HMD has officially unveiled the new HMD Luma, an entry-level Android smartphone designed around practicality, affordability, and classic smartphone features that are becoming increasingly rare in today’s market.
While most smartphone brands continue pushing toward slimmer devices without expandable storage or headphone jacks, HMD appears to be taking a different approach with the Luma. The company has equipped the phone with a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio support, stereo speakers, and dual-SIM 4G connectivity — features many users still actively look for, especially in budget-friendly devices.
The HMD Luma is powered by the Unisoc T615 chipset, a 12nm processor featuring Cortex-A75 and Cortex-A55 CPU cores. It is paired with 4GB RAM and comes in two storage configurations: 128GB and 256GB. Users can further expand storage by up to 1TB using a microSD card.
On the front, the phone features a 6.67-inch HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. While the resolution remains modest at 720 × 1604 pixels, the higher refresh rate should help make animations and scrolling feel smoother during everyday use. Peak brightness is rated at around 500 nits.
Photography is handled by a 50MP rear camera alongside an 8MP selfie camera. HMD is clearly emphasizing the main camera as one of the key selling points for the Luma, especially for users looking for an affordable smartphone capable of decent daylight photography. Both front and rear cameras support 1080p video recording at 30fps.
Battery life should also be a strong point. The HMD Luma includes a 5,000mAh battery combined with relatively modest hardware, which should comfortably provide all-day usage. Charging support is capped at 18W via USB-C 2.0.
The device runs Android 15 out of the box, although HMD has not yet detailed its long-term software update plans. The phone is available in Titanium and Blue color options.
One of the most interesting aspects of the HMD Luma is how intentionally “old-school” it feels in certain areas. In an era where many smartphone makers remove headphone jacks, microSD support, and FM radio to simplify designs or encourage accessory sales, HMD seems focused on serving users who still want those features built directly into the phone.
Community reactions online have been mixed. Some users appreciate the return of practical features and the phone’s simplicity, while others criticize the continued use of 4G connectivity and the relatively dated chipset in 2026. Several Reddit discussions describe the phone as functional but unexciting compared to competing budget Android devices.
At the moment, the HMD Luma appears to be launching primarily in select African markets including Nigeria and Ghana. Pricing has not yet been officially confirmed, but the hardware suggests it will compete in the affordable entry-level smartphone segment.
The HMD Luma may not be a cutting-edge flagship, but it represents something increasingly uncommon in the smartphone industry — a phone designed around useful everyday features rather than trend-driven compromises.