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Motorola DEFY MINI Review

Motorola DEFY MINI Review

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Posted: 12 Apr 2012, 09:31, by Nick T.

Categories: Motorola Motorola Android Android

Discuss11

UPDATE: The rating of the Motorola DEFY MINI has been updated on May 21, 2012.

Introduction:

So, let's say that you want to get an Android smartphone, but $250 is all you have to spend. One of the options that fit into this category is the rugged Motorola DEFY MINI, which is resistant to dust and water damage. Additionally, its display is protected by the pretty tough Gorilla Glass, so it should be able to withstand every day wear and tear. But other than that, there isn't much that the smartphone can brag with. There is a humble 600MHz processor ticking inside, its screen measures the rather average 3.2 inches in diagonal, and the camera on its back is pretty basic. Nevertheless, we will give the DEFY MINI a chance to make a name for itself by putting it through its paces.

UPDATE: The rating of the Motorola DEFY MINI has been updated.

Package contents:

Wall charger

microUSB cable

User guide

2GB microSD card

Design:

Think of the Motorola DEFY MINI as an ugly duckling. Yeah, its looks are pretty uninspiring and the abundance of plasticky elements does not make matters any better. However, don't forget that this device is primarily meant to resist the elements, not to win any beauty contests. That said, we gladly accept it for the slab of plastic that it is.

We are happy to say that the smartphone feels well built. Taking its back cover requires a tremendous amount of effort as it is attached quite tightly, but that is actually a good thing given that such a tight fit will provide better protection against water and dust damage.


		Back cover locking

The Motorola DEFY MINI weighs 107 grams, which is nothing out of the ordinary for its size. With a waistline of 12.5 millimeters, the smartphone is a bit on the thick side, so don't think that you won't be feeling it inside your pocket. Nevertheless, we are pretty content with the way the device fits in the hand, and its petite dimensions allow for it to be used with a single hand without any difficulties whatsoever. Bonus points are awarded for the discrete notification light, located at the upper right-hand side of the handset.


		The notification light
The Motorola DEFY MINI fits nicely in the hand

You can compare the Motorola DEFY MINI with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

There are several things about the smartphone's design that we are not too happy with, however. First of all, the microUSB port is protected by a cover that is really tricky to take off, and then putting it back on tightly is much more difficult than it should be. Also, the cover protecting the 3.5-millimeter jack feels quite flimsy. Last but not least, the lock key, camera shutter, and volume rocker provide far less tactile feedback than a physical button on a smartphone should.


The microUSB port is on the left	The power button and headphone jack are on the top	The volume rocker and camera shutter are on the right

Display:

One thing that we have to admit about the 3.2-inch display on the Motorola DEFY MINI is that it has pretty good color reproduction and viewing angles. Pretty good for an ordinary TFT LCD panel, that is. Other than that, the screen is nothing special, but it gets the job done so we cannot complain. Its resolution is 320 by 480 pixels (180 ppi), which is acceptable for such an affordable device. Keep in mind, however, that small text is pretty much impossible to read, so you will be doing quite a lot of zooming while surfing the web. Also, using it outdoors is extremely difficult due to all the light that gets reflected off its surface.

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Interface, Processor and Browser

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Motorola DEFY MINI

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Review 5/10
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11 Comments
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1. Mittal posted on 12 Apr 2012, 11:34 2

I'm beginning to believe it!!
Did any1 notice the negativity towards the phone throughout the review??
Its like the PA guys are disgusted at the very existence of the phone!!
Phone Reviews is definitely not PA's thing...

5. Nick_T posted on 13 Apr 2012, 09:07 4

Would you buy this phone as your primary device?

9. kshell1 posted on 17 Apr 2012, 09:11 0

hahahaha. NO

11. Mittal posted on 13 May 2012, 05:48 0

If im looking for a phone in that price range, i still might not buy it!
But that is not what i meant. I love yur site and it is almost my homepage, the frequency with which i visit it!!!
My point here is that i found the tone and feel of the review as keeping the device at a disadvantageous position from the start..

2. joaolx posted on 12 Apr 2012, 12:05 1

I bought my phone one year ago and it has a 600mhz and i thought it was too late for it but it seems that they're still coming out. The lowest device pin the market should have at least a 800mhz.

3. cheetah2k posted on 12 Apr 2012, 20:30 2

I think the Sony Xperia Active (ST17i) offers much better value in a robust compact Android phone, so 4/10 is probably spot on.

4. lonestrider posted on 12 Apr 2012, 20:33 4

Agree with the conclusion.
It is overpriced.

7. Jyakotu posted on 14 Apr 2012, 12:23 0

So apparently Window Phones have last year specs, yet manufacturers are still releasing Android phones with 600MHz single core processors.? Yeah, this phone is SO up-to-date in Android land. *roll eyes*

10. kshell1 posted on 17 Apr 2012, 09:13 1

its a budget phone........

8. Cyan3boN posted on 15 Apr 2012, 03:10 1

Sony offers the best low end phones packed with qsd8255 with adreno 205, the same hardware fond in xperia arc.

12. Chipmunk posted on 18 Aug 2012, 12:08 0

2 out of 3 Motorola Defy Mini rugged telephones are broken within two mounths. Motorola says that these phone must be repaired. After repair (one away for 4 weeks, the other for 3 weeks) they are delivered back braken.

Motorola says that the pfone shad to be repaird for 3 times in a row before they are willing to give a new phone. (thats their policy!!)

I wil recomment to discard all of the phones of Motorola, because there is no service.
Supposed to be a rugged telephone, NOT!!!!

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