HMD Global is expected to soon launch the Vibe 2, an affordable mid-range smartphone that has already been previewed by a retailer. Apparently, the design is somewhat reminiscent of the iPhone 17 Pro, with features including an improved main camera and a larger battery.
Retailer JB Hi-Fi is already listing the as-yet-unannounced HMD Vibe 2, which is set to launch in Australia for A$288 (approximately $187). The affordable mid-range smartphone looks a little outdated with its wide chin under the display and a notch, but interestingly, HMD Global has opted for a very wide camera module in the style of the Apple iPhone 17 Pro.
HMD Global is reportedly replacing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 with a Unisoc Tiger T606, which is even slightly slower, featuring two ARM Cortex-A75 performance cores with boost clock speeds up to 1.6 GHz and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. In return, the mid-range smartphone gets at least two significant upgrades. Firstly, the 13-MP main camera has been replaced by a 50-MP camera, but with only two useless 0.08-megapixel sensors.
Secondly, the battery capacity has been increased from 4,000 mAh to 5,000 mAh, and is charged as usual via USB-C with up to 10 watts. At least one variant of the new model is expected to be equipped with 4 GB of RAM and 256 GB of flash storage. The storage can be expanded via a microSD card. The HMD Vibe 2 features a 5 MP selfie camera.
The display has grown to 6.75 inches, with HMD Global using an IPS panel with a 720p+ resolution and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The device has a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and the fingerprint sensor is located in the power button on the side of the case. HMD Global ships the Vibe 2 with Android 15, although it is unclear how long the affordable smartphone will receive software updates.
Related Articles
Editor of the original article: Hannes Brecher – Senior Tech Writer – 18640 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
Since 2009 I have written for different publications with a focus on consumer electronics. I joined the Notebookcheck news team in 2018 and have combined my many years of experience with laptops and smartphones with my lifelong passion for technology to create informative content for our readers about new developments in this sphere. In addition, my design background as an art director at an ad agency has allowed me to have deeper insights into the peculiarities of this industry.
Translator: Jacob Fisher – Translator – 2153 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022
Growing up in regional Australia, I first became acquainted with computers in my early teens after a broken leg from a football (soccer) match temporarily condemned me to a predominately indoor lifestyle. Soon afterwards I was building my own systems. Now I live in Germany, having moved here in 2014, where I study philosophy and anthropology. I am particularly fascinated by how computer technology has fundamentally and dramatically reshaped human culture, and how it continues to do so.
Hannes Brecher, 2025-08-19 (Update: 2025-08-19)
Hannes Brecher
Read More