The Motorola Defy line has always been synonymous with durability. But how do the original DEFY+ and the newer Defy 2 stack up against each other? We're diving deep into a comparison of these two rugged contenders, examining everything from performance to battery life and design.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Motorola Defy 2 is the clear winner. While the DEFY+ boasts legendary durability, the Defy 2's modern chipset, significantly improved performance, and wireless charging offer a vastly superior user experience, justifying its higher price for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | - | 2, 5, 23, 25, 26, 28, 38, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 255, 256 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, August. Released 2011, September | 2023, February 24 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, October |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 107 x 59 x 13.4 mm (4.21 x 2.32 x 0.53 in) | 171 x 80 x 11.9 mm (6.73 x 3.15 x 0.47 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 118 g (4.16 oz) | 268 g (9.45 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 5m for 35 min)
Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m
MIL-STD-810H compliant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~265 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.7 inches, 37.7 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~76.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | IPS LCD, 120Hz |
| | Touch sensitive controls
MOTOBLUR UI with Live Widgets | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | TI OMAP 3620 | Mediatek Dimensity 930 (6 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX530 | IMG BXM-8-256 |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) | Android 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 2GB 512MB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | - |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 480p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC+ player
MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Document viewer
Photo viewer/editor
Organizer
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input | Emergency SOS via satellite (Bullitt Satellite Connect service) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 7 h 10 min | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1700 mAh battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Black |
| Models | - | BM1S1B |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 570 EUR |
Motorola DEFY+
- Exceptional durability
- Water and dust resistant
- Compact size
- Classic rugged design
- Outdated performance
- Low-resolution display
- Poor camera quality
- No wireless charging
Motorola Defy 2
- Modern performance (Dimensity 930)
- Vibrant OLED display (120Hz)
- Improved camera
- Wireless charging
- Rugged design
- Higher price
- Larger size compared to DEFY+
Display Comparison
The Defy 2 features a larger 6.6-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The DEFY+ has a smaller, older LCD screen, which is functional but noticeably less impressive in terms of visual quality. The Defy 2's display is a significant upgrade.
Camera Comparison
The Defy 2 boasts a 50MP main camera, offering much better image quality, especially in low light, compared to the DEFY+'s older, lower-resolution camera. The Defy 2 also includes additional camera features and processing capabilities.
Performance
The Defy 2's Mediatek Dimensity 930 chipset is a world apart from the DEFY+'s TI OMAP 3620. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Defy 2. The DEFY+ feels sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
While both phones offer decent battery life, the Defy 2's larger battery capacity and more efficient chipset provide longer usage times. The addition of 15W wireless charging on the Defy 2 is a welcome convenience.
Buying Guide
The Motorola DEFY+ is ideal for users prioritizing extreme durability above all else and who don't need high-end performance. The Defy 2 is for those who want a rugged phone with modern performance, a good camera, and convenient features like wireless charging, willing to pay a premium for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Motorola Defy 2 worth the upgrade from the DEFY+?
Absolutely. The Defy 2 offers a massive upgrade in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities while retaining the ruggedness of the Defy line.
❓ How durable are these phones?
Both phones are built to withstand harsh conditions, featuring water and dust resistance. The Defy 2 also boasts enhanced drop resistance.
❓ Does the Defy 2 support 5G?
Yes, the Defy 2 supports 5G connectivity.
