Wileyfox

Wileyfox isn't yet a name spoken of in the same breath as Samsung or HTC when it comes to Android-based smartphones, but it soon could be. The British company wants to disrupt how the market works by offering consumers high-spec phones at low prices, with no contracts or long-term commitments.

Unlike Samsung's range -- as close to a market leader as Android has -- or even Google's own Nexus handsets, Wileyfox's entries won't run on the standard version of the mobile OS but rather the community driven Cyanogen variant.


Wileyfox

Wileyfox is launching with two handsets, the Swift and the Storm. The names are well-chosen -- the delicate sounding Swift offers a modest but still decent 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front facing one, a Snapdragon 410 processor, 16GB storage, and 2GB memory, all packed under a 5" 720p display. The beefier, thunderously named Storm packs in 20-megapixel rear and 8-megapixel front cameras, a higher-powered Snapdragon 615 processor, 32GB onboard storage, 3GB memory, and a 5.5" 1080p screen. The pixel density on the Storm is considerably higher too -- 400ppi vs 294ppi for the Swift.

Both phones include dual SIM functionality and 4G support, and storage can be expanded. The Swift can be boosted to 32GB, while the Storm can be jacked all the way up to 128GB. Expandable storage capacity has been less of a feature on Android phones over the last few years, annoying many high-end users, so it's nice to see that option available on Wileyfox's handsets. The Swift is currently priced at £129 and the Storm at £199.


Wileyfox's entry into the market place echoes that of OnePlus, which has been a pioneer in releasing low-cost but high-power smartphones, and recently launched its second flagship model. The original OnePlus One also ran Cyanogen, though the newer system switched to the similarly open OxygenOS.

The benefit of these "off-brand" Android operating systems is that they allow for a cleaner installation, without the bloatware that is often found on other core handsets. Cyanogen also allows for a greater level of customisation and specificity in how your phone works, locking down access for certain apps, for instance.

There isn't a set date for Wileyfox's release yet, though interest can be registered on the site now. Shipping is expected around the end of September. Look for the WIRED.co.uk reviews to follow.