Wileyfox
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Telecommunications |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Nick Muir, Victoria Denman, Naeem Walji, Nooreddin Valimahomed |
| Defunct | February 6, 2018 |
| Fate | Entered administration; licensing rights obtained by Santok Group |
| Successor | Santok Group (licensing rights holder) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom , United Kingdom |
Area served | Europe, South Africa |
Key people | Nick Muir (CEO) |
| Products | Smartphones, accessories (replacement batteries, cases, screen films) |
| Parent | Meridian Group (initially) |
| Website | wileyfox |
Wileyfox was a UK-based manufacturer of smartphone devices established in 2015. The company entered into administration proceedings on 6 February 2018. Subsequently, on 19 March 2018, Santok Group obtained licensing rights to distribute Wileyfox handsets across Europe and South Africa.
The brand focused on delivering cost-effective smartphones without sacrificing performance or build quality. Wileyfox attributed its competitive pricing to a leaner organizational structure and the absence of legacy device maintenance costs. Their strategy emphasized differentiation through alternative Android distributions instead of adopting iOS.
History
Wileyfox was founded in 2015 by Nick Muir (CEO), Victoria Denman, and Naeem Walji. Initially, it operated as a subsidiary of the Meridian Group, which also owns handset brands such as Kazam and Fly Mobile, based in Russia. Meridian Group chairman Nooreddin Valimahomed is also recognized as one of the founders. Wileyfox debuted with the release of the Wileyfox Swift smartphone.
In 2017, founders Muir and Denman departed to establish Growth Hackers Global, a startup accelerator. The company subsequently entered administration within the UK during early 2018.
Products
This section outlines the technical specifications of Wileyfox devices, which may differ from the official manufacturer datasheets.
First generation: Swift and Storm
Introduced in August 2015, the Swift and Storm models were released later that same year featuring Cyanogen OS 12.1. Both handsets offer dual SIM capability. The Swift carries the codename crackling, while the Storm is referred to as kipper. Each device is equipped with a single speaker.
Specification overview
| Model | SoC | CPU | GPU | Storage capacity | Removable storage | RAM | OS | Dimensions | Weight | Battery | Display | Rear Camera | Front Camera | Launch Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wileyfox Storm | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 | Octa-core (1.7 GHz quad-core + 1.0 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53) | Adreno 405 | 32 GB | microSD up to 128 GB | 3 GB | Cyanogen OS 12.1 | 155.6 x 77.3 x 9.2 mm | 157 g (5.54 oz) | 2500mAh non-removable Li-Po | 5.5" 1920x1080 (400ppi) laminated glass by LG Electronics | 20 MP f/1.8 aperture | 8 MP with LED flash | £199 |
| Wileyfox Swift | Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 | 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 | Adreno 306 | 16 GB | microSDXC up to 2 TiB | 2 GB | Cyanogen OS 12.1 | 141.15 x 71 x 9.37 mm | 135 g (4.76 oz) | 2500mAh removable Li-Po battery | 5" 1280×720 (294ppi) fully laminated IPS display from Japan Display Inc with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | 13 MP f/2.0 aperture | 5 MP front camera | £129 |
Swift
The design of the Wileyfox Swift closely mirrors Qualcomm’s Seed reference design, sharing similarities with rebadged models such as the Longcheer L8150, aligning it with second-generation Android One devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processors. It supports video recording at full HD (1080p) at 30 frames per second and HD (720p) at 60 frames per second. The rear camera incorporates a Samsung S5K3M2 sensor featuring Isocell technology, which improves image quality compared to conventional BSI sensors. GPS and GLONASS satellite navigation are included as standard features. The Swift was available in sandstone black and white colors, with market availability varying by region. Upon release, it was recognized as the most affordable Cyanogen OS smartphone in Western Europe. From late 2016 onwards, replacement batteries were made accessible via Wileyfox’s official online store.
The device garnered favorable reviews, although its recessed micro-USB port posed compatibility challenges with many third-party charging cables. Wileyfox’s proprietary cables exceed USB minimum plug length requirements by approximately 0.5mm but do not fully comply with USB standards, preventing them from bearing official USB certification logos as of early 2016. The metal ring surrounding the rear camera lens is prone to scratching soft surfaces; to mitigate this, Wileyfox offered clip-on protective covers available in black and red-orange shades that shield the back and sides but do not protect the screen itself. With these cases attached, the dimensions measure approximately 73mm in width, 143mm in height, and 10mm in thickness. Early production units demonstrated rapid and precise GPS/GLONASS functionality; however, later manufacturing batches included a metallic adhesive layer inside the back cover which can impair satellite signal reception unless removed.
In addition to its proprietary Cyanogen OS firmware, the Swift benefits from support via its open-source foundation, CyanogenMod, with version 13.0 released in March 2016 alongside CyanogenMod 13 builds for other devices. As of 2020, support continued through LineageOS up to version 17.1 (Android 10), although official updates ceased in February 2022.
