The primary Android smartphone characteristic I have been wanting ahead to in 2024 is Qi2. That is the new wireless charging standard that permits a MagSafe-like magnetic charging system, very like what’s accessible on modern iPhones. It lets you magnetically pop on a battery pack, or magnetically stick your cellphone to a Qi2 charger for excellent alignment and quicker wireless charging speeds. It even opens up other accessories, like magnetic tripods, digital camera equipment, and my favorites: magnetic car docks and bike mounts.
You may then perceive my frustration when each Android phone introduced this 12 months has but to characteristic the brand new charging commonplace. Even the not too long ago introduced Google Pixel 9 series nonetheless makes use of the older Qi commonplace. The exception? HMD’s Skyline, a brand new gadget from the corporate that beforehand solely made Nokia-branded phones. It is the world’s first Qi2-certified Android cellphone available on the market, however that is not the one factor that makes it distinctive—it is also user-repairable and is available in a sizzling neon-pink shade (!).
Magnetic Android
The very first thing I did after organising the Skyline was pop it on a MagSafe wi-fi charger I had mendacity round. It hooked up magnetically! Hooray! Besides it did not cost. Bizarre. I then took it to a standard wi-fi charger and had no luck. I attempted it on greater than 5 wi-fi chargers, some a mixture of Qi and others MagSafe-certified, and the cellphone did not recharge on any of them. Cue my disappointment.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
The Qi2 commonplace is meant to be backward appropriate with Qi, that means your older wi-fi chargers ought to nonetheless be capable of recharge Qi2 telephones. So what provides? Effectively, it seems the magnetic wi-fi charging coils could not line up with all Qi chargers, MagSafe or not. Some Qi chargers will work (HMD shared a preliminary checklist of a number of), however extra possible than not, you’ll have to purchase a Qi2 charger. I requested Nomad to ship me its new Qi2 Stand and the Skyline began recharging immediately after I plopped it on. I do not love this limitation however at the least there is a answer.
All is just not rosy. Even when the Skyline magnetically sticks to this Qi2 wi-fi charging stand, the energy of the magnetic connection is not nice. The cellphone began tilting to the aspect and, by itself, rotated horizontally as a result of it is barely top-heavy. Examine this to my Pixel 8 Pro with a Peak Design MagSafe case, which stays completely nonetheless on the identical charger as a result of the magnets within the case are a lot stronger.
This makes me involved about after I’d wish to connect different magnetic equipment to the Skyline—will they simply fall off that a lot simpler? I am completely happy that I lastly get the magnetic advantages of Qi2 in an Android cellphone, however I hope that is only a lackluster implementation and never an indication of issues to come back.
Commonplace Android
The Skyline is an in any other case completely nice Android cellphone. I like its rectangular design, laborious flat edges and all. The neon pink is very enjoyable, and I am glad HMD is daring sufficient to supply loud and proud colors. The entire thing is a bit slippery although. There is no headphone jack, however HMD does supply a microSD card slot to go along with 256 GB of inner storage.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
