HMD Pulse Pro: A budget phone built to last
HMD Global Pulse Pro. Picture: Noel Campion.
HMD Global, the company behind Nokia-branded phones for the past eight years, has ventured into new territory by launching its brand: HMD. The new HMD Pulse Pro has an intriguing approach to repairability, and one can only commend them for their commitment to reducing electronic waste. The Pulse Pro is a phone that promises durability and repairability, aimed squarely at the budget-conscious consumer.
Design-wise, the Pulse Pro retains a Nokia-esque aesthetic with a clean and stylish look. However, minor design quirks can be irksome. For instance, the USB-C port and headphone jack placement seem slightly off, which might bother users with a keen eye for symmetry.
The phone is available in Glacier Green, Black Ocean, and Twilight Purple, with the latter being a particularly fingerprint-prone finish. While it’s not perfect, it looks stylish, and at 196g and 8.55mm thick, it feels good in the hand.
The Pulse Pro features a 6.56-inch, 90Hz LCD with a resolution of 1612x720 pixels. This translates to a 720p display, which is fairly standard for budget phones but falls short of the image quality in more expensive models. The display's 480 nits of brightness (typical) and 600 nits (boost) are also on the lower end, making it somewhat challenging to view in direct sunlight. While it doesn’t have the best viewing angles or colour accuracy, it makes up for this with a large display.
Under the hood, the Pulse Pro is powered by a Unisoc T606 processor paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Storage can be increased with a microSD card of up to 256B. This is a budget setup, and performance is nothing special. Apps take longer to load, and multitasking can sometimes lead to noticeable slowdowns.
The 5,000mAh battery can last a full day under normal usage conditions and stretch to two days for lighter users. The phone supports 20W charging via USB-C (charger not included), but there's no wireless charging option—a trade-off expected at this price point.
The Pulse Pro's camera setup includes a 50MP primary lens, a 2MP focusing lens on the rear, and a 50MP front-facing camera for selfies. While these specs might look impressive on paper, the performance is mediocre.
Selfies and daytime shots are decent but lack the crisp detail in higher-end phones. Low-light shots produce lots of noise, so detail and clarity suffer. Zooming in digitally also results in a significant loss of detail and quality.
The camera will suffice for typical budget phone buyers' everyday snapshots and social media posts. However, if photography is a priority, you might find the Pulse Pro's camera capabilities limiting.
HMD Global has partnered with iFixit to provide tools and guides for users who want to repair their own devices. This is a refreshing approach in an industry that often discourages DIY repairs.
Whether replacing a broken screen or a failing battery, the Pulse Pro is designed to be easily repairable. This extends the device's lifespan and supports environmental sustainability by reducing electronic waste.
Even if you're not the type to tinker with your phone, this feature means that local repair shops can more easily and affordably fix your device, a significant advantage over more restrictive brands.
You might think it’s great to be able to keep a phone going, but often, the price of repair is so prohibitive that you may as well buy a new phone. Not so with the Pulse Pro. A full-screen repair kit, including the display, costs €39.95, a battery kit €19.95, and a back cover costs €19.95.
The Pulse Pro runs on Android 14 and promises two years of OS updates and three years of security updates. This commitment is commendable, especially in the budget segment, where long-term software support is often lacking. Regular updates ensure your phone remains secure and functional over time, adding value to the initial investment.
The HMD Pulse Pro is a budget phone that dares to be different with its emphasis on repairability. It might not win any awards for performance, but it certainly sets a new standard for what budget smartphones can aspire to in terms of sustainability and longevity. If you’re in the market for an affordable, repairable phone that can keep up with the basics, the Pulse Pro is worth considering.
Priced at €159.99, the HMD Pulse Pro is available in Glacier Green, Black Ocean, and Twilight Purple HMD Global
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