Earlier this year, I visited the retail store of a major smartphone brand in the US and noticed a long line of customers. Initially, I assumed they were there to purchase new smartphones, but to my surprise, they had come to replace their phone batteries. A few months later, I was chatting with a friend who mentioned that he had also chosen to replace his phone’s battery rather than upgrade to a $1,200 smartphone.
This made me realise something: why don’t tech companies make repairable smartphones? Or phones that can be updated and improved over time without the need to invest in a new device? An analyst friend explained that tasks like opening up a phone to swap out an old battery or replace a cracked screen are challenging because companies are unwilling to design repairable devices. Instead, they focus on maximising profits by encouraging consumers to purchase new devices.
However, as regulations tighten around the world, tech companies are being forced to create smartphones that are easier to repair—a win for consumers. I recently tried a smartphone from HMD (best known for selling Nokia-branded phones) that places repairability at its core. It is designed to be modular, with the ability to be customised using different accessories. I have used the HMD Fusion for over a week, and it has made me think more deeply about the possibilities of a modular, repairable smartphone. Here are my thoughts on the HMD Fusion—where it excels and where it falls short.
HMD Fusion price in India (as reviewed): Rs 17,999
A fresh design language
A smart outfit that doubles as an LED flash for the selfie camera. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
The Fusion felt surprisingly light when I picked it up. Weighing only 205g, it’s incredibly lightweight for a phone with a large 6.56-inch screen. I genuinely appreciate the plastic build, as it makes the phone easier to carry and handle without the added heft. The device felt very solid in my hand, and not once did I feel like I was using a budget smartphone. I also liked the clean, simple, and minimalist design of the phone. It doesn’t have any loud or bold branding.
At first glance, the Fusion may look like any other smartphone: a large screen, a cut-out for the front camera, and two lenses with a flash on the back. The button placements are quite standard—nothing groundbreaking—but I had no issues reaching all the important controls. However, when you look at the back, there’s something distinctly different about the Fusion.
I could see the back of the battery and a pin connector (more on that later). Honestly, it looks as if the designer intentionally gave the device an unfinished look. I liked this approach; it feels fresh, raw, and very different from the design I have seen on other smartphones.
I am glad that HMD (which, by the way, stands for Human Mobile Devices) is trying to create its own design language instead of relying on past Nokia designs, as it did recently with the Skyline (perhaps one of my favourite phone designs of 2024), which looks reminiscent of the iconic Nokia N9 smartphone.
The modular aspect is interesting but basic
HMD Fusion is designed to be a semi-modular smartphone. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
I had a great time reviewing the Phone 1, a smartphone from CMF, a sub-brand of Nothing founded by Carl Pei of OnePlus fame. It brought the modular design back into the mainstream smartphone space, similar to what HMD is attempting with the Fusion. However, both brands approach modularity (or rather, semi-modular design) differently.
The CMF Phone 1 (review) experimented with interchangeable back covers and introduced a feature called Accessory Point—a small wheel located in the right corner of the phone. By removing this thumbscrew, you can attach various accessories like a lanyard, kickstand, or wallet.
What HMD has done with the Fusion is design various modular components, or “Outfits,” as HMD likes to call them. These modular components are essentially cases that can be swapped just like the phone cases we are all familiar with. Remember the smart connector I briefly mentioned earlier? These Outfits connect to the phone via the smart connector, or the pogo pins, located on the back of the device.
While they don’t magnetically attach like MagSafe accessories on the iPhone, these Outfits take the form of cases. The pogo pins not only transfer power but also facilitate data transfer.
I feel the smart connector on the back of the phone has a great potential. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
HMD sent me two Outfits for the Fusion, which also happen to come free of charge as part of an inaugural offer. One is a case mod (referred to as a Flashy Outfit) featuring a ring light surrounding the camera module. All you need to do is flip the light out, and it illuminates your face for selfies or functions as a flashlight for the rear camera.
I believe this type of Outfit is designed for content creators who want to transform their smartphone into a mini studio. A nice touch is that HMD has made adjustments to the camera app, allowing the flashlight to be fully customisable.
I also tried the gaming Outfit, which essentially functions as a gaming control pad that connects to the phone via the smart connector. The controller isn’t much different from the gaming controllers I’ve used in the past; it’s appropriately sized and comes complete with shoulder buttons and triggers that respond well to gameplay. However, it’s worth mentioning that this gaming accessory is specifically designed for the Fusion. Since it connects to the device via the smart connector, it may not be compatible with other smartphones.
There are two more Outfits HMD has designed for the Fusion that I am familiar with but haven’t tested yet. One is a Wireless Charging Outfit and the other a water-resistant rugged cover, as the phone itself doesn’t have an IP rating.
