Moto G96 Review: A Budget Beast That’s More Than Just a Bargain

If you’ve been scrolling through endless listings trying to find a reliable smartphone under ₹20,000, you can pause right here. The Moto G96 5G, recently spotted on Flipkart for ₹17,999, is shaping up to be a serious contender in the budget segment. Motorola has quietly refined the G-series formula and packed in a bunch of features that punch well above its price point. After spending time with this device, I’ve got thoughts—real-world, tested, and with a healthy dose of skepticism where needed.

Moto G96 Review: A Budget Beast That’s More Than Just a Bargain -

If you've been scrolling through endless listings trying to find a reliable smartphone under ₹20,000, you can pause right here. The Moto G96 5G, recently spotted on Flipkart for ₹17,999, is shaping up to be a serious contender in the budget segment. Motorola has quietly refined the G-series formula and packed in a bunch of features that punch well above its price point. After spending time with this device, I’ve got thoughts—real-world, tested, and with a healthy dose of skepticism where needed.

Editor's Rating:
4.5

Pros

• Beautiful curved pOLED display
• pros
• Clean Android 15 (Hello UI) experience
• pros
• Strong 5500mAh battery life
• pros
• 50MP OIS main camera with useful 8MP ultrawide/macro and 32MP selfie
• pros
• Premium design, bundled accessories
• pros
• Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 offers strong performance

Cons

• Only 33W charging
• cons
• No NFC
• cons
• No 3.5mm headphone jack

Pros

Beautiful curved pOLED display

Clean Android 15 (Hello UI) experience

Strong 5500mAh battery life

50MP OIS main camera with useful 8MP ultrawide/macro and 32MP selfie

Premium design, bundled accessories

Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 offers strong performance

Cons

Only 33W charging

No NFC

No 3.5mm headphone jack

See Full Specifications

First Impressions: Surprisingly Premium for the Price

Let us be real when you hear “₹17,999,” you probably don’t expect much more than the basics. But the Moto G96 5G feels way more refined than you’d expect. Motorola is targeting students, casual gamers, budget-conscious Android purists, and even folks upgrading from older Xiaomi or Samsung models. From the curved display to the clean Android experience, it doesn’t feel like a compromise and that’s saying something in this hyper-competitive range.

Design & Display: Sleek, Curved, and Vivid

At first glance, the Pantone Ashleigh Blue variant looks stunning. The back is matte, the finish feels premium, and the weight (about 178g) is well-balanced. But what really impressed me? That 6.67-inch 3D Curved pOLED display. You’re getting:

• Full HD+ resolution
• 144Hz refresh rate
• Punchy colors and deep blacks
• Peak brightness around 1600 nits
• Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection

This screen holds up beautifully outdoors and makes YouTube, Netflix, and even Instagram Reels look way better than expected at this price. Add in stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, and you’ve got a multimedia mini-theatre in your pocket. 

The haptics? Crisp enough to make typing and gestures feel responsive, rare in this segment.

Camera System: OIS at ₹18K? Yes, Please

The Moto G96 featuring 50MP OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) main camera which is a Sony Lytia 700C sensor. And no, this isn’t a gimmick. In daylight, shots are sharp, with good contrast and decent dynamic range. Portraits look clean, and it doesn’t overly smooth out faces (unless you want it to). In low light, the OIS helps more than you’d think. While it doesn’t rival flagship night modes, it does better than phones like the iQOO Z9 in tricky lighting. There’s also an 8MP ultrawide lens that doubles as a macro sensor a much more useful addition than a dedicated 2MP sensor. The 32MP selfie camera is solid for social media and video calls, supporting 4K video recording.

Performance & Software: Smooth and Clean

Moto G96 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm) and paired with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. In real-world use, this combo gets the job done and offers a significant leap in performance. Whether you’re jumping between WhatsApp, Chrome, YouTube, and BGMI, it stays responsive. Gaming? It handles casual and moderate titles with ease CoD Mobile, BGMI, Subway Surfers all run smoothly. You might even push medium settings in some more demanding titles, though Genshin Impact at high graphics might still be a stretch. But the real hero here is the software:

• Android 15-based Hello UI (near-stock Android experience)
• No bloatware, ads, or unnecessary skins
• Smooth animations
• Moto gestures (like chop for flashlight, twist to launch camera)
• Motorola also promises 1 year of Android OS upgrades and 3 years of security patches which is decent for this price bracket, though some competitors offer more OS upgrades.

Battery Life & Charging: Reliable and Efficient

The 5500mAh battery is more than enough to last a full day, even with heavy use. I was getting around 7–8 hours of screen-on time, including streaming, GPS navigation, social media, and a bit of gaming. Charging is handled by a 33W TurboPower charger (included in the box). It can charge from 0 to 100% in a 1 hour and 15 minutes and about 50% in just under 30 minutes. Is it the fastest? No. But it’s reliable, safe, and consistent—which is more than I can say for some budget phones that overheat during fast charging.

What’s in the Box

Motorola keeps it user-friendly:

• 33W charger
• USB-C cable
• Clear protective case
• Pre-applied screen protector
• SIM ejector tool It’s rare to get all this these days, especially when competitors are dropping chargers entirely. Props to Moto.

Unique Features & Ecosystem

While there’s no deep Motorola ecosystem like Apple or Samsung, you still get:

• Moto Secure app
• Moto Connect for linking to PCs (screen mirroring, file transfer)
• IP68 water and dust resistance rating (can withstand submersion in 1.5m of water for 30 minutes)
• Ready For Lite (for extended desktop experience) These little bonuses actually improve daily usability—especially Moto gestures and secure folder options.

Compared to the Competition (₹15K–₹20K Segment)

Let’s stack it up:

The Moto G96 wins on software experience, display quality, and camera stabilization. If you want fast charging or raw power, the Narzo 70 5G might tempt you. But for most people, the Moto offers better everyday reliability.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?

Absolutely, if you want a phone that feels far more premium than its price. The Moto G96 5G delivers a stunning 144Hz display, a capable OIS camera, and clean Android 15. Plus, with IP68 water resistance and a charger included, it’s a fantastic deal. While charging could be faster and updates aren’t endless, for most users seeking a reliable, attractive, and high-value phone, this is a top pick.

Price: ₹17,999 on Flipkart (8GB + 128GB) Look out for launch discounts and bank offers that may bring it closer to ₹16,999. Who’s it for? Anyone wanting a no-nonsense, clean Android phone with solid battery, a reliable camera, robust durability, and a truly premium display and performance for its price. It’s especially appealing if you hate bloatware or ads in your UI.

Are you eyeing the Moto G96 5G? Already pre-booked it? Drop your thoughts, questions, or first impressions in the comments! Want to grab one now? Check the latest offers on Flipkart.