Motorola Defy
Tough calls
Robust smartphone is tough but slow
SMARTPHONE ❘ £279 from Amazon www.snipca.com/39037
Not a bad choice for using outdoors, but the screen is disappointing
Motorola’s original Defy phone was launched in 2010. It was designed to be water- and dust-resistant, and able to withstand being dropped without breaking. This new model keeps the name and the tough build quality – keeping it aimed at people who need a rugged device when braving the elements outdoors. However, Motorola has updated it to bring it in line with modern models, though it won’t rival the best smartphones in terms of performance.
The Defy is chunkier than most of today’s smartphones, weighing 232g and measuring 10.9mm thick. It’s tested to IP68 standard (meaning it’s protected from harmful dust and can be submerged in water deeper than 1.5 metres for 35 minutes). It can also survive a drop of 1.8 metres on to a steel surface without suffering damage.
The case is made of plastic, but the criss-cross textured rear makes it easy to grip, so it’s less likely to slip out of your hand. There’s a lanyard loop at the bottom-left corner for attaching to your wrist for extra security. There’s also an extra, programmable button on the right edge that can be assigned to launch a specific app, which is very useful for opening a map or similar while you’re out and about.
With so much focus on protecting the phone, its specifications are unsurprisingly modest. It comes with a so-so Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor, and an unremarkable 4GB of RAM. There’s also 64GB of expandable storage, a 6.5in 1600x720-pixel IPS screen and four cameras. In our tests, the Defy’s performance lagged behind similarly priced standard phones. However, the battery life is good, lasting for 20 hours 54 minutes in our video-playback test.
The IPS screen is similar to those we’ve seen on previous budget Motorola models. Although its colours are accurate, the brightness and contrast levels aren’t so high, which is a shame on a phone that’s intended for use outdoors.
SPECIFICATIONS
Eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor • 4GB of RAM • 64GB of storage • 6.5in 1600x720pixel 60Hz IPS screen • 48-megapixel main rear camera • 2-megapixel macro camera • 8-megapixel front camera • Android 10 • 170x10.9x78mm (HXDXW) • 232g • Two-year warranty www.snipca. com/39037
Not bad for using outdoors when camping or hiking, with a good battery life and rugged design. But screen is disappointing, and it’s slower than most other phones at this price
VERDICT
Cat S42 £189 A more affordable rugged smartphone, but its specification is dated – with a smaller screen, older processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage and a stylus
ALTERNATIVE