I live in an area where connectivity via broadband or cellular can be sparse even when at home, but it’s even worse when traveling. In rural Kansas, I regularly drive to areas where I’ll have miles of road with zero cellular service. While this has its perks, it also means that should something happen, I wouldn’t be able to contact anyone. This is where the Motorola Defy Satellite Link comes in.

The Motorola Defy Satellite Link is a compact device that was developed in partnership with rugged phone maker Bullitt. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and allows you to send and receive SMS messages, check in with your location, and contact emergency services. The last two features can be done with the press of a button on the device itself. You can also use these features via the Bullitt Satellite Messenger app. While this all seems great, there are a couple of bumps in the road that keep the Motorola Defy Satellite Link from being the perfect accessory.

About this review: Motorola sent us the Defy Satellite Link for the purposes of this review and did not have any input into its contents.

Motorola Defy Satellite Link: Pricing and availability

The Motorola Defy Satellite Link was initially announced in February 2023 but didn’t go on sale until June 29 for $150. You can pick it up at various retailers like REI, Home Depot, Amazon, and more. There is only one color variant: black with gray and orange buttons.

You get a free year of service with a purchase that allows for up to 30 messages per month. Plans after that are 80 messages per month for $4.99, 300 messages per month for $24.99, or you can pay $59.99 for up to 250 messages per year. Each tier comes with unlimited SOS Assist messages. Should you cancel your subscription, you can pay $4.99 per month or $34.95 per year for the SOS feature.

Design and hardware

Tough and compact

You’d expect a device that’s designed to go with you where connectivity doesn’t exist to be rugged, and thankfully, the Motorola Defy Satellite Link doesn’t disappoint. With IP68 water and dust resistance, you won’t have to worry about the device being damaged by a bit of rain or an accidental drop into a muddy puddle. Combining that with MIL-SPEC 810H, you’ve got the perfect hiking buddy.

Because the device is compact and weighs only 70g, it doesn’t take up much space in a bag or glove box. However, keep in mind that when using it, you’ll want to make sure it has a clear view of the sky for the satellites. Like all the best phones that use satellites for your GPS, the accuracy and connection work best when outdoors but can work in some cars and buildings.

Connecting the Motorola Defy Satellite Link to my phone is nearly as easy as it is to connect it to a bag using the attached D-ring.

The Motorola Defy Satellite Link is constructed out of a black plastic case with a gray rocker button on one side that is used for powering the device on or to send a quick check-in with your location. On the same side is a rubber cover for the USB-C charging port. On the other side is a large orange button for SOS assistance. There are also a few LED lights to indicate connection and power. Finally, there’s a durable strap that wraps around the device with orange accents. It also has an orange D-ring to clip it to a bag easily. The whole thing has a rugged look to it without being overly garish.

On that battery side of things, the Defy Satellite Link has a 600mAh battery that can last up to four days on a charge. I left it powered on for over 24 hours indoors, with intermittent satellite connectivity, and maybe six of those hours connected to my phone, and the unit only lost 23% of its charge. So, the idea of getting a full four days of use between charges is definitely realistic.

Software

Test it before you need it

Connecting the Motorola Defy Satellite Link to my phone is nearly as easy as it is to connect it to a bag using the attached D-ring. Since the Motorola Defy Satellite Link doesn’t have a display, all software interactions happen in the Bullitt Satellite Messenger app, which is simple to use, as it should be for those times when you just need to get a message out ASAP. I’ve tested the device on a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Motorola Edge+ (2023) with the same experience on both. The app itself is straightforward, with only a few options for managing your account, sending messages, checking in, and pairing and updating the device. It’s very much like pairing your favorite earbuds to your phone.

Once it’s set up, you can begin sending text messages and sharing your location (sorry, no sending images). To use the check-in feature, you’ll need to add the contact(s) you want the message and coordinates sent to. This is a one-time thing unless you want to add new contacts to that feature. There is an option for location tracking where the app will periodically send your location to specified contacts, but it isn’t available at this time.

The Bullitt Satellite Messenger app is a simple app that’s easy to use, as it should be for those times when you just need to get a message out ASAP.

You can use the app to send messages regardless of if you have coverage. You’ll know if it’s using satellites based on the send icon. If it’s an arrow, then it’s not using satellites to send the message. But if you see a rocket, then it is. Messages are limited to 140 characters, and there’s a c