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HMD unveils Asha 305 with compact 5-inch display and Pulse OS

The HMD Asha 305 is positioned as an affordable smartphone alternative.
ⓘ HMD Global
The HMD Asha 305 is positioned as an affordable smartphone alternative.
The HMD Asha 305 is arguably one of the most unusual smartphones on the market, as HMD Global has incorporated a 5-inch display and a removable battery into a design that is more reminiscent of the early days of smartphones. With an operating system called Pulse, the device is designed to replace Android smartphones.
Smartphone Launch

The HMD Asha 305 is finally official and is being marketed as a particularly affordable smartphone alternative. While feature phones like the Nokia 3210 ($69 on Amazon) are more suited as secondary phones due to their limited app selection, the HMD Asha 305 runs on a system called Pulse, which comes preloaded with some of the most popular apps, including Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Spotify, TikTok Lite, and Netflix.

The fact that it doesn’t run Android is primarily due to its modest performance. For cost reasons, the HMD Asha 305 relies on a Unisoc T137 ARM chip, paired with just 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of flash storage, which, at least, can be expanded via a microSD card. The display is relatively small at 5.0 inches diagonally and features an IPS panel with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels.
 


Due to its wide bezels, the HMD Asha 305 still measures 147 x 71.5 millimeters. Weighing 145 grams, the device is relatively lightweight. The battery has a capacity of only 2,500 mAh and can be charged via USB-C at just 5 watts. The battery can be replaced in just a few simple steps. HMD Global has equipped the device with a 2-megapixel camera on both the front and the back. The smartphone supports Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS. It lacks a 5G modem, but the 4G modem can at least be used as a hotspot.

Pricing and availability

Although the HMD Asha 305 is already listed on the HMD Global website, no details regarding price or availability have been provided yet. The smartphone was first listed by retailers back in July for the equivalent of $64.
 

Source(s)

HMD Global

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> Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2026 09 > HMD unveils Asha 305 with compact 5-inch display and Pulse OS
Hannes Brecher, 2026-09- 9 (Update: 2026-09- 9)