The concept of Outfits is interesting, and the implementation seems to have worked, based on my testing of the two accessories the brand sent as part of the reviewer’s kit. In a way, HMD tried to mimic what Motorola did with Moto Mods, which used to snap onto the back of Motorola’s Z smartphone series. In fact, they also powered and transferred data via pogo pins, just like the Fusion. However, I feel that this time, the ambition is more controlled, and HMD isn’t trying too hard to sell a phone solely on modularity. I believe what HMD and Nothing are trying to do is semi-modularity, which is different from what Motorola and LG attempted with their respective devices. It makes sense because, despite Motorola going all-in on Moto Mods (I still remember the Hasselblad True Zoom Camera for physical camera buttons and 10X optical zoom), the phone didn’t perform well commercially.
Both outfits and the smart connector are full of potential, and I would love to see HMD designing more outfits for the Fusion, but that would only happen if the device sells well beyond the brand’s expectations. The good news is that this time, even in limited capacity, there’s a chance that modularity might gain consumer support. HMD has open-sourced the Fusion platform, which means anyone can 3D print and create an Outfit for this smartphone. So, I can see the right intent to make modular phones more approachable with less ambition, but it’s unclear whether there will be a marketplace for these outfits.
High five to reparability
The Fusion is a different looking smartphone. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
Another way HMD is trying to do things differently with the Fusion is that anyone can repair (at least some aspects of) the phone at home. Repairability is a controversial topic, and not every smartphone brand is ready to make their devices easily repairable with a few simple steps, though things are changing for the better. However, it is HMD, alongside Fairphone, that has gone one step ahead of everyone, literally everyone, in terms of offering repairable phones at our disposal.
The Fusion boasts second-generation repairability. In the US, parts are available through iFixit, and in India, the brand sells the kit online (starting as low as Rs 999). Since my review sample didn’t come with the self-repair kit, I couldn’t experience the DIY disassembly process myself, but I had seen the entire process at the Mobile World Congress. The purpose of the self-repair tool kit is to allow you to fix/repair certain parts of the phone on your own, without needing to rush to the service center. The Fusion’s back has tiny screws that you can loosen to remove the back plate. So, if there’s damage to the screen, you can replace it rather than buying a new phone. Or, if there are issues with the battery, you can order a replacement. It’s not an easy fix but with the right tools and instructions, a phone can be repaired at home. At least, HMD has proved it can be done. I think it’s a great step towards sustainability, and this should keep the hardware up-to-date in years to come.
However, where HMD’s promise of longevity falls flat is in how the phone is supported. HMD only supports the Fusion with two major Android updates. So, if the device comes with Android 14, it will only be upgraded to Android 15 in the next few months. The device won’t be eligible for Android 17. And I don’t buy the claim that the phone will get only three years of security updates at this age. I am seeing more and more smartphones getting five years of software support. Google’s Pixel 8a, for example, gets up to seven years of software and security updates. Sure, I praise repairability, but limiting your smartphone’s software updates to two years is just a bad move especially for a phone that can be repaired and held on to for longer. This begs the question…does repairability really help to keep the phone going at the risk of data?
Basic hardware
The gaming outfit for the HMD Fusion. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
Don’t expect the Fusion to compete with the iPhone 16 or any high-end smartphone, for that matter. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting top-notch hardware at this price point. However, given that hardware has become standardised on smartphones, you are guaranteed a flawless experience even with a budget phone. Performance on this device was not an issue. In fact, I was surprised by how Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset and the 6 GB of RAM made this phone feel super fast and fluid during normal use. You can also play games on the phone. I played Mario Kart, and it’s a fun game to kill time on a metro. The display is HD+ with a 90Hz refresh rate; it’s nice but the screen isn’t that bright.
The 90Hz 720p screen is okay but HMD could have opted for a higher 1080p display. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
The camera system, in particular, is marginally better. It features a 108-megapixel lens on the rear with 3x zoom and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, while the front-facing camera is rated at 50 megapixels. The camera takes good shots outdoors. I wouldn’t say the images produced by this phone are overly sharp or dramatic, but its general performance is better than I expected. I believe the use of AI does make the photos sharper and more colourful.
HMD Fusion camera sample. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
HMD Fusion camera sample. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
HMD Fusion camera sample. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
The 5,000 mAh battery capacity is sufficient to last a full day. There’s no wireless charging (although a wireless charging Outfit is available, I am unsure of its availability on the retail shelf), but it supports 33-watt charging speeds. It also has an NFC for contactless payments, a headphone jack (which is very rare to see on smartphones), and a microSD card slot to expand the internal 128 GB storage up to 1 TB.
It runs Android 14 out of the box, and the user interface is clean. I like HMD’s Android implementation; it reminds me of Google’s Pixel series without additional first-party apps. While there is some bloatware on the device, thankfully, it can be quickly uninstalled.
Conclusion
‘Outfits’ define the HMD Fusion. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
The Fusion surprised me for two reasons: bringing the concept of modularity back into mainstream conversation, albeit with a slightly different implementation, and offering easy repairability at home. The HMD Fusion shows that there is room for experimentation with smartphones that have become too boring at this point. I am glad that HMD thought outside the box in creating a budget smartphone that’s user-repairable and has a modular design. I think the Fusion opens up a lot of possibilities for the Outfits and how modularity can be brought in with a new flair. I just hope HMD does something to increase the software support on its devices.
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