HMD Asha 305: A $75 Android phone with a removable battery and no Google apps
HMD has launched the Asha 305, a budget Android phone priced at around $75, bringing back a brand name that Nokia used for entry-level handsets back in 2012. The phone is currently on sale in the Philippines and rolling out across Southeast Asia. No US or UK release date has been announced.
The phone itself
The Asha 305 is a compact 5-inch device with a 854×480 display and wide bezels — the kind of screen that looked dated even five years ago. Under the hood sits a Unisoc SC9832E processor paired with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. The rear camera comes in at 2 MP, with a 2 MP front camera as well. These are entry-level specs in the truest sense.
HMD Asha 305 Pro
— HMD_MEME'S (@smashx_60) August 31, 2026
- Fluid LCD 5.0" FWVGA
- Back 5MP w LED
- Front 2MP w LED
- 2/32GB
- Unisoc T137
- Pulse OS
- 2500mAh, removable
- IP52, BT4.2, WiFi, LTE, Hotspot, 3.5mm., USB-C OTG
Black, Prist Pink pic.twitter.com/xiL1yGwxol
What makes it stand out in 2025 is what it keeps rather than what it adds. The Asha 305 has a removable 2,500 mAh battery — a genuine rarity today — meaning you can swap it out yourself instead of hunting for a repair shop. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, IP52 dust and splash resistance, USB-C, LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2.
The software is Pulse OS, a lightweight Android-based system built for low-end hardware. It ships without Google Play or any Google services. HMD says it supports TikTok and Netflix, though the full picture of what apps are available at launch remains unclear, per Gagadget.
The no-Google question
Skipping Google is a meaningful trade-off at any price. Without Google Play, you lose access to the vast majority of Android apps and rely entirely on whatever Pulse OS offers through its own store. For first-time smartphone buyers in markets where data is expensive and storage is tight, that may be an acceptable deal. For anyone used to a standard Android experience, it is a significant limitation.
The direct competition in the sub-$75 bracket — phones like the Motorola Moto G35 and Samsung Galaxy A16 — runs full Android with Google services. Both offer larger, sharper displays and better cameras, reports MegaMobileContent. The Asha 305's case rests on the removable battery, the IP52 rating, and the price — not on raw performance or software breadth.
Availability
HMD has confirmed sales in the Philippines at PHP 3,990 (roughly $70), with other Southeast Asian markets to follow. The phone comes in Mist Black and Glacier Green. There is no confirmed launch for the US, UK, or any Western market, and HMD has not named retail partners outside Asia.
