Defy is one of our
favorite phones in 2010. Its hard structure can bear a few collisions, and
large screen, 5MP camera, and cheap price in contract make it become the winner
of Budget Buy prize obviously. Defy+ is a simple udgrade: 800MHz processor is
replaced by a faster 1GHz model, and battery increases from 1540mAh to 1700mAh,
which leads to impressive 12 hours of video playing in our test.
Another difference is
upgrade to Android 2.3 Gingerbread – original Defy is stucked with 2.2 Froyo
after an official upgrade from 2.1. Upgrade to Gingerbread brings dramatic
performance improvements, and certainly Defy+ is faster than we expected from a
processor upgrade 200MHz. The interface seems smooth when shifting among main
screens, and we do not find any performance problem in apps.
Android 2.3 also brings
many small changes helping improve user experience such as better copy and
paste function as well as improved app and energy management. Motorola’s
Motoblur software also provides new services gathered in a mail inbox and
general feed. Besides Facebook, Twitter, and Exchange email, you can add
Last.fm, Photobucket, Picasa, LinkedIn, Yahoo!, and YouTube accounts
Improved app tray provides
links above leading you to downloaded or new apps, and you can also add option
groups.
Photos taken by camera
are clear and colorful, with little noise provided that the scenes are brighted
clearly, which is not a problem with LED flashlight. Video is also no less good
although limited by VGA resolution (640x480). Defy+’s video mode well processes
in weak light condition, but it is a pity you cannot use flash as video light
while recording. Video is smoother than we often see from a phone’s camera,
with very little unsmoothness while recording.
In appearance, Defy+
looks like Defy, and as long as you close elastic lids on headphones and Micro
USB’s gates, it will not be absorbent at the depth of 1 meter, and will be
dust-resistant. Corning Gorilla Glass screen is scrape-resistant and prevent
oily fingertip, which helps you scroll through main screens smoothly. Storage
is also good, with more than 1GB for apps only, so you never have to worry
whether you can install new app. If there is no more free storage, you can add
more with Micro SHDC card slot.
Defy+ is worthy
inheritor of Defy, and is excellent value. It gained Best Buy prize.
Summary
Verdict. It has wonderful screen, camera, and deisgn
quality of predecessor, but with better performance as well as improved battery
life and Android operating system.
Smartphone. GSM 850/900/1800/1900, 3G 900/2100, EDGE, HSPA,
3.7-inch LCD (480x854 resolution), 5MP camera, 512MB storage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
USB, 6.8 hours of talk-time, 9.9 days of wait-time, 107x59x13mm, 107g.
