Wileyfox Spark Plus review

Budget in all the wrong ways

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It's almost a cliché to say at this point, but the budget end of the market is the most cut-throat in the mobile industry. It is where both the margins and the competition are razor-sharp, and some suffer accordingly.

The Spark Plus in many ways takes the place of the older Wileyfox Swift, with similar specifications and an almost identical price point, and yet in many ways it is the lesser of the two handsets.

Battery life is worse, as are the cameras, and the reliability of the software. The Swift may no longer be available, but its shadow is long.

Moreover, devices like the Lenovo K5 and the Honor 5C are offering excellent metal build quality and superior specifications across the board, for little if any more money. Against this, the Spark Plus falters considerably.

This is an unremarkable handset with good performance and a decent screen, but other than that the Spark Plus doesn't seem to have anything to offer, other than to those who are already aficionados of the British-brand. For everyone else, there is better to be had.

Who's this for?

If you are on a very strict budget, and like the Wileyfox brand, then this handset is unlikely to disappoint. Though there are stronger options available for the price point, the Spark Plus is a reasonable all-rounder, if not remarkable in any category.

Should you buy it?

If you have a budget of just over £120, and wish to buy from a firm that designs and operates from UK shores, then it could be worth considering.

But as the Wileyfox Spark Plus can be bettered for similar money, it’s safe to say you probably shouldn’t buy it, unless you have an odd attachment to the brand.

First reviewed: December 2016

Sean is a Scottish technology journalist who's written for the likes of T3, Trusted Reviews, TechAdvisor and Expert Reviews.