HMD Arc 2 Coming Soon in Nepal: New Look, Same Old Specs!

HMD has a fairly small lineup in Nepal, having launched just three phones: HMD Crest, HMD Crest Max, and HMD Aura 2 so far. Now, the company is adding another phone to the mix with the HMD Arc 2, an ultra-budget smartphone that quietly made its global debut.

The phone launched in Thailand in July 2026, and the Nepali wing of the brand is also teasing its arrival in Nepal. However, the exact launch date is yet to be revealed.

HMD describes the Arc 2 with a rather ambitious promise: “Camera features, performance, design — it goes big on everything but the price tag.” That certainly sounds like a lot of phones for the money.

So, did HMD really pack the Arc 2 with meaningful hardware while keeping it affordable, or have they simply kept the price low by sticking to modest specifications?

With smartphone prices rising so much, a phone that could launch under Rs. 20,000 is certainly interesting, especially with the brand’s “big on everything” claim. But when you look closer at what the Arc 2 brings to the table and compare it with HMD’s existing ultra-budget offerings, that claim gets a little sus…

That said, what exactly does the HMD Arc 2 bring to the table? Let’s take a closer look:

HMD Arc 2 Overview

Compared to the original Arc, which didn’t make it to Nepal, the Arc 2 gets a noticeable polish to its rear design. It still uses a plastic back with a similar texture as in the HMD Aura 2. It comes in Dark Blue and Golden Beige.

The biggest change is the camera layout. The Arc’s rectangular module is replaced by a slim, pill-shaped design that gives off a bit of iPhone 17. Not that it’s trying to be one, but the resemblance is there.

HMD calls the Arc 2’s look premium, and the rear certainly feels more polished for a budget phone. But the waterdrop notch on the front makes it look somewhat dated. That’s hardly surprising at this price, though; it’s less a deal-breaker and more a reminder of where the Arc 2 sits in HMD’s lineup.

On the bright side, the Arc 2 also gets IP54 protection, offering basic dust and splash resistance.

The Arc 2 features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD. Its 576 × 1280 resolution, 460-nit peak brightness, and 60Hz refresh rate are fairly basic and functional, but it doesn’t exactly scream 2026. For instance, similarly priced Blackview Wave 7C, offers a larger 6.56-inch HD+ panel with 720 × 1612 resolution. The Wave 7C also gets Mohs Level 5 protection, giving its display a little more durability on paper.

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The bigger problem is that HMD hasn’t really changed what’s under the hood. The Arc 2 uses the same Unisoc SC9863A built on 28nm as in Arc, with the same eight Cortex-A55 cores clocked at up to 1.6GHz and the same IMG8322 GPU.

The only notable addition over the original Arc is a 128GB storage option, alongside the existing 4/64GB variant. That’s certainly useful, but calling it a major upgrade would be a stretch. Meanwhile, several budget phones, including the AI+ Pulse 2, Galaxy A07, Moto G06 Power, and Tecno Spark Go 3, launched around the Arc 2’s price with multiple storage options.

The cameras on the HMD Arc 2 are giving us déjà vu with the same 13MP main camera and 5MP selfie camera. Meanwhile, at the same price, the Blackview Wave 7C shows up with a 32MP main camera and 13MP selfie camera, plus HDR and 1080p video recording. When your new-generation phone is still using the exact same cameras as the old one, it’s hard to call that progress.

The Arc 2 sticks with a 5,000mAh battery and 10W charging, which is perfectly reasonable for a budget phone but hardly ambitious. The capacity is enough for everyday use, but the 10W charging speed means you’ll want patience when topping it up.

It runs Android 14 (Go Edition), the identical lightweight version of Android used on Arc. Go Edition makes sense for entry-level hardware, but seeing Android 14 on the big 2026 feels awkward.

The Redmi A7 also launched at Rs. 15,999 in April 2026, the same starting price as the Arc 2, but came with Android 16 (Go Edition). Its price has since climbed to Rs. 20,499, but that doesn’t change what it offered at launch.

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The HMD Arc 2 is a bit of a mixed bag. Its refreshed design is certainly more polished, and the addition of a 128GB storage option is welcome. But after nearly two years since the original Arc, you naturally expect the “2” to bring at least one meaningful hardware upgrade.

And to be fair, HMD isn’t alone in playing it safe with budget phones. Take the Samsung Galaxy A08, which is also set to launch soon in Nepal, and its predecessor, the A07. The A08 carries over almost everything from the A07, including the Helio G99, 6.7-inch 90Hz display, 50MP main camera, 8MP selfie camera, and 25W charging. But Samsung still managed to squeeze in a larger 6,000mAh battery, IP64 protection, and newer software.

That’s what makes the Arc 2 feel a little disappointing. It’s not that every generation needs a complete overhaul, especially when smartphone prices are already climbing. But the original Arc launched back in 2024, so after almost two years, I was hoping HMD would shake things up somewhere, but we are getting nothing except a new design.

So, the Arc 2 does not feel “big on everything” at all. It just feels average and not really exciting.

What are your thoughts on the HMD Arc2? Let us know in the comments below!