Skilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Progressive customisation choices
- Lengthy-term assist with easy-to-replace components
- Distinctive battery longevity
- Spectacular principal digicam for the worth
Cons
- Sub-par show decision and brightness
- Solely two OS upgrades
- Weak GPU hampers gaming and intensive apps
Our Verdict
An amazing idea held again by underwhelming execution. The HMD Fusion’s modular design gives clear advantages over common smartphones, however there are nonetheless too many downsides for most individuals to Take into account shopping for it.
Value When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Greatest Pricing Immediately
Value When Reviewed
$299.99
Greatest Costs Immediately: HMD Fusion
$199.99
The HMD Fusion introduces a singular method to modular telephones, combining repairability, sustainability, and customisation by means of its progressive “Outfits.”
With a rugged, industrial design and stable efficiency for its worth, it gives a compelling proposition for individuals who worth longevity and adaptability of their units.
Nevertheless, its sub-par show, inconsistent software program expertise, and restricted preliminary number of Outfits imply it would attraction extra to tinkerers and eco-conscious customers than mainstream shoppers.
Design & Construct
- Industrial design with uncovered screws and modular “Outfits”
- Excessive repairability with open-source customisation choices
- Strong construct, however on the heavy aspect
The HMD Fusion units itself aside from different finances telephones with its daring industrial design.
From the uncovered screws to the seen pogo pins for attaching modular Outfits, the telephone feels purpose-built for customisation and restore. The aesthetic may appear “unfinished” to some, however for others, it’s a welcome departure from cookie-cutter smartphone designs.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The stainless steel-reinforced plastic casing ensures sturdiness, although the IP54 ranking means it’s immune to splashes and mud, not submersion. The ergonomic design, regardless of its 202.5g weight, is comfy to carry, with rounded corners and a non-slip again plate.
In comparison with rivals just like the Fairphone 5, the Fusion gives a extra rugged, industrial aesthetic however lacks the identical intuitive repairability. In opposition to the Nothing Cellphone (3a), it trades polish for performance, interesting extra to customers who prioritise longevity over visible aptitude.
The aesthetic may appear “unfinished” to some, however for others, it’s a welcome departure from cookie-cutter smartphone designs
The clear “Informal Outfit” case included within the field is a considerate addition, nevertheless it highlights one limitation: the telephone feels incomplete with out an Outfit. This modular dependency would possibly deter these in search of a standalone gadget.
Display & Audio system
- 6.56-inch HD+ IPS LCD with a 90Hz adaptive refresh fee
- Falls behind opponents in brightness and vibrancy
- Massive bezels and low decision have an effect on multimedia enjoyment
The show is essentially the most disappointing facet of the HMD Fusion. Its 720×1612 decision and 269 PPI density are noticeably decrease than the business commonplace on this worth vary.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Whereas the adaptive 90Hz refresh fee ensures smoother scrolling and animations, the display screen’s low brightness (600 nits peak) struggles in outside use, and its muted color copy fails to impress throughout media consumption.
The IPS LCD panel fares higher when it comes to viewing angles, sustaining readability even when tilted. Nevertheless, the massive bezels, particularly on the chin, make the telephone really feel dated in comparison with sleeker units such because the Redmi Notice 14 5G.
The show is essentially the most disappointing facet of the HMD Fusion
For enterprise customers or these prioritising battery life, the trade-off is justifiable. Nonetheless, a Full HD+ panel would have considerably elevated the general expertise with out drastically impacting battery efficiency.
This additionally looks like the suitable place to say that the fingerprint sensor appears very unreliable, and has flat out refused to work in some conditions for me.
Specs & Efficiency
- Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
- Strong CPU efficiency however weak GPU output
- Handles multitasking and light-weight gaming nicely, however struggles with intensive duties
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, the Fusion delivers passable efficiency for its worth.
Day-to-day duties like net looking, social media, and streaming are clean, aided by 8GB of RAM and UFS 2.2 storage.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Nevertheless, the Adreno 613 GPU struggles with graphically intensive video games or high-resolution video watching, limiting content material to decrease framerate settings. Informal video games run easily at medium settings, because of the HD+ decision lowering GPU pressure.
The Fusion delivers passable efficiency for its worth
For anybody who solely makes use of their telephone for gentle duties (similar to non-gamers), the efficiency might be dependable. Nevertheless, these in search of stronger graphics efficiency would possibly contemplate alternate options just like the Poco X7 Professional, which includes a extra succesful GPU.
HMD Fusion benchmarks
Cameras
- 108Mp principal digicam delivers sharp daylight photos
- 50Mp selfie digicam excels in brilliant situations
- Restricted zoom and poor low-light efficiency hinder versatility
The Fusion’s 108Mp main digicam performs admirably in well-lit situations, capturing detailed and vibrant pictures with pure colors.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Whereas it lacks OIS, the gyro-EIS stabilises movies moderately nicely, albeit solely at 1080p@30fps. The 2Mp depth sensor provides minimal worth, whereas the absence of an ultra-wide or telephoto lens limits inventive taking pictures choices. Notice that each one of those pictures are in “HDR” mode, so that is essentially the most element and light-weight that the gadget can seize.
