Motorola DEFY+ Unveiled Following Google Purchase
Just after Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility was announced, the smartphone maker has unveiled its latest indestructible handset, the DEFY+. Motorola

Motorola, Samsung and Sony have all unveiled new "unbreakable" smartphones set for release in the third and fourth quarters of 2011, leading to widespread debate about which rugged device will win the public's heart.

The Motorola DEFY+

The Motorola DEFY+ was revealed on 16 Aug. just one day after Google announced its acquisition of Motorola Mobility.

The device is reported to have been designed in the same spirit as that of the original DEFY smartphone that Motorola released in 2010.

Made for the more "active" smartphone user, the company confirmed that the DEFY+ will be, "Water-resistant, dustproof, and featuring scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass."

The device will reportedly fix several of the original DEFY's problems -- chief of which was its low processing power. In its press release Motorola confirmed that its new DEFY+ will boast an impressive 1GHz processor, a 3.7-inch high-resolution touch screen and a five mega-pixel camera.

Additionally the DEFY+ promises to run using Google's Android version 2.3 operating system, come loaded with two GB of internal storage -- upgradable to 32 GB with microSD cards -- and boast a battery life of 7.1 hours talk time.

The company didn't offer any indication how much the DEFY+ will cost, but if the cost of its predecessor is anything to go by, it will most likely be in excess of £300 sim-free.

The Motorola DEFY+ is currently slated for an "early fall" release date in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Samsung Xcover

Samsung announced the Xcover smartphone on Friday, 12 Aug. One of the latest in its line of Android running smartphones, the company emphasised that the Xcover will be its most robust smartphone to date.

Like the DEFY+ the Xcover is set to run using Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Unfortunately, the initial tech spec announced by Samsung shows it to be slightly less powerful than the DEFY+. The Xcover is currently listed as housing an 800MHz processor, 150MB of memory, 2GB of storage -- upgradable via the device's microSD slot -- and a 3.65 inch touchscreen.

Samsung has since marketed the device as being designed for users with "demanding lifestyles." Similarly to Motorola's statement regarding the DEFY+, Simon Stanford, managing director of mobile at Samsung promised that the device will be made "with a strong, airtight chassis," and that this "makes this smartphone resistant to dust and water damage without compromising on the design."

In the statement accompanying the Xcover's release Samsung claimed that the smartphone would be waterproof to a depth of one metre. The new smartphone is yet to receive a price, though the spec -- and Samsung's track record on pricing -- suggests that sim-free the device will retail for at least £300-plus.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Active

Announced before the Samsung Xcover or Motorola DEFY+, the Xperia Active is the third new smartphone being marketed as "indestructible".

The Active will also reportedly be designed for those of a more "rugged" disposition, built to take numerous shocks and bumps as well as the occasional spillage. It will be coated in protective rubber and have its own protective wrist strap.

Out of the three devices, the Xperia Active has the lowest tech spec. Within its rubbery frame the Active will house a fairly small three-inch touchscreen, capable of 320x480-pixel resolution and a slightly more impressive five mega-pixel camera.

The device's battery will also be considerably less impressive with the company only estimating four hours 53 minutes of talk time per-charge.

Sony Ericsson is yet to confirm what the Xperia Active's processor speed will be though it will boast 512MB of RAM and come with 1GB of storage -- upgradable to 32GB.

Like the Xcover the Xperia Active is also yet to receive an official release date or price, though UK retailer Carphone Warehouse has pegged the Active for a nebulous "autumn" release.

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