Wileyfox Swift 2 X review

A budget phone that defies expectations

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Verdict

The Wileyfox Swift 2 X is the company’s most accomplished phone yet, and one that’s hard to beat without dropping significantly more money.

Battery niggles aside, it’s a well-rounded, perfectly balanced phone that will stand up to your day to day requirements while also ticking your on-the-move entertainment needs.

It’s not just what’s under the hood that impresses though. The Swift 2 X’s aluminium body could comfortably sit on a phone twice the price, and having jumped to a 1080p display, the Swift 2 X’s screen now backs up what its design and spec promise - an accomplished all-rounder that’s unbelievably good value for money.

It’s a shame that the Cyanogen UI is on its way out. If Wileyfox can work its design magic as well inside as out, however, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.

Who's this for?

The Wileyfox Swift 2 X is for those who covet the seamless, well balanced simplicity and performance of a high-end flagship phone without the wallet-crushing costs.

It’s a phone for the smartphone savvy, those who know exactly what they want and are aware of a brilliant value offering when they see it.

Should you buy it?

If you’ve only got £220 to hand and are in need of a new phone, the Wileyfox Swift 2 X is definitely worth your thought. It’s a balanced all-rounder that doesn’t achieve greatness in one way, but merges its components together into a phone that’s hard to top.

Like its closest rivals, the Moto G4 Plus, Lenovo P2 and Honor 6X, it’s not faultless, with the trio all falling down in different areas. For the Swift 2 X, that’s battery life which is distinctly average at best. It’s got a nicer build than the Moto and better software than the Honor, however.

Whether you’re after a new phone, or need a replacement for your damaged or lost flagship Android handset, the Wileyfox Swift 2 X would make a suitable choice. As long as you don’t mind nightly trips to the power supply.

Although the Wileyfox Swift 2 X offers a lot for the money, it does have some competitors, with the following two phones being key among them.

Moto G4 Plus

One of our favourite affordable phones available right now, the Moto G4 Plus ticks all the right boxes, with a great design and stunning 5.5-inch Full HD display being paired with a simply amazing sub-£200 price tag.

It’s cheaper than the Wileyfox Swift 2 X, and has a better battery life, but isn’t quite the design star that the UK-made phone is.

Honor 6X

A slick metal build and beautiful 5.5-inch Full HD display make the Honor 6X perhaps the Swift 2 X’s closest competitor.

With a similar price and similar spec, the Honor’s better battery life and innovative dual-lens camera could give it the edge for certain users. Its Emotion UI skinned software’s not as clean or slick though.

First reviewed: January 2017