HMD Global has introduced the Fusion 5G, a budget-friendly smartphone that promises a unique blend of style, customization, and practicality. Positioned at ₹17,999, the Fusion 5G comes with a bold design philosophy, a focus on repairability, and standout features like complimentary Smart Outfits. Aimed at casual users and those seeking a reliable yet customizable device, this smartphone enters a competitive segment where rivals often boast more advanced specifications. The Fusion 5G’s combination of easy repairability, decent performance, and excellent camera capabilities offers a refreshing take on what a budget phone can deliver. While it excels in some areas, it does make compromises in display quality and raw processing power. Let’s delve into the details to see how it stacks up against its competitors.
The HMD Fusion 5G is priced at ₹17,999 and is available in a single Black color with a “Tech Block” concept. This design stands out for its bold, futuristic aesthetic, complemented by the inclusion of three complimentary Smart Outfits worth ₹5,999. These outfits—Casual, Flashy, and Gaming—add functionality and customization options to the device, offering a blend of style and utility that sets it apart in its segment. However, at this price point, the device faces stiff competition from brands offering more advanced hardware and software features. While the Smart Outfits add tangible value, potential buyers may question whether these extras justify the cost, especially given the compromises in certain key areas.
Design and Build
The HMD Fusion 5G is crafted from high-quality plastic, providing a durable and lightweight frame. The included transparent hard plastic case adds an extra layer of protection while maintaining the device’s sleek aesthetic. Despite its blocky profile when encased, the phone is remarkably slim and ergonomic without the case, offering a comfortable grip for prolonged usage.
Weighing in at 200 grams, the Fusion strikes a balance between heft and usability. The IP54 rating ensures basic protection against dust and water, sufficient for accidental spills or light rain but inadequate for more rugged conditions. The build quality is reassuring, with a robust design that can withstand daily wear and tear.
The Tech Block aesthetic, while polarizing, is undeniably unique. The matte finish resists fingerprints and smudges, ensuring the device retains its premium look over time. The absence of multiple color options may limit its appeal, but the bold design makes a strong statement. The Smart Outfits further enhance the design’s versatility, with the Flashy Outfit doubling as a kickstand and the Gaming Outfit improving grip and control during gameplay. More about them later.
Display
The Fusion features a 6.56-inch HD+ LCD screen with a resolution of 720p and a 90Hz refresh rate. While the display is functional for basic tasks, it falls short compared to competitors offering Full HD+ AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates. These competitors provide sharper visuals, better contrast, and smoother animations, highlighting the Fusion’s compromises in this area.
The LCD panel’s brightness peaks at 600 nits, making it adequate for indoor use but challenging under direct sunlight due to the highly reflective glass. The ambient light sensor further detracts from usability, frequently dimming the screen excessively. The air gap and backlight are also apparent during usage, diminishing the overall viewing experience.
That said, the display’s repairability is a notable advantage. HMD has prioritized user-serviceability, enabling users to replace the screen themselves with minimal hassle. This trade-off—choosing a simpler LCD panel over a more advanced AMOLED—aligns with the device’s focus on durability and practicality.
Performance
At the heart of the HMD Fusion 5G lies the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, an entry-level processor designed for efficiency and basic multitasking. While the 4 Gen 2 performs admirably for casual apps and light gaming, it struggles with more demanding tasks. Modern games require significant downgrades in graphics settings to achieve playable frame rates, and background processes can occasionally cause sluggishness.
The device is equipped with 8GB of RAM, with an additional RAM expansion feature. However, enabling this feature yields negligible performance improvements in real-world usage. For everyday tasks like browsing, messaging, and media playback, the Fusion provides a stable and reliable experience. However, power users seeking high performance may find it lacking.
Thermal management is a strength, with the Fusion remaining cool during extended use. The efficient processor and lower-resolution display contribute to this, ensuring consistent performance without overheating or throttling. Synthetic benchmarks place the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 below mid-range competitors, but its stability in casual scenarios compensates for its limited raw power.
Cameras
The HMD Fusion 5G’s camera system is its standout feature, punching well above its weight in this price segment. The rear houses a 108MP primary sensor capable of capturing sharp, detailed images in various lighting conditions. The camera leverages pixel binning to produce 12MP shots with improved brightness and reduced noise, particularly in daylight scenarios.
