HMD keeps Fusion 2 alive as fake Skyline 2 GT gets cut

HMD Global appears to be sticking with several of its more ambitious phone projects. According to leaker @smashx_60, the modular HMD Fusion 2 is still in development, and the rugged XR22 is being prepared as a direct successor to the XR21. The same source also pushed back on some Skyline rumors, calling supposed Skyline 2 GT renders and a Skyline 2 variant with a round camera module fake.

That matters because HMD is not relying only on lower-cost Nokia-adjacent devices. It is also testing riskier ideas, including a modular smartphone and an ultra-rugged model, in a midrange market already crowded by Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, and Oppo.

The first HMD Fusion launched in 2024 with interchangeable Smart Outfits, designed to quickly turn the phone into a tougher device or add gaming-focused elements. Rather than a gimmick, the concept looked like an attempt to make modularity practical without the kind of price tag that scares off mainstream buyers. Because of that cost pressure, Fusion 2 had already been seen by some as a cancellation candidate.

According to the leak, though, the project has not been shelved. Instead, HMD is said to be reworking it with a new design and a different construction approach, likely aimed at making the system simpler, cheaper, and easier to live with.

The original Fusion offered solid budget specs, including:

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• 6.56-inch HD+ LCD at 90Hz
• Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
• 108MP main camera
• a focus on repairability

For the second generation, the leak points to:

• 6.58-inch OLED with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate
• Snapdragon 6s Gen 4
• 8MP ultrawide camera
• IP65 protection

If those details hold, HMD would be trying to move the Fusion line from “interesting idea” to a more mature mainstream product. The same applies to reported Gen 2 accessories and continued support for 3D-printed attachments.

The leak also says XR22 is real and is being developed as the replacement for XR21, a phone known for its IP68/IP69K protection and MIL-STD-810H compliance. The XR21 built a reputation as one of HMD’s toughest phones, but it was also valued for having reasonably capable performance and cameras rather than just a reinforced shell. The expectation is that XR22 will bring updated internals and better imaging.

As for Skyline 2, the leak suggests the standard model is still on track. Its rumored specs include a 144Hz OLED display, Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, a camera setup led by a 108MP main sensor, and Qi2 support. That would put it squarely into a fiercely contested midrange segment rather than an experimental niche.

Taken together, the leak paints HMD as a company still trying to prove itself across three lanes at once: modular phones, rugged devices, and mainstream midrange hardware.