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HMD revealed its first original smartphone line on April 24, 2024: the HMD Pulse, Pulse+ and Pulse Pro. The launch marked a new HMD-branded product identity, but it did not mean Nokia phones had already been dropped. HMD had described its plan as a multi-brand strategy that included HMD devices, continued Nokia phones and partner collaborations. “Exclusive” here means HMD-original, not exclusive to a retailer or market.
What HMD announced
HMD, the company that has made Nokia phones since 2016, introduced three Pulse phones as its first original HMD smartphone collection. The Pulse and Pulse+ were available online from launch day; HMD said the Pulse Pro would follow. Those are 2024 launch details, not confirmation of present availability.
HMD had laid out the broader strategy at Mobile World Congress on February 25, 2024: make original HMD devices, continue selling Nokia phones and work with partner brands. The announcement also named a Barbie flip phone project with Mattel. The Pulse launch was therefore the first concrete step in building HMD’s own handset identity alongside Nokia-branded products, not evidence that Nokia had been removed from the portfolio.
HMD’s positioning also leaned on repairability. The company cited a March 2024 CCS Insight survey in which about 55% of EU respondents said they would prefer to repair an out-of-warranty device at a reasonable cost rather than replace it. That is a survey result quoted by HMD, not a measure of Pulse sales or repair outcomes.
#1 Best Overall
- Turns heads with its refined lines and cutting-edge design
- 50 MP on both rear and front cameras? Perfectly balanced, as all things should be
- Taking selfies has never been easier with the selfie gesture function
- Relax. You've got plenty of time between charges with up to 59 hours
- International version. Unlocked for use with your chosen carrier. Please confirm compatibility with your carrier.
How the three HMD Pulse models differ
Omdia’s May 2024 launch report described all three as entry-level phones built around the Unisoc T606 chipset and a 6.65-inch, 720p+ LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate. Their camera configurations and launch prices separated the tiers:
| Model | Launch price reported by Omdia | Rear camera | Front camera |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMD Pulse | From €140 / £100 | 13MP | 8MP |
| HMD Pulse+ | Price not stated in Omdia’s cited range | 50MP main camera | 8MP |
| HMD Pulse Pro | Up to €180 / £149.99 | 50MP main camera | 50MP |
These are launch-era figures, not current prices or a recommendation for a present-day purchase. Omdia’s shared-platform description suggests the models were differentiated more by cameras and price than by fundamentally different display or chipset hardware. HMD highlighted the Pro’s 50MP selfie camera and the Pulse+’s 50MP rear camera in its own announcement; it described the base Pulse camera as having AI HDR and skin-tone optimization.
Rank #2
- Turns heads with its refined lines and cutting-edge design
- 50 MP on both rear and front cameras? Perfectly balanced, as all things should be
- Taking selfies has never been easier with the selfie gesture function
- Relax. You've got plenty of time between charges with up to 59 hours
Repairability: what HMD promised, and what it does not establish
HMD called the Pulse range “Gen 1 repairability” and said owners could replace a damaged display, bent charging port or depleted battery using self-repair kits offered through its iFixit partnership. Omdia reported 5,000mAh batteries across the range and described them as “QuickFix replaceable,” with home replacement using simple tools.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchOmdia also reported IP52 protection and relayed HMD’s warning that users must follow replacement instructions carefully to maintain that rating. IP52 does not make a phone waterproof, and opening a device or replacing a part can compromise its protection if done incorrectly. The launch material does not establish current kit stock, model compatibility or current partner terms, so check those details with HMD or iFixit before buying a part.
Rank #3
- 6.65 inches, IPS LCD, 720 x 1612 pixels
- 128GB Storage, 4GB RAM, microSDXC
- Android 14, Unisoc T606 (12 nm), Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)
- Rear: 50 MP, (wide), AF, Auxiliary lens, Front: 8 MP
- 163.2 x 75 x 8.5 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.33 in)
HMD forecast that three out of four devices it sold in Europe during 2024 would be repairable, compared with one in three in 2023. That was the company’s prediction, not a verified final sales result.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did HMD push Nokia to the margin?
The Pulse announcement showed HMD expanding beyond Nokia branding, but the available launch-era material does not demonstrate that Nokia was already marginal in sales, consumer demand or HMD’s overall range. Ars Technica characterized the Pulse phones as HMD’s effort to build its own brand while continuing Nokia phones, and described the models as low-end phones aimed at Europe at launch. That is Ars Technica’s interpretation of the launch, not a statement that Nokia had been displaced.
Rank #4
- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility check before you purchase.
- Dual-SIM, Network Compatibility, SIM CARD 1 AND 2 [2G : GSM 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 and/or3G : HSDPA 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 2100(B1)and/or4G : LTE 700(B28) / 800(B20) / 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1800(B3) / 2100(B1) / 2300(B40) / 2600(B7) / 2600(B38)]
- 6.65 inches, IPS LCD, 720 x 1612 pixels
- 64GB Storage, 4GB RAM, microSDXC
- Android 14, Unisoc T606 (12 nm), Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)
A Nokia 2025 annual-report search excerpt says Nokia and HMD amended their licensing agreement in August 2023 so that HMD’s exclusive license to create Nokia-branded devices would expire by March 2026. Because the report itself was not available in the reviewed material, that date should be treated narrowly: it does not establish the precise rights involved, which products they covered, or what arrangements would follow. It is not proof that all Nokia phones would disappear on that date.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.65 inches, IPS LCD, 720 x 1612 pixels
- 128GB Storage, 4GB RAM, microSDXC
- Android 14, Unisoc T606 (12 nm), Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)
- Rear: 50 MP, (wide), AF, Auxiliary lens, Front: 8 MP
- 163.2 x 75 x 8.5 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.33 in)
What the launch means for phone buyers
- HMD and Nokia are distinct product identities under a multi-brand plan. The Pulse range introduced HMD-branded smartphones while HMD said it would continue Nokia phones and partner projects.
- The Pulse models target the entry-level segment in the 2024 launch context. Their shared chipset and screen leave camera setup and launch price as the clearest distinctions in Omdia’s account.
- Repairability was part of the pitch, with practical qualifications. HMD named a self-repair route, but current parts availability and compatibility need to be checked, and careful repair matters for maintaining IP52 protection.
- The title’s “pushed to the margin” implication goes beyond the evidence. The launch supports a shift toward HMD’s own brand; it does not establish a Nokia sales decline or a completed replacement.
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