My First ShiftPhone: Expectations Not Met

[TheUnknowUser]

Hello everyone,


This is my first ShiftPhone (shiftphone 8), and I have to say that I’m extremely disappointed with my experience so far.


I had hopes for the ShiftPhone, especially given the long wait (almost two years) to receive the device. However, the reality has been far from what I expected.


Here are the main issues I’m facing:

1. Mobile Data Connectivity: Both 3G and 4G data connections are not working at all on my ShiftPhone. This is incredibly frustrating, as I rely on mobile data for my daily tasks. After checking online, it seems this issue isn't isolated, and other users have experienced similar problems (as seen on the forum). (https://forum.shiftphones.com/threads/mobile-daten-nur-3g-shift-8.5913/#post-63957)
2. Outdated Android Version: My phone is still running Android 14, while Android 16 was supposed to be available by now. Considering the emphasis on long-term software support for ShiftPhones, I am puzzled as to why my device hasn't received the update yet.
3. Quality Issues: The long wait for my ShiftPhone made me expect a high-quality, thoroughly tested device. Unfortunately, the issues I’m experiencing give the impression that the product wasn’t as rigorously tested as promised. I was expecting better after such a long wait and all the updates on the production process.
4. Unused Extra Button: One other thing that caught my attention was the extra button on the device. While it seemed like it would have a useful function, it doesn’t do anything in the default system and can't be reassigned. This feels like a wasted opportunity and another small detail that adds to my disappointment.

Overall, I was really excited to receive my first ShiftPhone, but unfortunately, my experience has been quite negative. I expected a product that would live up to the reputation of ShiftPhones for sustainability and long-term use, but so far, it’s been a series of letdowns.

Has anyone else faced similar issues? I’d love to hear from others who have had similar experiences

Thanks for reading.

 

[halemmerich]

1. Works fine for me, but not every provider is the same
2. OS-L without Google is currently Android 15 and OS-G will most likely make the jump to 16 directly, skipping 15.
3. You bought a niche device made by a tiny tiny german company with not only smartphones in their portfolio with fair producing conditions. It just takes time.
4. Works fine with OS-L and I think it should work in OS-G or come in the next update. The app to configure it is called Shift Actions.

All of your issues have been discussed in this forum a lot over the last few months so you can find a wealth of information here. Keep in mind that the phone is not yet fully released and still in the preorder/crowdfunding phase. Hardware should be final, software most definitely is not.

 

[danielp]

As mentioned, everything you mentioned has already been discussed at length. As with most discussions here, this has been done in German. I don't feel like repeating everything in English.

 

[TheUnknowUser]

1. Works fine for me, but not every provider is the same
2. OS-L without Google is currently Android 15 and OS-G will most likely make the jump to 16 directly, skipping 15.
3. You bought a niche device made by a tiny tiny german company with not only smartphones in their portfolio with fair producing conditions. It just takes time.
4. Works fine with OS-L and I think it should work in OS-G or come in the next update. The app to configure it is called Shift Actions.

All of your issues have been discussed in this forum a lot over the last few months so you can find a wealth of information here. Keep in mind that the phone is not yet fully released and still in the preorder/crowdfunding phase. Hardware should be final, software most definitely is not.

Thank you for your response. I would like to know where I can find the Shift Actions app to download. Could you please let me know where I can get it?

 

[danielp]

It does not work with the current version of ShiftOS-G so the App alone is currently useless.
As soon as it is ready the App will for sure come with the Update automatically.

If you want to use the button before there is a third party solution available.

SHIFTphone 8  Beitrag im Thema 'UNBOXING: Wer hat denn schon sein Shiftphone 8? Erste Eindrücke und Erfahrungen.'

2 August 2025

Den Custom Key kann man auf OS-G 6.2 derzeit noch nicht nativ belegen. Kommt entweder mit OS-G 6.3 oder OS-G 6.4. Abhilfe schafft ansonsten https://f-droid.org/packages/io.github.sds100.keymapper/.

• Dwain Zwerg

• 

 

[amartinz]

1. Mobile Data Connectivity: Both 3G and 4G data connections are not working at all on my ShiftPhone. This is incredibly frustrating, as I rely on mobile data for my daily tasks. After checking online, it seems this issue isn't isolated, and other users have experienced similar problems (as seen on the forum). (https://forum.shiftphones.com/threads/mobile-daten-nur-3g-shift-8.5913/#post-63957)

Which provider do you have?
Did you configure APN settings provided by your provider in case the default included APNs are not correct or not included yet?
(This can change if providers update their network configuration or on new virtual providers, which rely on existing networks)

1. Outdated Android Version: My phone is still running Android 14, while Android 16 was supposed to be available by now. Considering the emphasis on long-term software support for ShiftPhones, I am puzzled as to why my device hasn't received the update yet.