One factor I couldn’t assist however discover is how sluggish the shutter button is – this telephone takes some time to really snap a photograph. It’s actually slightly annoying as you need to keep the place you might be for longer. I think about it will be virtually inconceivable to seize something fast-moving.
Selfies from the 50Mp entrance digicam are clear and social media-ready, significantly when paired with the Flashy Outfit’s LED ring gentle, which reinforces low-light images.
The Fusion’s 108Mp main digicam performs admirably in well-lit situations
Nevertheless, in darker settings, each cameras endure from noise and lack of element, which is predicted at this worth level.
The devoted Evening Mode tries to seize extra element however typically struggles, with the ensuing photos missing the readability you’d anticipate from a finances telephone. Surprisingly, the Portrait Mode was the other – it captured numerous element and excelled in edge detection and blurring.
Battery Life & Charging
- Spectacular longevity with a 5000mAh battery
- 33W wired charging gives first rate speeds however lacks wi-fi functionality
- Modular Outfits allow inventive power-sharing choices
The Fusion excels in relation to battery life, because of its 5000mAh cell paired with the power-efficient Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. Truthfully, the battery on this factor is de facto exhausting to empty.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Throughout testing, it lasted practically two days of reasonable use, together with video streaming, looking, and images. For gentle customers, the battery may stretch even additional, making it a dependable alternative for lengthy journeys.
Truthfully, the battery within the HMD Fusion is de facto exhausting to empty
Charging is capped at 33W, and it begins off very slowly. It reached 50% after 41 minutes (which felt like a lifetime) and absolutely charged the gadget in an hour and a half.
Whereas it lacks wi-fi charging natively, the upcoming Wi-fi Charging Outfit addresses this limitation, highlighting some great benefits of the modular system.
Software program & Options
- Close to-stock Android 14 with minimal bloatware
- Two Android upgrades and three years of safety updates
- Open supply platform encourages progressive third-party Outfit designs
The Fusion’s software program expertise is generally optimistic, because of its clear Android 14 implementation. Bloatware is minimal, with just a few pre-installed apps simply uninstalled. I don’t like pre-installed apps in any respect, however in comparison with dearer mid-rangers, I can’t complain an excessive amount of in regards to the HMD Fusion.
Customisation choices like toggling refresh charges and configuring modular options are intuitive and user-friendly. Nevertheless, there are one or two bizarre software program quirks.
For instance, when the telephone was out of battery, holding down the facility button wouldn’t show a flat battery icon – like each different telephone. Ever. Whereas not the largest drawback, these much less accustomed to tech could fear one thing is unsuitable with the handset.
Nevertheless, the promise of solely two OS upgrades and three years of safety patches falls quick in comparison with Motorola and Samsung, which supply longer assist. Occasional software program bugs, together with random restarts, mar an in any other case clean expertise.
The Fusion’s software program expertise is generally optimistic, because of its clear Android 14 implementation
The Flashy Outfit is essentially the most thrilling accent obtainable for the Fusion. Its built-in LED ring gentle elevates selfie and portrait images, with customizable brightness and color settings within the digicam app. Not like third-party ring gentle instances, it attracts energy immediately from the telephone, eliminating the necessity for separate charging.
Whereas present Outfits deal with practicality, similar to rugged instances and wi-fi charging, the open-source platform hints at future prospects.
Value & Availability
At launch, the HMD Fusion prices £229.99/$299.99. It’s obtainable in just one color: Noir (Black).
You should purchase the telephone immediately from HMD UK or HMD US, plus a wide range of third-party retailers. All the Modular Outfits are offered individually.
The gadget isn’t obtainable on contract, so that you’ll have to purchase it outright and pair it with a SIM deal.
It’s tough to match the HMD Fusion to a daily telephone, however its worth places it in competitors with a number of the finest finances handsets you should purchase, with the CMF Cellphone 1, Galaxy A16 5G and Redmi Notice 14 Professional 5G rising as key rivals.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Must you purchase the HMD Fusion?
The HMD Fusion is a daring try at modular smartphones, providing eco-conscious customers a sustainable and customizable gadget.
Whereas it excels in battery life, repairability, and artistic modularity, its underwhelming show and restricted efficiency maintain it again.
For fanatics and builders, the Fusion presents a singular canvas for experimentation, however mainstream customers would possibly discover higher worth elsewhere. I can see the place the Fusion is headed; I simply don’t suppose it fairly sticks the touchdown.
Specs
Dimensions: 164.2 x 75.5 x 8.3mm
Weight: 202.5g
IP Ranking: IP54 splash resistance
Show: 6.56-inch IPS LCD
Decision: 720 x 1612 pixels
Refresh Fee: 90Hz
Chipset: Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4nm), Adreno 613 GPU
Reminiscence: As much as 256GB storage with Micro-SD assist
Predominant Cameras: 108Mp (huge), 2Mp (depth)
Selfie Digital camera: 50Mp
Battery: 5000mAh, 33W wired charging
Software program: Android 14, two main OS upgrades