A new budget beast has arrived! Motorola has launched the latest phone in its G-series, the Moto G96 5G, and this phone starts at just ₹17,999! It is the successor of the Moto G85, and almost everything has been upgraded in it—display, camera, performance, and battery too.
Moto G96 5G First Look
Opening the box gives off an eco-friendly vibe—plastic-free packaging and typical Motorola’s clean design. What’s in the box? Phone, 33W charger, Type-A to Type-C cable, sim ejector, and some manuals.
Now let’s talk about the phone. This phone comes with a vegan leather back, which feels extremely soft and premium in the hand. Weight? Just 174 grams, and with a 7.93mm thin body, it is extremely lightweight and sleek. Colors? Available in 4 Pantone-curated shades, and has an IP68 rating as well—tested with a drop in water, and it passed!
Display That Impresses
The Moto G96 5G has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ 3D curved AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. This combo is rare under Rs 20,000! Colors are vibrant, thanks to the 10-bit display and Display Color Boost feature. The 1600 nits peak brightness works both indoors and outdoors.
Plus, with Gorilla Glass 5 protection and SGS eye protection, this display is perfect for movies, gaming, or scrolling. Any other phone that offers 144Hz AMOLED at this price? Let us know in the comments!
Performance and Gaming
The heart of this phone is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset (4nm), which is a big upgrade over the Moto G85’s Snapdragon 6s Gen 3. AnTuTu score? 6,29,000+!
BGMI or PUBG runs smoothly at 60fps, and with UFS 2.2 storage and LPDDR4X RAM (8GB/128GB or 8GB/256GB), multitasking is also extremely fast.
There is also a game mode for gaming and an FPS meter that blocks notifications. Overheating? No, brother—the CPU throttle test gave 87% stable performance.
How is the Camera?
There is a big upgrade in the camera setup. The main camera is a 50MP Sony LYT-700C sensor (with OIS), which gives bright and sharp photos even in low-light. The 8MP ultra-wide + macro lens comes in handy for landscapes, and the 32MP front camera impresses with edge detection and details in selfies.
Video? 4K 30fps from both front and rear, plus features like night vision, panorama, and dual capture. This camera is slightly better than the G85, especially in low-light.
Battery and Software
There is a 5500mAh battery, which is a big upgrade over the 5000mAh of the G85. 7-8 hours of screen-on time is easily available in moderate use, and with 33W charging, full charge is done in 40-50 minutes.
Software? Hello UI based on Android 15, which is clean and smooth. You will get 1 OS update and 3 years of security updates, though it would have been better if there were 2 OS updates.
There are also extra features like Smart Connect 2.0, Family Space, and Moto Secure. AI features include AI Photo Enhancement, Super Zoom, Magic Eraser, and Magic Editor.
Design and Build
With a vegan leather back and polycarbonate frame, this phone gives a premium feel like the Moto Edge series. IP68 water resistance is a big deal at this price.
The tactile feedback of the buttons is good, and the stereo speakers are great for music and videos with surround sound.
Connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi, 13 5G bands, and Bluetooth 5.2, but there is no NFC and USB 3.0.
Price and Deals
Moto G96 5G comes in two variants:
- 8GB/128GB: ₹17,999
- 8GB/256GB: ₹19,999
Available on Flipkart, launch offers include discounts and bank deals. Under ₹20,000, this phone is value-for-money. Check out the latest deals on Flipkart.
Is This Phone For You?
If you want a budget phone that balances design, performance, and camera, the Moto G96 5G is a solid option. Its lightweight build, vibrant display, and smooth gaming experience make it an all-rounder.
G85 users, let us know in the comments—how did you like this upgrade? And new buyers, will you try this phone?