The inclusion of in-sensor 3x digital zoom is a welcome addition, delivering clear and usable results. The front-facing camera performs equally well, producing excellent portraits and catering to content creators. Both cameras support a “Pro” mode, enabling advanced users to fine-tune settings like shutter speed, ISO, and white balance for creative control.
Video recording is limited to 1080p, but stabilization and OZO audio technology enhance the overall quality. Night mode, while present, delivers average results, struggling with sharpness and dynamic range in low-light conditions. Despite these limitations, the camera setup is a highlight, offering features and performance that exceed expectations for its price.
Samples
Main Camera
Low Light
Macro
Selfie
Battery and Charging
The Fusion is powered by a 5000mAh battery, delivering impressive longevity thanks to its efficient processor and low-resolution display. Moderate to heavy users can easily achieve a full day of use, with screen-on times exceeding eight hours. This makes the device a reliable companion for users who prioritize battery life.
Fast charging is supported at 33W, with a charger included in the box. This allows the Fusion to recharge from 0% to 50% in approximately 30 minutes, with a full charge taking just over an hour. While wireless charging is absent, the inclusion of reverse charging via USB-C adds versatility, enabling users to power accessories like earbuds on the go.
Software
Running Android 14, the Fusion offers a near-stock experience with minimal bloatware. The interface adopts design elements from Google’s Pixel devices, including fluid animations, a seamless lockscreen experience, and intuitive navigation. However, certain software bugs detract from the experience, such as miscalibrated back gestures that occasionally register false inputs.
HMD promises two years of OS updates and three years of security patches, ensuring basic software longevity. While this commitment is adequate, it falls short of competitors offering longer support cycles. The inclusion of retro gaming capabilities, enabled through apps like Aptoide, adds a unique touch, allowing users to emulate classic PSP and Nintendo DS titles. However, modern gaming performance remains limited by the hardware.
Connectivity and Audio
The Fusion supports dual SIM functionality and robust 5G connectivity, delivering reliable download and upload speeds in supported networks. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a rare but welcome feature, enabling compatibility with wired audio accessories and FM radio functionality.
Audio quality from the bottom-firing speaker is loud and quite good in this segment, making it suitable for casual listening but of course it is not good for immersive experiences, like higher end devices with no stereo support. OZO audio helps users get some custom EQ in and Audio Boost helps increase the volume. Generally, the speaker performs adequately for its intended use cases.
Smart Outfits
The Smart Outfits included with the Fusion enhance its versatility and appeal. The Flashy Outfit is a really hard and rugged case that probably adds some military grade protection to the phone. Once the case is locked in, when you open the camera up, there will be a new icon on the right bottom corner with two options. One is to turn the flashy light on, and the other is settings. The light, as shown in the advertising, can be flipped over to the front and made to be used as a continous selfie light, which is superb for making videos in the dark. Also, it has the ability to change to any color because it is RGB. What’s crazier is that the Flashy Outfit, doubling as a kickstand, adds functionality for media consumption and video calls.
Then there is the Gaming Outfit. While it improves ergonomics with better grip and tactile controls, catering to mobile gamers, the quality of materials and alignment of the pogo pins could be improved, as these factors slightly hinder the overall experience. Also, it is not so easy to make sure that the pogo pins are perfectly aligned with the phone on the first try. It took us a few tries before we could get it right. The outfit has its own 3.5mm jack and USB-C port which can be used to charge the controller and the device as well. It would have been great if there was a 7 gen 3 processor here, but with 4 gen 2 we are left with some basic gaming and for the enthusiasts, the retro option is always there.
Verdict
The HMD Fusion 5G is a stylish, feature-rich device that caters to casual users and those seeking easy repairability. Its camera performance and customization options are standout features, but its display and gaming performance leave much to be desired. At ₹17,999, it offers good value for users who prioritize design and functionality over cutting-edge performance.
Pros
– Excellent camera performance
– Complimentary Smart Outfits add value
– Durable and repairable design
– Inclusion of charger in the box
Cons
– Display quality lags behind competitors
– Gaming performance is limited
– Software bugs impact usability
Recommendation
The Fusion is ideal for style-conscious users seeking a dependable camera and unique customization options. However, for performance-oriented users or those requiring a superior display, alternatives in the same price range may offer a better experience.