Long before the iPhone became the “smartphone king”, brands like Motorola and Nokia ruled the mobile world. And while Moto may not dominate like before, it has made a strong comeback in the mid-range segment.
Design & Build Quality
The Motorola G96 follows Moto’s signature minimalistic design. It comes with a faux leather back, which not only feels premium but also offers a better grip.
My review unit was in the Pantone Greener Pasture shade — a dark, elegant green that looks classy. The phone is lightweight, easy to hold, and comfortable even during long usage.
On top of that, the device gets Gorilla Glass 5 protection and IP68 dust & water resistance, which is rare in this price range.
Display: Smooth, Bright & Premium
The G96 features a 6.67-inch pOLED curved display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1600 nits peak brightness.
Whether you’re watching Netflix, bingeing on YouTube, or scrolling Instagram, the visuals are crisp, vibrant, and smooth. The curved edges give it a flagship-like feel, making it look more premium than most phones under ₹20,000.
Performance & Software Experience
Under the hood, the Motorola G96 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage.
For daily usage — WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, browsing — it performs smoothly. However, I did notice minor UI stutters occasionally, which Motorola can easily fix via updates.
The phone runs on Hello UI based on Android 15, offering a clean, near-stock Android experience. There’s minimal bloatware, and most unwanted apps can be uninstalled easily.
One downside: You’ll only get one major Android update — up to Android 16.
Gaming Performance
If you’re a casual gamer, the G96 handles popular titles like BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and Genshin Impact at low to medium settings without heating issues.
But if you want a gaming-centric phone, alternatives like Poco X7 or Infinix GT 30 offer better performance.
Camera Setup
The Motorola G96 comes with a dual-camera system:
- 50MP Sony LYT 700C primary sensor2
- 8MP ultrawide lens
In daylight, the primary camera captures sharp and detailed photos with slightly boosted colours — perfect for Instagram uploads.
In low light, results are average, which is common in this price segment. The 8MP ultrawide works well in good lighting but struggles in the dark.
Selfies are decent, but not the best compared to competitors.
Battery & Charging
The G96 packs a 5,500mAh battery with 30W fast charging. On normal to heavy usage — WhatsApp, music, browsing, and social media — the battery easily lasts a full day with 20-30% left by bedtime.
While charging speeds aren’t the fastest in the segment, the battery efficiency balances it out.
Should You Buy the Motorola G96?
If you’re looking for a stylish, lightweight, and well-balanced smartphone under ₹20,000, the Motorola G96 is a great choice.
It offers:
Premium design with faux leather finish
Smooth curved pOLED display
Clean, near-stock Android
Reliable main camera
Good battery life
However, if your priority is raw performance, superfast charging, or bigger batteries, you can consider:
Realme P3,Poco X7,Infinix GT 30
Final Verdict
| Category | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Design & Build | 8.5/10 |
| Display | 9/10 |
| Performance | 8/10 |
| Camera | 7.5/10 |
| Battery | 8/10 |
| Software | 9/10 |
| Overall | 8.3/10 |
Motorola G96 is one of the most balanced smartphones under ₹20,000 in 2025.
