Motorola DEFY MINI Pro Reviews

Motorola seems to have a lot of the components for making fab handsets at its fingertips, but doesn't manage to bring them all together perfectly. The idea of taking the Defy range and making it smaller is a good one, but the execution isn't great. We're also not sure about the phone's dust and water rating. Moto uses the phrases 'dust proof' and 'water resistant' on its website, but doesn't' mention IP67. Maybe the Motorola Defy Mini didn't qualify, then. Overall, it's a decent enough little phone in places - and being life proof plus small enough to pop in places you wouldn't normally see a handset should be tempting. But the lack of overall fluency and reliance on last-gen components (including that underpowered processor) is a worry, even at the modest price.

There is no reason at all to buy the Defy Mini. Its spec is so underwhelming, that it just can't help but disappoint you. Considering the Defy+ is only another £30, if you really must ignore our advice and get one, you should get the one that is much less rubbish. Motorola has under-specified this phone in the worst way. Even scrolling around the home screens is a laboured, arduous and annoying process. The screen is too small really, although it's not dreadful quality, and that means those with larger fingers won't have an enjoyable time with it. It's also worth mentioning that with nano coatings becoming popular, and practical, it won't be long before every new phone in the world is waterproof. And Gorilla Glass makes them all pretty tough too. So really, the Defy goes from being a one-trick pony, to being a pony that's had all of its legs sawn off and whose days of trickery are, sadly, over.

Even though it is an okay entry-level Android smartphone, we think you should stay away from the Motorola DEFY MINI, at least for now. It is currently priced at about $250 off contract, which we find totally unjustified considering what you get in exchange. For that amount of cash it would be wiser to pick up the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active or Samsung Galaxy Xcover since both of them are resistant to water and dust, but come with better hardware specs. Alternatively, if you don't necessarily need a water resistant smartphone, the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini is also worth checking out as it costs about the same as the DEFY MINI while still packing better hardware.

The Motorola Defy Mini seems a little like a solution in search of a problem. It’s a bit tough, but then, not very tough. The water resistance may come in handy, but aside from that it’s hard to see how it can defend itself against the elements more effectively than any other phone you’ve bought a decent cover for. Still, it’s a cheapish budget Android with couple of interesting outdoorsy tricks up its sleeve.

We really liked the original Defy and while the updated Defy+ didn't add any major updates, it was a solid update. Now Motorola has announced a miniature version, maintaining the rugged credentials but with a smaller 3.2in screen. The phone is solid, well-built and compact which will suit many outdoor types - but it may be just too small for others.