Sony Xperia Go vs Motorola DEFY+

How do these two IP67-rated smartphones compare on paper?

The Motorola DEFY set the standard for ruggedised devices when it was released back in 2010. It’s seen several challengers arise since then and the latest iteration of Motorola’s ‘lifeproof’ handset, the DEFY+ JCB edition, defends its IP67 crown against the brand new Sony Xperia Go. The Go is Sony’s second water and dust resistant handset, following in the footsteps of the Xperia Active, which was launched late last year.

Sony Xperia Go vs Motorola DEFY+

We’ll do a hands-on comparison of the Go and the DEFY+ (JCB edition) once we’ve had sufficient time with the Go, which is now in stock. For the time being, however, let’s see how they square up on the spec sheet:

N.B. The DEFY+ JCB will be referred to as just the DEFY+ from here on in – the two handsets are the same in terms of specification.

Software

Winner: Sony Xperia Go
Both handsets run Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box. Which of the two customs skins you like (or dislike) could be a consideration if you are thinking of buying either handset. The Xperia Go will be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (due date to be confirmed soon), whereas the DEFY+ will remain on 2.3 Gingerbread.

Winner: Sony Xperia Go
The Sony Xperia Go runs on a dual-core processor, compared to just the one on the DEFY+. This won’t make a huge difference for day to day use, but you can expect the user interface on the Go to be a little smoother. They’re neck and neck in terms of RAM with 512MB each.

Storage

Winner: Sony Xperia Go
Both handsets have a microSD slot, compatible with cards up to 32GB (you may be able to use a 64GB card, but we haven’t been able to test yet). The Go does have some internal storage as well (4GB accessible to the user), so there is some space to store music and videos. The DEFY+ only has 1GB, so this will mainly be used for apps and photos.

Winner: Motorola DEFY+
The DEFY+ takes the cake when it comes to the display. Most people will see the extra .2 of an inch as an advantage for the DEFY+, although if you are looking for a more compact handset, the 3.5” display of the Go could be the preferred option. The DEFY+ also has a slightly better resolution, altough the Go features Sony’s Reality Display, which is always a plus point. Both have scratch resistant glass, although the the DEFY+ goes with the well-known Corning Gorilla Glass brand rather than its own equivalent.

Winner: Sony Xperia Go
There’s not a huge difference in the connectivity options on the two devices, but with a newer version of Bluetooth, DLNA and the ability to share its Wi-Fi connection, the Xperia Go just edges the DEFY+.

Camera

Winner: Neither
On the spec sheet, these two are neck and neck in terms of camera performance. However, Sony is well known for high quality cameras on its handset and with the Go also being released a year after the DEFY+, it will probably have the slightly better images.

Winner: Sony Xperia Go
The Sony Xperia Go has a much slicker design to its name. A slimmer profile and matt black finish make it feel the more premium handset in the hand. The Go is also lighter than the DEFY, which is 8g heavier than its adversary.

Winner: Motorola DEFY+
The lightweight, slimmer design of the Go does come with the downside of a smaller battery and less talk time. However, the small difference in talk time of half an hour could be worth the sacrifice. The Go has a significantly longer stand by time as well.

Price

Winner: Sony Xperia Go
The Xperia Go’s price tag of £165 brings it in at the sub £200 mark for UK & EU buyers. Also included with the Xperia range at the time of writing is Norton Antivirus package for Android, which retails at £30.

Conclusion.
Overall there is little to separate these two handsets. Both come with an IP67 protection rating, making them water and dust resistant. The Xperia Go is the newer handset so offers a few features that the DEFY+ does not, but the Motorola handset does have a slightly larger screen and larger battery. Both handsets take normal SIM cards, come complete with Google services and include a 3.5mm earphone jack.

If you’re on a budget, the Xperia Go is the cheaper of the two and also comes with Norton software worth £30.