Smartphone maker HMD picks up Canstar Blue Innovation Excellence award

At their Innovation Excellence Awards, Canstar Blue have given a nod to smartphone maker HMD, acknowledging their efforts in expanding longevity on smartphones.

The 2024 Innovation Excellence category for Smart Devices saw a number of winners, with the Nokia G42 5G getting the nod for Self Repairability.

It was the Nokia G42 which really launched HMD’s aspiration to improve repairability for smartphone owners when it launched in June last year. 

The phone came with the option to self-repair a number of commonly replaced or repaired components including the Display, Charging Port and even the battery – a massive boon as the ‘right-to-repair’ movement gathers momentum in Australia, leveraging a partnership between HMD and repair site iFixit partnered to supply official parts at an affordable price as well as guides for repairing devices.

It was the repairability options in a time when cost of living is rising, which was relevant for the Canstar Blue Judges, with Tara Donnelly, Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor saying 

“Nokia has for many years been considered the go-to phone brand for buyers wanting tough, long-lasting devices. The G42 5G addresses a major pain point for customers by offering a money-saving alternative to shelling out for a new phone at the first sign of a screen crack or weakening battery. The option of self-repair for some of the most common device issues means consumers can keep their Nokia in as-new condition for longer, letting them break free from the two- to three-year phone upgrade cycle. The G42 5G’s big screen, 5G capabilities and triple rear camera setup also mean buyers don’t need to compromise on must-have features to get a durable device.”

It’s great news for HMD as they launch their own Pulse line of phones, taking on board a lot of the ethos of the recent Nokia launches focusing on evolving and improving smartphone repairability.

Using their partnership with iFixit, the parts and easy to follow part replacement guides for the HMD Pulse, Pulse Pro and Pulse + phones are already available alongside repair kits.

Regarding the win, Brenden Folitarik, HMD’s Country Manager for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

“We are honoured to be recognised by Canstar Blue for innovative excellence, it is a privilege to be considered amongst so many great applicants and finalists. HMD is proud to be industry pioneers in the self-repairability space, with the release of our Nokia G22 and Nokia G42 5G phones. We are excited to be continuing our global efforts with self-repairability with the release of our first-ever HMD branded phone, the HMD Pulse Pro. Thank you to Canstar Blue for allowing us to further share our innovations with Australia and we hope to continue inspiring change in the Australian and global smartphone industry.”

I have the HMD Pulse Pro in hand, and the review will be coming soon. In the meantime, you can check out our review of the Nokia G42 5G here.