Long before the iPhone changed the way we look at smartphones, brands like Motorola and Nokia were already shaping the mobile era with devices that defined entire generations. And while Motorola no longer enjoys the dominance it once had, the company has managed to make a place for itself in the mid-range segment.
The Motorola G96 keeps things simple with clean software and a rugged yet lightweight design that feels more premium. But with so many contenders from Realme, Oppo, iQOO and others fighting for attention, can Motorola’s latest really make a mark? I took the G96 for a spin – my first Moto since the original Moto G to see if it lives up to the legacy.
The Motorola G96 has a minimal-looking faux leather back. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Design and display
The Motorola G96 sticks to the brand’s tried and tested minimal design language, which might make it hard to tell apart from other Moto phones. And while looks are subjective, I like it when smartphones have their own personality and look unique in a world full of similar-looking candybar devices.
Like most phones from the company, the Motorola G96 is a really lightweight device with a faux leather back that feels premium to hold. My review unit was in the Pantone Greener Pasture colourway, which is basically a very dark shade of green. The phone has a subtly curved display with a plastic frame, which, in combination with the faux leather back, offers a solid grip even without a cover.
After years of using bulky, brick-like phones that tire out your hands, the Motorola G96 feels refreshingly light and is easily one of the most comfortable phones I’ve used in a while. Like most modern phones, this is a really big and tall device with a 6.67-inch pOLED screen with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1,600nits of peak brightness.
Whether you are watching a movie, binge-watching a web series, or playing games, the colours are mostly on point and accurate. Another plus point is that despite sporting a lightweight body and a curved screen, the Motorola G96 comes with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and also offers IP68 dust and water resistance.
The Motorola G96 comes with Hello UI based on Android 15. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Performance and software
Motorola G96 ships with Hello UI based on Android 15 out of the box, making it one of the few phones in the segment that offers a clean and intuitive software experience. And while there is some bloatware, most of these apps can be easily uninstalled in a few minutes.
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Coming to the performance, the phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, a mid-range SoC that can easily handle multiple apps in the background. While the phone is snappy for the most part, I randomly encountered some stutters here and there, which is pretty unusual for a mid-range smartphone.
I hope Motorola fixes these UI jitters with a future software update. Another downside is that the Motorola G96 will only get one Android update, which means Android 16- the latest version of Android that’s already available on the recently launched Pixel 10 series will be its last OS update.
And while this isn’t a gaming phone, it can smoothly run games like Call of Duty, BGMI, and Genshin Impact at low to medium settings. Talking of hardware, the Motorola G96 comes with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, which should suffice for most users. This isn’t the fastest phone in the sub-Rs 20,000 price bracket, but combined with the clean near stock Android, it offers a really good experience.
The camera island also gets the faux leather treatment. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Camera
The Motorola G96, like most budget mid-range devices, sports a dual camera setup with a 50 MP Sony LYT 700C sensor and an 8MP ultrawide lens that is neatly hidden under the faux leather back.
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During the day, the primary sensor takes really crisp and detailed photos. And while the images captured do look saturated, they are great if you want to share them on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. As for night, the pictures are average at best, but this is the case with the majority of mid-range phones.
The 8MP ultrawide shooter is also great if you use it when there’s enough light, but I noticed that the images come out grainy and misses out on details when the sun gets low.
Camera Sample 1. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Camera Sample 2. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Camera Sample 3. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Camera Sample 4. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Camera Sample 5. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Camera Sample 6. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Battery
The Motorola G96 comes with a large 5,500mAh battery that supports 30W wired charging. My typical usage includes using WhatsApp, listening to music on Wi-Fi and mobile all day long, scouring the internet for news, and using social media apps like Instagram for around half an hour.
Compared to the competition, it may feel like the phone has less battery capacity, but the phone survived all day with around 20 to 30 per cent charge at bedtime. I consider myself a moderate to heavy user, and if you use the phone in the same way I do, you won’t need to plug it into the charger till the next morning.
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This is one of the most balanced phones you can buy under Rs 20,000. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Motorola G96: Should you buy this mid-range phone?
The Motorola G96 does not sport a unique design nor is it the fastest phone in its segment, but it does have a lightweight, rugged body that looks and feels premium. This, combined with the clean software experience and great primary camera, makes it one of the most well-balanced phones you can buy under Rs 20,000.
But if you are someone who wants raw power or a big battery, there are better alternatives out there, like the Infinix GT 30, Realme P3, and the Poco X7.
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