Review: The HMD Vibe is budget-friendly and reliable, but that’s honestly enough
by Brian Barnes · Android PoliceThe HMD Vibe does not have any illusions about itself: it's a reliable budget phone that will be there for you should you need it. There are many scenarios where someone might need a device like this — if it fits your limited budget, if you need something to get by, or even if you have a tween that needs a first phone as they head out into the world. Most recently, I fit squarely into that last camp. I've been back and forth on how to handle my tween asking for a smartphone — so much so that I even wrote an article on it — but, when that time comes, it should be both reliable and budget-friendly. The HMD Vibe is just that and might be her first phone.
There's something to be said about a phone that eschews a lot of what makes a flagship — raw power, incredible cameras, wireless charging, being wrapped in glass — in favor of creating a workhorse you don't have to worry about. And at the end of the day, that's exactly what the HMD Vibe is: worry-free, while still functional and entirely capable. And yes, there can be beauty in mediocrity, especially when a phone doesn't try to be something it's not.
HMD Vibe
6 / 10
The HMD Vibe is the company's first US phone using its own logo after years of manufacturing devices under the Nokia brand. It carries many Nokia design elements forward while offering Android 14 and a promised two years of OS updates.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- 90Hz refresh rate
- Sturdy plastic build
- Solid performance
Cons
- Lower-resolution screen
- Slow 10W charging
- No 5G connectivity
- Pre-installed bloatware
- Cameras only technically take photos
Price, availability, and specs
The price is right
The HMD Vibe isn't going to win any awards, but at $150, only one thing matters: reliability. Everything else is just an extra perk. This device, available only in a Charcoal colorway, is as basic as you get design-wise. It's not ugly, but it's also a phone that blends in everywhere.
The version that has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage can be ordered unlocked for any carrier. In fact, I was able to use it easily on AT&T and Cricket Wireless during my testing. On the HMD official site, there is a second version that has 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, but that model is carrier-locked to carriers like Total by Verizon or Straight Talk. So, make sure you're choosing the option that's right for you. But I wouldn't choose that version in 2024 unless it's necessary, as 6GB/128GB will future-proof you more so than the weaker version of the phone.
Additionally, this phone does not have 5G. The highest network level it can access is 4G.
Specifications
SoC
Snapdragon 680
Display type
LCD
Display dimensions
20:9
Display resolution
720 x1612
RAM
6GB
Storage
128GB
Battery
4000mAh
Charge speed
10W
Charge options
Wired
Ports
USB-C
SIM support
Single
Operating System
Android 14
Front camera
5MP
Rear camera
13MP Main, 2MP Depth
Cellular connectivity
4G
Wi-Fi connectivity
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Connectivity
3.5mm
Bluetooth
5.0
Dimensions
6.45in x 2.96in
Weight
.41lb
Colors
Charcoal
BRAND AND MODEL
HMD Vibe
Expand
What's good about the HMD Vibe?
More than you'd think
If you look at the HMD Vibe through a budget lens, you're getting quite a bit. The phone offers 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and there's a Snapdragon 680 to run it. While it's not a flagship-level Snapdragon, it is a brand of chip you've heard of — which is ideal at this price point. It holds up just fine in performance for everyday tasks, and from a macro level, the whole phone did everything I asked of it.
I also mentioned that the HMD Vibe isn't wrapped in glass like some flagship phones are, and that's totally fine. You're not getting a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra here. But it looks good enough, and I actually like the texture on the plastic back. It reminds me of the sandstone texture that OnePlus used to be known for. Though, you're also not getting a OnePlus level of quality here, either. Again, that's OK! Really.
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While I'll talk about the screen more in the next section, it does have a couple of things going for it. It has a 90Hz refresh rate and an optional always-on display mode, despite not being OLED. The viewing angles are decent, and it was also plenty bright, even if the auto-brightness feature was a bit aggressive.
Finally, I'll mention the battery life. Because this phone isn't a performance beast, the battery lasted well into two days. If my family uses it as an emergency phone (something to send with the kids while they're not with us out of the house), knowing it won't die on them is a perk.
What's bad about the HMD Vibe?
Mantra: this is a budget phone
It's really hard to gripe about a phone that's $150 when it's not on sale, but I'm going to give it the old college try anyway.
As I mentioned the screen earlier, there is nothing special about it at all. I like that it has a higher refresh rate, but clarity-wise, it is not as crisp as you'd like at 720 x 1612. It's big enough, but it's definitely not a joy to look at — but it's also not displeasing. It gets the job done.
Camera-wise, you're getting capable shooters if "capable" means that the phone technically takes photos in general. The focus is soft, there's a high chance of motion blur, and if you aren't in full sunlight, then, well, you're pretty much out of luck for post-worthy images. For the average person, you get what you get, and you don't complain. Besides, if it can read QR code menus at a restaurant, isn't that what's most important?
Charging is also kind of a bummer here. I like that it's USB-C, but it's capped at 10W and takes forever to top up. There is also no wireless charging, so don't even get your hopes up.
Finally, part of the reason why this phone is so cheap is that it comes pre-installed with a whole boatload of unwanted apps. And some of them can't be deleted. It's a relatively clean Android experience beyond that, and I understand that including those apps means essentially that the cost of the phone is being subsidized, but no one has ever enjoyed seeing precious storage space absorbed by a game from a company nobody has ever heard of before.
Should you buy it?
Go for it
There's very little risk here. The HMD Vibe is a reliable phone that won't break the bank. It does pretty much everything a modern smartphone should do — except charge wirelessly or very fast — but for a fraction of the cost.
At this price point, you have some options, however. If you need something cheaper, there's the Moto G Play (2023) around $130 — but it doesn't have as much RAM or storage. Then, if you go a bit higher, there's the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G . Still no wireless charging, but you get fast charging, 5G, and a nicer screen for $200. And if you're looking for a phone that'll protect your kids without much effort, you can find Pinwheel options (including the Pinwheel Plus 4 , which is installed on a Samsung Galaxy A15 5G) for comparable prices.
At the end of the day, though, the HMD will get you by. And sometimes, that's what matters the most.
HMD Vibe
6 / 10
The HMD Vibe is the company's first US phone using its own mark after years of manufacturing devices under the Nokia brand. It carries many Nokia design elements forward while offering Android 14 and a promised two years of OS updates.
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