Back when I was a high-school student in this 2017 - 2019 era, HMD released a lot of different devices, including a diverse smartphone portfolio covering every segment imaginable.
What caused them to drop this strategy in such a short time, and went forward with a strategy focusing on affordable smart-and-feature-phones? For example, the 9 PureView was their last flagship released in 2019, and its successor 9.3 PureView never materialized.
I suppose you can blame it on declining sales - from what I could find, HMD’s sales indeed took a nosedive in 2020, but a more concrete answer would be much appreciated here.
Looking back at HMD’s models after 2020 I think this is pretty plausible, with how all their smartphones during this period are likely ODM model - you can tell with how they all use the same Unisoc or MediaTek SoCs.
I mean, only smartphones that are outsourced to Chinese ODMs would ever use these chips, you’ll see this with other brands too.
Perhaps zombie brand mode would also be a suitable term, if not for the recent Skyline and Fusion which feels like genuine efforts from HMD.