Wileyfox Swift 2 - good phone?

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Discussion

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
So, didn't find a thread on this phone (only on the previous version).
Most people I've gotten phones for lately were either Moto G4 or Nexus 5x.
The 5x however isn't really available anymore so for people who don't want a 5.5" phone I had to look elsewhere.

Requirements were: <250 GBP, ~5" display (I'm aware display size is only a rough reference to phone size), stock android experience, 16GB or more, decent screen.
Then my eye fell on the Wileyfox Swift 2. I'm aware of CM and a fan as well.

After reading some good reviews I ordered one the other day for my sister. I was just wondering how you all got on with it?
Are they sold under other names in other countries as I can't really find that much about them in general?

It was this or the Moto G Play but the reviews preferred this and I'm always excited to see some new stuf (as the G Play is just a smaller, worse G4).

Orchid1

877 posts

107 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
I've been thinking of getting one too. From what i've heard it's not bad for what it is and the pricepoint. The thing that confuses me is the whole Cyanogen OS thing. Does that mean it doesn't run Android at all or do they run in tandem?

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Orchid1 said:
I've been thinking of getting one too. From what i've heard it's not bad for what it is and the pricepoint. The thing that confuses me is the whole Cyanogen OS thing. Does that mean it doesn't run Android at all or do they run in tandem?
Cyanogen = Android. It's just not the "vanilla" android you find on, for example Nexus and Motorola devices.
Think of it more as a layer, like touchwiz or color OS. But not crappy.

Yipper

5,964 posts

89 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Cyanogen OS for phones has closed down.

r-kid

842 posts

186 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Yipper said:
Cyanogen OS for phones has closed down.
Yes they have, however Wileyfox have said they are transferring their newer range (swift 2, etc) over to Nougat.

carreauchompeur

17,830 posts

203 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Interesting. I've got a Swift and find it generally capable, if a bit 'finicky' at times. Some things harder to achieve than they should be.

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
carreauchompeur said:
Interesting. I've got a Swift and find it generally capable, if a bit 'finicky' at times. Some things harder to achieve than they should be.
Any examples? Curious to hear as I've yet to hold the one I ordered.

carreauchompeur

17,830 posts

203 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Possibly it's just an Android thing but I do find alert settings etc a bit finicky to locate. I've been spoilt by Apple obvs!

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Varietas delectat smile.

I always reason: If my mom can set it up, so should anybody who's able to post on a forum biggrin.

I thought you were talking about glitchy/crashing? Because that would be a deal breaker of course.
Or maybe if the alarm stops working properly if the hour changes wink.

r-kid

842 posts

186 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
carreauchompeur said:
Possibly it's just an Android thing but I do find alert settings etc a bit finicky to locate. I've been spoilt by Apple obvs!
Think its just what you are used to, I've always had Android phones but was given an iPhone recently as a works one. That has frustrated me numerous times trying to find or to get to something I want it to do like my personal phone.


ZesPak, I've had an original swift since they were launched and never had a problem with mine.

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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My OH has had one for about a month now, it's working very well. I would have got her a Moto G4 but it's too big. The G4 Play is OK for size, but only has 1GB or Ram, which seems a bit limiting.

ZesPak

Original Poster:

24,421 posts

195 months

Thursday 23rd February 2017
quotequote all
Had a dab with it. After a couple of years on a 5.5" phone, something like the Wileyfox is tempting tbh biggrin.

Very very nice device, quick, decent enough screen (not FHD though). Camera isn't as good as the Moto G4 but passable.

All in all very impressed from a vfm perspective.

mike80

2,248 posts

215 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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Rather than start a new thread...

I'm looking for a new phone to replace my Iphone 5c that I've had for 3 years. I don't really want to fork out for another Iphone, but I've no experience of the Android phones. How do you think it will compare?

I don't really play games on the phone (not CPU intensive stuff anyway), or take many pictures, though a decent camera is useful. I think most of the apps I use, Strava, various airlines, a bit of social media are all there anyway.

So, any downsides?

rednotdead

1,214 posts

225 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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I moved from Apple to Android a couple of years ago. No regrets, took all of a couple of minutes to find my way around. All the apps I had on the iphone had android versions. I much prefer the flexibility of android, and being able to get it 'just so' rather than how apple want you to have it. Nova Launcher and various skins are a must have.

I used a Samsung S4 for a while, then bought a Wileyfox Swift 2Plus late last year. The Swift is great, has everything I need, including SDCard, and all for less than £180.

Berz

406 posts

191 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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I went from Apple 4S to Windows Lumia 930 and now on a Wileyfox Swift 2 X which I've had since mid-February. This is my first Android/Cyanogen phone.

In terms of functionality Windows was a step down from Apple, and Android is a step back up. The Swift 2 X doesn't seem to do anything obvious that the missus' iPhone 5S can't.

Compared to the Windows phone I like the greater range of apps. The google mail app is better. The calendar month view is rubbish. There are no badge icons (and I'm not paying for a special launcher just to get them). The camera is slower to start and take photos but the photos are comparable. Privacy Guard took some tweaking to get it working exactly as I wanted it. The phone vibration is powerful and too noisy. The LED notification light is very bright but can be turned down. Battery life is even better than my old Lumia which was better than my old 4S. I can't seem to get a consistent swipe action going - suspect it is just very sensitive. Fingerprint reader is good and a bit of a revelation compared to putting in a PIN constantly. I don't like that it doesn't display the options for phone calls (pick up, ignore, etc.) and alarms (snooze, dismiss) until you touch the draggy button.

I knew there would be a lot of things I did and didn't like about it so I was hesitant to shell out for a top of the range Android phone which is why I went for something cheap but not too cheap. For £220 I am very happy smile

tenohfive

6,276 posts

181 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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mike80 said:
Rather than start a new thread...

I'm looking for a new phone to replace my Iphone 5c that I've had for 3 years. I don't really want to fork out for another Iphone, but I've no experience of the Android phones. How do you think it will compare?

I don't really play games on the phone (not CPU intensive stuff anyway), or take many pictures, though a decent camera is useful. I think most of the apps I use, Strava, various airlines, a bit of social media are all there anyway.

So, any downsides?
If you can hang fire for a couple of weeks the Moto G series have traditionally dominated the low-midrange smartphone market. The G5 and G5+ are in the process of being released which should push the price down on the G4 and G4 Plus with a bit of luck - and my take is that (on paper/reviews and specs) they both looked more appealing than the Swift 2. Even when the Swift was on an Amazon lightning deal and reduced a fair bit.

mike80

2,248 posts

215 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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Cheers for that - I will wait a bit then. The iphone still works OK, so there's no immediate rush.