These days technology evolves so quickly. No sooner is a product unveiled than the rumours start to circle about its successor. With 2016 now a distant memory I thought that I would have a look at some of the gadgets that are already available and on the way later this year.
Wileyfox Swift 2
The Wileyfox Swift 2 smartphone comes on the back of the original Swift which was named the ‘Smartphone of the Year’ by Forbes magazine and instantly became an Amazon bestseller a tough act to follow. The new Swift 2 range encompasses the Swift 2 and the Swift 2 Plus and is available in three colour finishes: midnight, gold and rose.
The great thing about all Wileyfox phones is that they come SIM-free so you can choose the network and package that best suits your needs. As well as that the Swift 2 offers dual SIM so you can easily switch between work and personal contacts. The addition of super-fast charging means that you can enjoy 25% charge is just 15 minutes, 50% in 30 minutes and so on which is rather amazing.
I was lucky enough to head down to the launch of the smartphone a couple of months back so have already had a preview and a play around with it. The thing that amazes me the most is the price, it’s only £119.99 on Amazon, which makes it great value as a second work phone or for a younger member of the family. And don’t be thinking that low price means you miss out on features as it has everything you would expect from an Android device including Andoid Pay, high-definition display and access to the huge inventory of apps.
Xbox 2: Project Scorpio
The Xbox 2 won’t hit the shops until the winter but if the rumours and early snippets of information released by Microsoft so far are anything to go by then it will definitely be worth the wait. The new Xbox is expected to the most powerful gaming console that Microsoft has ever built (with more torque than the PS4 Pro even).
The new console is expected to include 4K game capabilities, VR capability, near true to life graphics and compatibility with Xbox One content.
The price is expected to be in the region of £500 so you best get savings your loose change.
Tesla Model 3
Tesla, the electric car manufacturer will officially launch their new Model 3 vehicle later this year, the third car to join the Tesla family. The Tesla Model 3 will be their most affordable offering to date and with that lower price point, the carmaker will finally enter the mass market.
Seating 5 people the 4-door saloon styling makes this car smaller than the Model S and a great all-electric alternative to the likes of the BMW 3 Series. One single charge will get you around 215 miles. You can also expect advanced autopilot hardware and software – it won’t be long until these things simply drive themselves. Maybe that will feature on next years story!
Production of the Tesla Model 3 will start this year and the expected price is £28,500.
The Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a bit of a hybrid gaming console as it can be used both in a handheld portable basis as well as in at-home mode. The system connects up to your TV via the Nintendo Switch Dock. When you lift it from the dock it automatically switches to portable mode meaning you can play fluidly as you switch from the house to the street or vice versa.
When you are in the portable mode you will be able to play by removing the detachable Joy-con controller on the side. It does seem a little bit faffy but I’ll save my final judgement until I get a look at it more closely but from what I have heard I can see there being more appeal with the Nintendo Switch as a portable device rather than a traditional console.
The expected price for the Nintendo Switch is around £280 and it is due around March.
Disclaimer: This blog post has been written in collaboration with Wileyfox.