Qualcomm is providing a huge upgrade for Android 16, so we waited for it and instead worked on things which are independent on Android version.
They have not released the code for it yet, so we are still waiting for them to release it in order to start working on it.

When AOSP or Pixel release a new Android version this does not mean that everyone else can immediately use it.
Even custom ROMs are still working on it, like LineageOS does not have releases based on Android 16 yet and most modern devices are not even supported yet because it takes more work.

1. Quality Issues: The long wait for my ShiftPhone made me expect a high-quality, thoroughly tested device. Unfortunately, the issues I’m experiencing give the impression that the product wasn’t as rigorously tested as promised. I was expecting better after such a long wait and all the updates on the production process.

Do you have more details on this?

1. Unused Extra Button: One other thing that caught my attention was the extra button on the device. While it seemed like it would have a useful function, it doesn’t do anything in the default system and can't be reassigned. This feels like a wasted opportunity and another small detail that adds to my disappointment.

Will come for ShiftOS-G with version 6.3 or alternatively you can already use the app from the thread linked above by @danielp.

 

[TheUnknowUser]

Which provider do you have?
Did you configure APN settings provided by your provider in case the default included APNs are not correct or not included yet?
(This can change if providers update their network configuration or on new virtual providers, which rely on existing networks)


Qualcomm is providing a huge upgrade for Android 16, so we waited for it and instead worked on things which are independent on Android version.
They have not released the code for it yet, so we are still waiting for them to release it in order to start working on it.

When AOSP or Pixel release a new Android version this does not mean that everyone else can immediately use it.
Even custom ROMs are still working on it, like LineageOS does not have releases based on Android 16 yet and most modern devices are not even supported yet because it takes more work.


Do you have more details on this?


Will come for ShiftOS-G with version 6.3 or alternatively you can already use the app from the thread linked above by @danielp.

Yes, my APN is configured correctly, and I would like to point out that my previous smartphones did not encounter any connection problems, so there is no issue on the part of my internet provider. Please don't tell me the issue is not on your end, because nowadays, almost every smartphone supports all the network bands needed to access mobile data.

- quality issues (This refers to everything mentioned in the other points.)

I bought this smartphone because it was supposed to meet the specifications listed on the purchase page, but unfortunately, this is not entirely the case at the moment. I will therefore have to wait to receive the smartphone as expected at the time of purchase, despite the two years of endless waiting.

 

[amartinz]

Yes, my APN is configured correctly, and I would like to point out that my previous smartphones did not encounter any connection problems, so there is no issue on the part of my internet provider. Please don't tell me the issue is not on your end, because nowadays, almost every smartphone supports all the network bands needed to access mobile data.

- quality issues (This refers to everything mentioned in the other points.)

I bought this smartphone because it was supposed to meet the specifications listed on the purchase page, but unfortunately, this is not entirely the case at the moment. I will therefore have to wait to receive the smartphone as expected at the time of purchase, despite the two years of endless waiting.

I need this information not to blame but to be able to check and work on the issues you mentioned.

 

[TheUnknowUser]

This is the problem I have when I'm not connected to Wi-Fi. no internet

 

[amartinz]

Thanks, I will check our configuration with Orange France and report back.

 

[amartinz]

To be sure, can you please also post your APN Settings?

1) Settings -> Network and Internet -> SIMs -> Access point names
2) Please take a screenshot of the APNs listed there
3) Press on your selected APN used for internet to get to the "Edit access point" screen and take a screenshot there (you can press on "Capture more" to get the full screen in a single screenshot)

I have seen that we got some APNs for Orange F included, but maybe they are not up-to-date and I can diagnose better with having your current state of what is not working.

Then we can also contact Orange F to see what we are missing so that it does not work for you.

 

[TheUnknowUser]

To be sure, can you please also post your APN Settings?

1) Settings -> Network and Internet -> SIMs -> Access point names
2) Please take a screenshot of the APNs listed there
3) Press on your selected APN used for internet to get to the "Edit access point" screen and take a screenshot there (you can press on "Capture more" to get the full screen in a single screenshot)

I have seen that we got some APNs for Orange F included, but maybe they are not up-to-date and I can diagnose better with having your current state of what is not working.

Then we can also contact Orange F to see what we are missing so that it does not work for you.

Here are my APN settings