The primary Android smartphone characteristic I have been wanting ahead to in 2024 is Qi2. That is the new wireless charging standard that allows a MagSafe-like magnetic charging system, very similar to what’s out there on modern iPhones. It permits you to magnetically pop on a battery pack, or magnetically stick your cellphone to a Qi2 charger for good alignment and sooner wireless charging speeds. It even opens up other accessories, like magnetic tripods, digicam equipment, and my favorites: magnetic car docks and bike mounts.
You would possibly then perceive my frustration when each Android phone introduced this 12 months has but to characteristic the brand new charging customary. Even the lately introduced Google Pixel 9 series nonetheless makes use of the older Qi customary. The exception? HMD’s Skyline, a brand new system from the corporate that beforehand solely made Nokia-branded phones. It is the world’s first Qi2-certified Android cellphone in the marketplace, however that is not the one factor that makes it distinctive—it is also user-repairable and is available in a scorching neon-pink colour (!).
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 connected 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 customary is meant to be backward appropriate with Qi, that means your older wi-fi chargers ought to nonetheless have the ability to recharge Qi2 telephones. So what provides? Effectively, it seems the magnetic wi-fi charging coils might 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 doubtless than not, you could 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 no less than there is a resolution.
All isn’t 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. Evaluate 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 need to connect different magnetic equipment to the Skyline—will they simply fall off that a lot simpler? I am joyful 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.
Customary Android
The Skyline is an in any other case completely advantageous Android cellphone. I like its rectangular design, arduous flat edges and all. The neon pink is particularly enjoyable, and I am glad HMD is daring sufficient to supply loud and proud colors. The entire thing is a bit slippery although. There isn’t any headphone jack, however HMD does provide a microSD card slot to go together with 256 GB of inside storage.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
