HMD Vibe 5G : HMD Vibe 5G landed in India back in September 2025 priced at just ₹8,999, bringing clean Android 15 vibes, swappable backs, and 5G speeds to folks tired of bloatware-heavy Chinese rivals.
This entry-level rocket from the Nokia legacy maker packs a punchy Unisoc chip, massive battery, and repairable design that screams “built to last” for students hustling in Mohali or elders needing simple reliability. Owners rave about its scratch-proof panels and charger-in-box deal, making it a steal amid 2026’s tariff hikes.
Chunky Build with Swappable Swagger
Measuring 165 x 75.8 x 8.7 mm at 190g, the Vibe feels solid yet pocketable, rocking glass front with plastic frame and those genius Xpress-On back covers in Black or Purple—pop one off for color swaps or battery swaps without screwdrivers.
IP52 dust-water resistance shrugs off market splashes, side fingerprint flies open fast, and the matte finish hides fingerprints like a champ. Dual Nano-SIMs plus microSD up to 512GB means endless storage for family photos and FM rips.
That quirky rear notification light blinks calls or charges old-school style—no screen glare needed. 3.5mm jack pumps wired earphones for bus rides, USB-C 2.0 OTG tethers laptops.
Dual speakers blast loud for TikTok, though bass thumps light—perfect for Punjabi folk tunes sans subwoofer dreams.
Big Screen for Smooth Everyday Wins
6.67-inch IPS LCD beams HD+ (720 x 1604) at 90Hz refresh, hitting 264ppi that’s crisp for memes and Maps without burning cash on OLEDs.
85.7% screen-to-body ratio fills palms nicely, brightness peaks decent for auto-rickshaw sun battles. Always-ready glance shows time and alerts, slim bezels keep it modern despite budget roots.
Touch samples zippy at everyday paces—scrolling Instagram feels fluid, light gaming like Ludo King sails smooth.
No HDR fanciness, but color pop suits video calls and YouTube shorts from dim alleys.
Unisoc Guts Punch Daily Tasks Hard
Unisoc T760 (6nm) octa-core blends 1x Cortex-A76 at 2.2GHz prime with three more A76s and four A55 efficiency cores, Mali-G57 GPU handling Free Fire medium settings stutter-free.
4GB RAM plus 4GB virtual extension juggles WhatsApp, Chrome, and Snapchat without reloads—AnTuTu around 400k beats Moto G04.
128GB base storage flies on eMMC, Android 15 stock UI promises two OS bumps and quarterly patches—rare purity in sub-10k.
Wi-Fi ac dual-band streams Netflix stable, Bluetooth 5.2 latches buds tight, GPS/GLONASS nails Chandigarh traffic.
Camera Basics Done Right
50MP main wide snaps daylight markets vibrant with punchy contrasts—HDR rescues cloudy skies, LED flash lights night stalls okay without noise bombs.
2MP depth aids portraits with natural edges, though macro’s just crop zoom. 1080p@30fps video steadies casual clips, 8MP selfie cam flatters video calls sans heavy beautify.
AI scene detection tweaks greens right, low-light leans grainy but printable for WhatsApp. Stacks against Infinix Hot 40i for social shares—nothing flagship, everything usable.
Battery Marathon with Slow Sip
5000mAh powerhouse endures two days light use, 8-10 hours screen-on mixing calls, nav, and Reels—talk time hits 30 hours 5G.
18W wired charging (adapter included!) pings 50% in 45 minutes, full under two hours—patient but practical. Removable back teases DIY swaps later, standby drain negligible overnight.
Nine 5G bands blanket Jio/Airtel nationwide, 4G VoLTE fallback solid. Side sensor plus face unlock secure quick, accelerometer counts steps accurate.
Ownership Perks Trump Price Tag
At ₹8,999 (under ₹10k on-road Punjab), Vibe undercuts Realme Narzo N65 on clean software, matches Lava Storm on basics but wins repairability—HMD’s “Replacement Guarantee” swaps lemons free first year. Service nets grew to 400+ by 2026, bills dirt cheap ₹1,500 yearly.
Also Read This : Maruti Suzuki Eeco launched with 1259cc shandar engine – design is premium
Forums love bloat-free setup and back panel DIY, gripe display resolution and camera flash strength. No NFC skips payments, speakers distort maxed. Sales crossed 1 lakh Q4 2025, steady versus Moto G35.
HMD Vibe 5G Repairable Rebel in Spec Wars
HMD Vibe 5G flips “disposable” script—swappable covers, unlockable bootloader, stock Android purity for tinkerers. Ideal first 5G for kids, backups, or boomers dodging scams.
Swing Croma, swap colors, binge battery—you’ll pocket pride over pixels. In 2026’s hype flood, Vibe vibes real: tough, thrifty, timeless workmate.