Lets face it; active people need an active phone, a gadget that can keep up with their energetic, on-the-go lifestyle.
Sadly, there’s been a dearth of these devices of late, but Sony are about to correct this with the release of their aptly named Xperia Active.
The question is, will this handset reign supreme and become the ultimate sports phone or is there already a device out there that does the job better?
Lets investigate.
Just looking at the Xperia Active, you immediately think ‘outdoors’, thanks to it’s sizeable lanyard hole, which allows you to secure the phone to your body.
It’s a simple idea but one that will surely appeal to outdoorsy types the world over.
And that’s just the beginning.
The toughened exterior is scratch and water resistant, meaning you don’t have to worry about dropping it on hard surfaces or muddy puddles.
The display has ‘wet finger tracking’ meaning that unlike other touchscreen phones, you can still use it when your digits are dripping after a long run in the rain.
Weighing in at just 110 grams this phone is seriously lightweight too, so it won’t drag you down.
You’re also treated to the full Android experience, allowing you to instantly download hundreds of top-notch fitness apps from the market, transforming the Xperia Active from useful tool to serious kit.
The original Motorola Defy was the first properly tough smartphone, thanks to it’s scratch resistant Gorilla glass display.
Now it’s back with a few impressive tweaks under the hood to stand toe-to-toe with the Xperia Active.
You still get the same rugged screen, but benefit from a snappier 1Ghz processor and a huge 1700 mAh battery, which Motorola reckons will give you over 7 hours of talk-time on one charge.
It’s an Android phone, so you essentially get all the same apps as the Xperia Active, but benefit from a larger, more responsive screen.
However, that extra size does make the Defy+ slightly heavier than the Active, so expect more of a bulge in your tracksuit pocket.
It does get a bit boring writing about Apple’s latest and greatest handset over and over again, but the fact that the iPhone 4 appears in so many of these lists explains why it’s the number one selling gadget in the world today.
Of course, its significantly larger and heavier than both of the above two phones, but it simply can’t be overlooked for two very good reasons:
- The sheer volume of awesome sports and fitness apps available in the App Store.
- The fact that it’s also an iPod, therefore it’s the finest MP3 player you can get. Ideal for training.
The verdict
The iPhone is the best phone of the three, the Defy+ will provide the best Android experience but for pure, all-action, outdoor performance, the Xperia Active is a unique proposition.
In truth, it’s the only dedicated sports phone out there at the moment, so it must therefore be crowned the winner.
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