Storm
The Wileyfox Storm is a smartphone with a 5.5-inch Full HD display and a unibody chassis. It is equipped with a 2500mAh battery that cannot be removed because of the integrated design. A side tray, accessible via a pinhole, accommodates either a Micro SIM and Nano SIM card combination or a Micro SIM alongside a MicroSD card. The front-facing camera offers 8 MP resolution and includes an LED flash for selfies. On the rear, it features a 20 MP Sony EXMOR IMX220 sensor capable of recording 1080p videos and capturing slow-motion footage at 90 frames per second. The device supports both GPS and GLONASS navigation systems. Available in sandstone black and white color options, availability depends on the market region.
2nd generation: Spark, Spark+ and Spark X
In June 2016, Wileyfox introduced the Spark lineup, which includes the Spark, Spark+, and Spark X models. These devices are powered by MediaTek MT6735 processors and support dual SIM functionality. Internally, the Spark and Spark+ carry the codename porridge, while the Spark X is referred to as porridgek3.
Specification overview
| Model | SoC | CPU | GPU | Storage capacity | Removable storage | RAM | OS | Dimensions | Weight | Battery | Display | Rear Camera | Front Camera | Launch price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wileyfox Spark | MediaTek 6735 | 64-bit Quad-core 1.3 GHz | Mali T-720 | 8 GB | microSD up to 32 GB | 1 GB | Cyanogen OS 13.0 | 143 x 70.4 x 8.65 mm | 134.5 g | 2200mAh removable Li-Po | 5" 1280×720 (294ppi) IPS panel | 8 MP | 8 MP | |
| Wileyfox Spark+ | MediaTek 6735 | 64-bit Quad-core 1.3 GHz | Mali T-720 | 16 GB | microSD up to 32 GB | 2 GB | Cyanogen OS 13.0 | 143 x 70.4 x 8.65 mm | 134.5 g | 2200mAh removable Li-Po | 5" 1280×720 (294ppi) IPS panel | 13 MP | 8 MP | |
| Wileyfox Spark X | MediaTek 6735 | 64-bit Quad-core 1.3 GHz | Mali T-720 | 16 GB | microSD up to 32 GB | 2 GB | Cyanogen OS 13.0 | 154.35 x 78.6 x 8.75 mm | 134.5 g | 3000mAh removable Li-Po | 5.5" 1280×720 (267ppi) IPS panel | 13 MP | 8 MP |
3rd generation: Swift 2, Swift 2 Plus, Swift 2 X
In November of 2016, Wileyfox released the Swift 2 series comprising the Swift 2, Swift 2 Plus, and Swift 2 X models. These devices are equipped with Qualcomm MSM8937 octa-core processors clocked at 1.4 GHz alongside Adreno 505 graphics units and feature support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology (charger sold separately). The series carries the codename marmite, with a special champagne edition showcasing a gold-hued rear panel.
Specification overview
| Model | SoC | CPU | GPU | Storage Capacity | Expandable Storage | RAM Size | Operating System | Dimensions (mm) | Weight (g) | Battery Capacity | Display Specifications | Rear Camera Resolution | Front Camera Resolution | Launch Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wileyfox Swift 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 | 64-bit Octa-core 1.4 GHz | Adreno 505 | 16 GB | microSD up to 64 GB | 2 GB | Android Nougat 7.1.1 (upgrade from Cyanogen OS 13) | 143.7 x 71.9 x 8.6 | 155 | 2700mAh Li-Po non-removable | 5" IPS, 1280×720 (294ppi) | 13 MP | 8 MP | 159 GBP |
| Wileyfox Swift 2 Plus | Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 | 64-bit Octa-core 1.4 GHz | Adreno 505 | 32 GB | microSD up to 64 GB | 3 GB | Android Nougat 7.1.1 (upgrade from Cyanogen OS 13) | 143.7 x 71.9 x 8.6 | 155 | 2700mAh Li-Po non-removable | 5" IPS, 1280×720 (294ppi) | 16 MP | 8 MP | 189 GBP |
| Wileyfox Swift 2 X | Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 | 64-bit Octa-core 1.4 GHz | Adreno 505 | 32 GB | minicroSD up to 64 GB | 3 GB | Android Nougat 7.1.1 (upgrade from Cyanogen OS 13) | 147 x 73 x 8.2 | 152.8 | 3050mAh Li-Po non-removable | 5.2" IPS, Full HD (1920x1080), (424ppi) | 16 MP | 8 MP | 219 GBP |
The final Wileyfox model shipped with Android version 8.1, featuring a memory of three gigabytes RAM and thirty-two gigabytes of internal storage but suffered from an exposure problem affecting the front camera that caused the display to darken upon activation. Wileyfox acknowledged this defect and stated that a software update was being developed to resolve it; nevertheless, as of September 2020, no correction had been issued yet.
Accessories
The firm provided replacement batteries, attachable cases, and protective screen films designed specifically for their mobile devices.