The Moto G96 5G, launched in India on July 9, 2025, marks a significant leap forward for Motorola’s G‑series — a serious contender in the sub‑₹20,000 segment. With a vibrant curved display, flagship-grade performance, smart camera features, and IP68 ruggedness, it brings premium polish to budget-conscious buyers 91Mobiles+15Gadgets 360+15Indiatimes+15MobiGyaan+6The Tribune+6Indiatimes+6.
Design & Display
Motorola has fitted the G96 5G with a 6.67‑inch curved pOLED display offering FHD+ resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness up to 1,600 nits. The 10‑bit panel supports full DCI‑P3 color gamut, HDR‑10+, and features Water Touch support for responsive input even with wet fingers. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, while the body carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance — a rare feature at this price NDTV Profit+9Gadgets 360+9The Tribune+9.
The slim profile (7.93 mm thickness) and light weight (~178 g) make the G96 5G surprisingly manageable, and finishes in four Pantone‑validated vegan‑leather shades — Greener Pastures, Ashleigh Blue, Cattleya Orchid, and Dresden Blue — lend it a refined, eco‑friendly aesthetic YugaTech+8The Tribune+8NDTV Profit+8.
Performance & Firmware
Under the hood is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, a 4 nm octa‑core chip with the prime core clocked at 2.4 GHz, paired with 8 GB LPDDR4x RAM. Storage options include 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 2.2 (no microSD). Motorola also includes RAM Boost, which utilizes storage as virtual RAM to expand multitasking up to 24 GB Gadgets 360+12The Wire+12MobiGyaan+12.
The G96 5G runs Android 15 with Hello UI, and Motorola guarantees one OS upgrade and three years of security updates, ensuring software longevity into 2028 91Mobiles+15Gizmochina+15Gadgets 360+15.
Camera System
The dual-camera setup features a 50 MP Sony LYTIA 700C sensor with OIS, f/1.8 aperture, and Sony’s Ultra Pixel tech, capable of 4K video recording. The secondary 8 MP ultrawide camera also offers macro and depth functions via autofocus. The punch‑hole 32 MP selfie camera captures sharp 4K video too Indiatimes+7Gadgets 360+7The Wire+7.
Powered by Moto AI imaging tools, the G96 5G supports features like AI Photo Enhancement, AI Super Zoom, Auto Smile Capture, Tilt Shift Mode, and Google-powered tools like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Magic Editor via Google Photos integration 91Mobiles+15The Wire+15The Tribune+15.
Battery & Charging
Fueling the device is a sizeable 5,500 mAh battery, which Motorola claims can deliver up to 42 hours of runtime by using smart optimization. Charging is supported via 33 W TurboPower wired charging, enough to provide a full day’s power in around 15 minutes of plugging in Inspire2Rise+6The Tribune+6Indiatimes+6.
Connectivity & Extras
The G96 5G supports a wide range of 5G bands in India and includes VoNR, Bluetooth 5.2, dual‑band Wi‑Fi (802.11ac), NFC, GPS, and USB Type‑C with USB‑2.0, though there’s no microSD slot. Its in‑display fingerprint sensor, dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos®, Hi‑Res audio, and Moto spatial sound help round out the multimedia experience. Safety features include ThinkShield mobile security and Moto Secure 3.0, with cross‑device tools like Smart Connect 2.0, Swipe-to-Stream, and Family Spaces 3.0 Gadgets 360+3The Wire+3The Tribune+3.
Pricing & Availability
In India, the Moto G96 5G went on sale July 16, 2025, across Flipkart, Motorola India’s online store, and select offline retailers including Reliance Digital. Pricing starts at ₹17,999 for the 8 GB + 128 GB version and ₹19,999 for the 8 GB + 256 GB variant Gizbot+5The Tribune+5Business Standard+5.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Smooth and vivid 144 Hz curved pOLED display with excellent brightness
- Premium build with IP68 rating and vegan leather finish
- OIS-stabilised 50 MP Sony main camera, 4K recording from all lenses
- Strong battery life and quick 33 W charging
- Clean Android 15, Motorola UI, long-term update promise
Cons
- No expandable storage (no microSD)
- USB port limited to USB‑2.0 speeds
- Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is competent but not the very latest
- Only one major OS upgrade guaranteed beyond Android 15
Final Verdict
The Moto G96 5G redefines expectations for under‑₹20K smartphones in India. It combines a flagship-style display, robust performance, standout camera abilities, a premium feel, and IP68 durability — all at a disruptive price. For users seeking a stylish phone with modern performance, excellent battery life, and reliable software support — without paying flagship premiums — the G96 5G is an outstanding value. If expandable storage or ultra-fast wired/wireless charging are priorities, some value rivals might still edge ahead. Let me know if you’d like a focused breakdown in comparison with peers or hands-on impression
