester , England , its innumerous graffito , wall art , and unique blending of new and old architecture came out just as I remember it on the day .
There ’s a disappointing deficiency of an ultrawide - angle lens , which made experience more of say art in the stroke from up nigh or even across the street .
I ca n’t remember the last time I went out without a 0.5x choice , and I was dismayed and obnubilate when I could n’t see it on the viewfinder .
So what ’s the 2nd lens for , you ask ? It ’s a 2MP depth detector to attention in sieve portrait shots and faithful - ups . Paired with the motorcar - focus , it still struggle to capture a comme il faut shot of an Autumn bloom blowing in the wind , but its portrayal operation is strong .
But the front camera is where matter stand out . A highlight of the phone , especially when pair off with the flip-flop - out ring light of the “ Flashy Outfit ” case , is the 50MP selfie cracker bonbon .
If you ’re into video call , TikTok transcription , or get a line yourself in the safe light , it ’s a strong performer . And there are plenty of touch - up feature if the naturalistic look is n’t what you need to put out there .
you could even touch off shots with a selection of popular gestures . That ’s better than relying on a vainglorious grin or holler about dairy intersection .
Performance
Though packing sufficient memory for most , the HMD Fusion can only do so much with storage that ’s rarely up for the task .
It ’s backed up by the fairly competent ( but still budget ) Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor with an Adreno 613 GPU . RAM differs depending on your storage option , with our 128 GB mannequin own 6 GB to work with .
This all leads to a Geekbench multicore score of 2238 , which pop off toe - to - toe with the similarly pricedMotorola Moto G55 . load time across apps , start - up , and biz , however , indicate slower storage under the hood entertain things back .
It ’s largely fine , but when games like Dead Cells take longer to load in a stage than it does to dispatch , it can be put off . In team - based multiplayer game , you ’ll only slow down the start of a match . Once you ’re in , you ’re in .
A similar choppiness can be experienced when trade between apps , too .
Things do eventually settle in for a metre , with general public presentation across the web ultimately smooth and pleasant , but those little hitches when swap or finding apps do finger severely to justify in the fount of smoother , cheaper handsets .
While universal performance is barely consummate , the HMD Fusion is still a capable gamer . Its low - resolution blind ( by today ’s standards ) intend it has the resources to maintain 90fps when allowed , making great employment of its otherwise tame show .
Games like Wild Rift were rock - solid at 90fps , keeping competition fierce . on-line adventures like Diablo Immortal , while prone to pop - in for a while , still run well enough .
They wo n’t look phenomenal , and you might clamber when back in bright sunshine , but the internals are worthwhile .
Today ’s overt - world pleasure trip like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves are n’t going to do well . They ’re meant for more modern chips . But through its repairability school of thought , it ’s a good catch for the competitive gamer on a budget .
Software
The HMD Fusion comes with Android 14 outfitted with a darkened user port to befit its moody looks ( and potentially shroud the colour woes of its comparatively dull IPS LCD show ) .
Most of the expect Google apps feature in folders at the bottom of the main nursing home screen door . Tap into the Apps folder , though , and you ’ll find a few you might not have asked for .
Social media like Facebook and LinkedIn are there , as well as a travel app , VPN provider , and some greenish - focused retail deals apps , too .
HMD even includes a My machine app that acts as a hub for machine sporting - up , app suggestion , and ship’s company news , as well as a shortcut to optional extra like superfluous section and accoutrement .
It ’s mostly all right . There ’s nothing there that ca n’t be removed , and you wo n’t encounter any of the dubious biz found on some other budget French telephone .
But hey , it ’s warrant to climb to Android 16 in prison term . Paired with the user - repairability aspect , you may theoretically keep this out of the landfill for a good longsighted while . And that ’s the point .
Battery
The beating ticker of the HMD Fusion is a 5000mAh battery that ’s quite coarse in earphone across all prices these day . Though it ’s technically user - replaceable , this still requires a screwdriver , adhesive , and more . It ’s not a hot - swappable cell you could keep around like a elevator car tyre .
But you should n’t need to , either . Light play only drains around 4 % in half an 60 minutes . Crank that up to something more modern and it ’ll sip around 8 % in the same timeframe , which is in argumentation with most devices .
At a comfortable indoor light , Netflix guzzles up 10 % : again , in line with the serious of them at the cost peak .
And while that might still go like cause for concern , routine exercise does n’t task the gadget much at all . belike down to that 720p show and an vigour - efficient chipset , the HMD Fusion has no job going all daytime .
So long as you have n’t hammered it with games and picture , a 2d mean solar day is easy potential with some free energy - conscious employment .
The saving gracility is 33w fast charging support . A compatible hack will typeset you back another £ 20 or so , but if you have one already , you may get a smashing 32 % recharge while you shower . scram a half hour to set it down ? you could juice it back up by 59 % .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
Most of the breakable parts of the HMD Fusion can be exchange at dwelling house for less than the monetary value of a flagship phone ’s monthly contract charge .
A sub - par display and a low - goal processor means Netflix and YouTube wo n’t bet their best . Big 3D game are out of the question , too , but older or casual escapade are bonnie game .
Final Thoughts
On paper , the HMD Fusion is a tough sell . Which says a lot about today ’s budget earphone space . you could get devices with massively amend blind for less money . But in terms of seniority , HMD is on the right track .
The major components of the HMD Fusion can be replaced on a shoestring budget . Whether you ’re the bunglesome type , have immature , regardless , and energetic kids , or tend to halt onto your headset until the battery ca n’t support your lifestyle , likely problems are a bargain fix . A slight bank discount covers the monetary value of the sieve .
But if you ’re certain you require a screen with gorgeous colours and hopeful highlights , this is n’t the one for you . Try for a discountedSamsung Galaxy A35or theMotorola Moto G55 . And if you eff a good book , theTCL 50 Pro Nxtpaper 5Gis high-flown .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every roving phone we review thoroughly . We use industry - standard tests to equate features the right way and we use the phone as our independent gimmick over the review period . We ’ll always tell you what we get and we never , ever , accept money to refresh a merchandise .
detect out more about how we prove in ourethics insurance .
FAQs
Not out of the corner , but it ’s possible for an optional duplicate to apply the rearward pins for this design .
No , this is n’t a modular equipment that can be elevate on a whimsey . It ’s just easy to replace designated percentage it transport with .
Test Data
Full Specs
