Motorola Moto G96 5G Review: Curved Display, Long Battery, and Android 15 at a Mid-Range Price

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The Motorola Moto G96 5G, launched in India on July 9, 2025, brings a standout blend of style, power, and value in the competitive mid-range segment. With a 6.67-inch curved pOLED display, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, IP68 rating, and a long-lasting 5,500 mAh battery, Motorola positions the G96 as a compelling daily driver under ₹20,000–₹22,000.

Moto G96 5G Specs at a Glance

Feature

 Specification
Launch Date July 9, 2025 (India)
OS Android 15 with Hello UI; promised 3 years of OS updates, 4 years of security patches.
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm), Adreno 710 GPU
RAM / Storage 8 GB LPDDR4X; 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 2.2
Display 6.67” 2400×1080p pOLED curved, 144 Hz, 1600 nits peak, Gorilla Glass 5
Cameras Rear: 50 MP + 8 MP ultra-wide; Front: 32 MP
Battery & Charging 5,500 mAh battery; 33 W TurboPower wired charging
Build & Protection IP68 water/dust resistance; vegan leather/matte Pantone colors; dimensions 161.86 × 73.26 × 7.93 mm, weight ~178 g
Connectivity & Extras 5G, stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Moto Spatial Sound, Water Touch, no expandable storage

Design, Build Quality & Handling

The Moto G96 5G exudes refined elegance with its curved pOLED display, Gorilla Glass 5 protection, and sleek vegan leather or matte finishes in Pantone-validated shades, such as Ashleigh Blue and Greener Pastures. It’s IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, rare in this price bracket. At just over 178 g and under 8 mm thick, it feels light and poised in the hand.

Display

The 6.67-inch FHD+ pOLED curved display is one of the Moto G96 5G’s strongest highlights. With a 144 Hz adaptive refresh rate, scrolling feels silky smooth whether you’re gaming, browsing, or switching between apps. HDR10+ support ensures vibrant colours and deeper contrasts when watching Netflix or YouTube. The display reaches 1600 nits peak brightness, which makes it easy to use even in harsh sunlight.

Motorola also includes DC dimming, reducing eye strain during long sessions, and Gorilla Glass 5 protects against scratches and drops. The curved edges not only add a premium touch but also improve immersion for videos and gaming. Combined with thin bezels and a punch-hole camera, this panel feels more flagship than mid-range.

Battery Life & Charging Speed

The 5,500 mAh battery is bigger than most phones in this price segment. With mixed usage (social media, camera, calls, and some gaming), it easily lasts a day and a half on a single charge. Light users may even push it into a complete two-day cycle, making it excellent for travellers or those who dislike frequent charging.

The included 33 W TurboPower charger gets the phone from 0% to ~50% in about 30 minutes and to full in around 75–80 minutes. While not as fast as 67 W or 80 W competitors like iQOO Z10 or OnePlus Nord CE 4, the bigger battery helps balance things out. Motorola’s battery health management also ensures slower degradation over the years of use.

Operating System

The Moto G96 5G ships with Android 15 out of the box, layered with Motorola’s clean and bloatware-free Hello UI. Unlike heavy skins, Hello UI feels close to stock Android, but with thoughtful Moto extras:

  • Moto Gestures like chop-to-flashlight or twist-to-camera.

  • Moto Secure Hub for managing privacy, permissions, and app security.

  • Water Touch technology, which keeps the screen responsive even with wet fingers.

  • Moto Connect enables you to extend your phone’s display to a monitor or laptop, providing a desktop-like experience.

Motorola also promises 3 years of OS updates (up to Android 18) and 4 years of security patches, giving it a significant edge over some rivals that stop at 2 years. This makes it an excellent choice for users who want longevity and reliability.

Benchmarks & Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm), the Moto G96 5G shows solid overall performance:

  • AnTuTu score: 625,098, a hair below competitors like OPPO K13 (699K) and OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G (819K)

  • Boot time: 21 seconds

  • Gaming (GFX): Score 3,704, with battery drain 4% and moderate heating after 30 minutes, holding ground among peers
    In real-world use, day-to-day tasks and moderate gaming run smoothly, though the G96 isn’t the fastest in its class—it’s adequately responsive.

Camera System

The Moto G96 5G is equipped with a 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 32MP selfie shooter.

  • Daylight Photography: The primary camera captures excellent detail and natural colours, especially with HDR enabled. Dynamic range is well-handled, keeping skies blue without washing out the foreground.

  • Low-Light Shots: Thanks to OIS and Motorola’s Night Vision mode, low-light performance is surprisingly good for this segment, though some grain creeps in under very dim lighting.

  • Ultra-Wide Camera: At 8 MP, it’s decent for landscapes but lacks fine detail compared to the primary sensor.

  • Selfie Camera: The 32MP shooter produces sharp selfies with accurate skin tones and works well for video calls at up to 1080p.

  • Video Recording: Supports up to 4K at 30fps on the primary camera and 1080p on the front. Stabilisation works well for casual vlogging or handheld shots.

Motorola has also integrated AI scene detection and Moto AI features for enhancing colours and contrast automatically. While it doesn’t compete with flagship shooters, it’s more than enough for social media content creators.

The Competition & Price

The Moto G96 5G is priced around ₹18,000–₹22,000, depending on variant and offer, making it one of the more affordable choices in its tier.

And how does it compare?

  • Edge 60 Fusion / Edge 50 Fusion offer slightly faster SoCs and faster charging, but at a higher price.

  • OnePlus Nord CE 5 5G, vivo T4, and iQOO Z10 bring brighter AMOLEDs, longer battery life, or quicker charging—but lack IP68 and curved OLED.

  • G96’s key advantages: curved high-refresh display, IP68 water resistance, and extended software support.

Our Verdict

The Motorola Moto G96 5G earns solid praise for its poised design, premium display, fluid Android experience, and long-term software promise—all packed at a compelling mid-range price. While not the most powerful performer, it offers a balanced package, especially for those valuing longevity, build quality, and overall daily usability.

Best for: Users seeking value with a durable build, gorgeous curved screen, and reliable performance over time.

Minor drawbacks: Mid-tier gaming chops, average charging speed, modest camera features compared to rivals.

Final score: A highly recommended mid-range all-rounder—bright, elegant, and built to last.

Buy it here.

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