Finnish company Human Mobile Devices is rebranding itself under the HMD name, moving away from the Nokia brand for its smartphones. The initial lineup under the HMD branding includes the HMD Pulse, HMD Pulse+, HMD Pulse Pro, and the HMD Vibe. These phones share a similar design aesthetic, with some vibrant color options for certain models, targeting the budget segment.
For instance, the HMD Vibe features a 6.56-inch display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The phone also includes a microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 512GB.
The handset is IP52-certified for some water resistance. Notably, it comes with Android 14 out of the box, a rare feature for a budget phone. A 4,000mAh battery with 10W charging support keeps the device running.
On the camera front, the HMD Vibe sports a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 5MP front camera for selfies. Biometric authentication is limited to face unlock on this model.
Next in line is the HMD Pulse, which features a Unisoc T606 chipset, 4GB of RAM (with a 6GB variant available), and a larger 5,000mAh battery. It also includes a fingerprint sensor and a brighter display.
The HMD Pulse will be offered in Dreamy Pink, Meteor Black, and Atmos Blue color options, with software updates guaranteed for two years and security patches for three years.
Improvements in the imaging department are seen in the Pulse series, with two 13MP rear cameras and an 8MP front camera on the HMD Pulse variant.
- 1. HMD Pulse
- 2. HMD Pulse+
- 3. HMD Pulse Pro
The HMD Pulse+ increases the RAM to 8GB and features a 50MP primary camera. It offers vibrant color choices like Glacier Green, Midnight Blue, and Apricot Crush.
Finally, the HMD Pulse Pro stands out with a 50MP front camera and 20W fast charging support. It comes in Twilight Purple, Black Ocean, and Glacier Green color variants.
Despite the impressive features, the highlight of these new phones is their affordable pricing. The HMD Vibe can be purchased for just $39 through Verizon and TracFone in the U.S., or for $145 for the unlocked version, offering excellent value for the hardware.
Unfortunately, the Pulse series will not be available in the U.S., but the pricing in other markets is quite competitive. The baseline HMD Pulse starts at 139 euros, going up to 159 euros for the Pulse+ version, and 179 euros for the Pro model in European markets.
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