The HMD Aura represents a strategic move by HMD Global to offer a reliable and stylish smartphone experience without the premium price tag. Launched in May 2024, the HMD Aura is designed to deliver on the core smartphone needs – connectivity, communication, and casual entertainment – with a focus on simplicity, security, and a long-lasting battery. It aims to be an accessible choice for users seeking an unburdened Android experience.
A Design That Commands Attention
The HMD Aura introduces a clean and straightforward aesthetic, with a familiar design language that prioritizes comfort and practicality. It features a lightweight build, typically around 175g, and a slim profile of about 8.9mm, making it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. The device is available in a range of simple yet appealing colors, including Glacier Green and Indigo Black, offering a touch of personal style. Its design focuses on durability for daily use, although it lacks the rugged certifications of some other phones.
A Display That Captivates
The HMD Aura features a 6.56-inch IPS LCD display with an HD+ (720 x 1612 pixels) resolution. While not the highest resolution, the display is perfectly suitable for everyday tasks like Browse social media, watching videos, and reading. It offers a 60Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth navigation for basic use. The V-notch design houses the front camera, providing a decent screen-to-body ratio for an immersive viewing experience.
Performance That Excels
Powered by the Unisoc SC9863A1 (28 nm) chipset, the HMD Aura is equipped to handle fundamental smartphone tasks with ease. This octa-core processor is efficient for social media apps, web Browse, streaming, and light gaming. The device typically comes with 4GB of RAM (with support for an additional 4GB of virtual RAM expansion) and 64GB of internal storage. For those needing more space, the storage is expandable via microSDXC card up to 1TB, ensuring ample room for photos, videos, and apps. It runs on a clean Android 13 operating system, with HMD promising two years of quarterly security updates for enhanced data safety.
A Camera That Impresses
The HMD Aura boasts a dual-camera system on the back, consisting of a 13MP main camera with autofocus and an auxiliary lens (often for depth sensing). This camera setup is designed for straightforward photo capture, offering features like LED flash, HDR, Tonal range enhancement, Beauty filter, Timelapse, Pro-mode, Panorama, and Night mode, allowing users to snap decent photos in various conditions. It supports video recording at 1080p@30fps. The front-facing camera is a 5MP sensor, suitable for clear selfies and video calls, and also supports facial unlock for convenient access.
A Battery That Endures
The HMD Aura features a large 5000 mAh non-removable battery that provides impressive battery life. HMD claims up to 3 days of usage on a single charge with typical use, making it a reliable companion for users who need a phone that lasts. Additionally, the device supports 10W wired charging via USB Type-C, allowing for convenient power-ups when needed.
Price and Availability
The HMD Aura is positioned as a highly affordable smartphone, offering strong value for its features. The starting price for the 64GB storage + 4GB RAM model in Nigeria generally ranges from ₦112,800 to ₦150,000, though prices may vary by retailer and region. It was announced and released on May 23, 2024, and is readily available for purchase through various online and offline channels.
Conclusion
The HMD Aura is a compelling choice for consumers seeking a no-frills, reliable, and affordable Android smartphone. Its focus on essential features, coupled with a long-lasting battery, a clean Android experience, and commitment to security updates, makes it a strong contender in the budget segment. For those who prioritize practicality and value over cutting-edge specifications, the HMD Aura ticks all the right boxes.