HMD Fusion: A modular smartphone for the repairability era
HMD Fusion, a smartphone that puts repairability first. Picture: Noel Campion.
Smartphones have become increasingly challenging to repair, with manufacturers fusing components and sealing the internals. HMD (Human Mobile Devices) wants to change that with the Fusion, a €230 device that considers repairability and modularity the main selling points. This isn't a flagship phone, but the price doesn’t suggest otherwise. However, it offers good value and an interesting approach to longevity.
The most unique aspect of the Fusion is its modular design, allowing users to replace key components. Whether it’s the battery, charging port, or motherboard, HMD has partnered with iFixit to provide easy access to replacement parts.
The Fusion has a rugged, industrial look. The back panel has a striking design with visible screws and six exposed brass pogo pins, hinting at its modular nature. It feels solid in the hand, and while it’s not particularly premium, it has a no-nonsense build that suggests durability.
The box includes a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool, and a protective case. I love the look of the phone without the case, but I’d be a little concerned about scuffing up the exposed connectors, and the battery looks a little exposed. The case offers protection and enables expandable functionality, bringing us to one of the most interesting features.
HMD is selling modular cases that add extra features. One includes a built-in ring light that flips between the front and rear cameras, which is excellent for video calls or vlogging. I was sent the Gaming Outfit, which turns the phone into a mobile gaming device. This connects to the Fusion via the pogo pins. It uses the phone's battery to work, so there’s no need to charge it. It has a 3.5mm and a USB-C port that can be used to charge the phone. However, you can’t charge and play a game simultaneously, which is a significant downside. Additionally, the phone isn’t powerful enough for graphically intensive games, and the Gaming Outfit is designed for the Fusion so it won’t work with other handsets. This is a pity because it looks great, all the controls feel great and are responsive, and it’s comfortable to game with.
The power button has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that works quickly and reliably. Face unlock is also available but isn’t as fast or secure.
It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming rare nowadays, making it an excellent option for those who prefer wired headphones.
Although the Fusion is a budget phone, it is leaps and bounds ahead of all the flagships in one regard: repairability. If your battery starts degrading, you can simply replace it instead of replacing the whole phone. If your charging port wears out, you can swap it without a professional repair service. Even bigger components, like the motherboard and display, can be replaced.
HMD has made this process accessible through iFixit, meaning you can order parts and follow easy guides to repair your phones. This approach is refreshing in a world where most phones are designed to be disposable.
However, one thing that doesn’t quite align with this philosophy is software longevity. The Fusion only gets two years of Android updates (Android 15 and 16) and three years of security patches. Given that the hardware is built to last, it’s disappointing that the software support doesn’t extend further.
The Fusion features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate, but it’s only HD+ (720p) rather than full HD. The display is fine for everyday use, but if you’re used to sharper screens, you’ll notice the difference, especially when watching videos or reading small text.
Performance-wise, it’s powered by a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (expandable via microSD up to 1TB). This isn’t a powerhouse; you’ll feel it when pushing the phone hard. Scrolling can occasionally feel a little choppy, and demanding games won’t run smoothly on high settings. However, it's perfectly serviceable for social media, web browsing, and light gaming.
It also comes with Android 14 in a near-stock form, which means no heavy bloatware apart from an HMD app that provides some customisation options and tutorials.
One of the biggest positives of the Fusion is battery life. With a 5,000mAh battery, it easily lasts two full days, and with lighter usage, I’ve stretched it to nearly three. Charging is via USB-C, but there’s no fast charging, so topping up the battery isn’t the quickest experience.
Given its replaceable nature, though, battery longevity shouldn’t be a concern — you can just swap it out when needed.
The 108MP main camera is quite decent for a budget phone. In good lighting, photos come out sharp and have good colour reproduction, but in low-light conditions, they start to fall apart, with noticeable noise and reduced detail.
There’s also a 50MP front camera, which is fine for selfies but nothing spectacular. Video recording is limited to 1080p, which is expected at this price point.
The HMD Fusion isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for cutting-edge performance, a high-resolution display, or premium materials, this isn’t the phone for you.
However, if you value repairability and longevity over raw specs, this phone is one of the best budget options available.
The HMD Fusion is a phone built for longevity, but ironically, its software support doesn’t match its hardware durability. Still, for €230, you get a unique, repairable smartphone with solid battery life, decent cameras, and expandable features.
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