HMD Aura² launches in Australia with a downgraded display and Android 14 (Go Edition)

The HMD Aura² is the newest smartphone from HMD for the Australian market, arriving as a successor to the HMD Aura released in May 2024. The Aura² remains a budget smartphone but brings a new design and a few technical changes.

The HMD Aura² has a 6.52'' HD IPS display which is not only smaller than the 6.56'' 1600 x 900 screen of its predecessor, but also has a lower 1280 x 576 resolution. What hasn't changed is the 60Hz refresh rate, the thick bezels around the screen, and the waterdrop notch for the front-facing camera.

The Aura² is powered by the Unisoc 9863A processor, not to be confused with the Unisoc 9863A1 of the previous generation. It has 4GB of RAM which can be boosted to 8GB using the Memory Boost feature. Interestingly, the Aura² has 256GB of storage, 4x that of the HMD Aura. There's a microSD card slot but the maximum supported capacity is just 128GB.

The back of the HMD Aura² is where the design changes have been made. The dual rear cameras now sit inside a camera island similar to that of the HMD Vibe (curr. available on Amazon $79.99) while the fingerprint scanner has been moved to the side. The primary camera is a 13MP sensor with autofocus and it is paired with a secondary sensor whose resolution is unknown. There's a 5MP sensor in front for selfies and video calls.

The phone ships with Android 14 (Go Edition) instead of the full version of Android like its predecessor. However, considering its aging processor, this lightweight version of Android may provide a better experience. HMD isn't promising OS upgrades, but says the phone will receive two years of quarterly security updates. Like many of HMD's recent smartphones, the Aura² is designed to be user-repairable as parts like the screen can be purchased and easily replaced.

Other features of the HMD Aura² include support for Face Unlock, FM radio, Bluetooth 5.2, and an audio jack. It also packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W wired charging via a USB-C port. Although the product page shows the phone in Cyan, the HMD Aura² is available in Shadow Black and Electric Purple. It  will be available starting March 13 for  AUD 169 (~$106).