Motorola G96 5G Introduction
When Motorola rolled out the G-series, the goal was clear: deliver solid performance, smart features, and a refined experience — all without charging flagship prices. The Motorola G96 5G is the latest in that lineup. It attempts to balance power, style, and usability in a crowded mid-range segment. But does it succeed? Let’s dive in from a real-user’s lens.
Note: The device we’ll refer to is the Motorola G96 5G, whose official specs Motorola has published. The Economic Times+3Motorola Support+391mobiles+3
First Impressions & Design
As soon as you hold the G96, one thing is clear: it doesn’t feel like a “budget phone.” The curved pOLED (3D curved) display gives it a premium look. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, which feels reassuring in day-to-day use. The Economic Times+291mobiles+2
The back design includes vegan leather and more “stylish” color options (Pantone-licensed shades) that help distinguish it from bland monocolor slabs. Notebookcheck+2The Economic Times+2
In terms of heft and feel: it’s reasonably slim (about 7.93 mm thick) and weighs around 178 g. Device Specifications+2Facebook+2 That means it’s not ultra-light, but you don’t feel like you’re lugging a brick either.
The curved edges on the display are a double-edged sword: they look great and make the device feel more immersive, but you sometimes risk accidental touches or less grip security, especially in slippery hands.
Display & Multimedia
The G96’s standout is its display:
- Size & Type: 6.67-inch pOLED (full HD+). 91mobiles+3Gadgets 360+3The Economic Times+3
- Refresh Rate: 144 Hz — that’s above what many rivals offer, which makes animations, scrolls, and transitions feel especially fluid. The Economic Times+291mobiles+2
- Brightness: Peak brightness is about 1,600 nits — good for outdoors, though in direct sun there may still be a bit of struggle. The Economic Times
- Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for the front. The Economic Times+1
On the audio front, you get stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support, and “Moto Spatial Sound.” In everyday listening (videos, podcasts) the sound feels lively and clear enough, though don’t expect room-filling bass or the audiophile level. The Economic Times
All in all, for its price bracket, it delivers one of the more polished visual + multimedia experiences.
Performance & Software
Under the hood, the G96 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip. Gadgets 360+3Motorola Support+391mobiles+3 It pairs with 8 GB LPDDR4X RAM (with “RAM Boost” allowing a kind of expansion to up to 24 GB) and comes in storage variants up to 256 GB. Motorola Support+2The Economic Times+2
In day-to-day use — social media, web browsing, multitasking — it handles nicely with minimal lag. Gaming is decent too: lighter titles like BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, or Asphalt run pretty well if you don’t push all settings to max. Expect some frame drops in particularly intense scenes or longer gaming sessions.
Because the chip is relatively modern (4 nm), it’s reasonably power efficient. That said, the phone does heat up when stressed (e.g. gaming + charging) — nothing alarming, but noticeable.
Software-wise, the G96 comes with Android 15 out of the box and Motorola’s “Hello UI” enhancements. The Economic Times+3Motorola Support+391mobiles+3 Motorola promises some level of software support (security updates etc.), though it’s not quite in flagship territory. 91mobiles+2Gadgets 360+2
In summary: performance is strong for its class, though not flawless. If your demands are extreme (high-end gaming for hours, video editing, etc.), there will be some compromises.
Camera Experience
Motorola equipped this phone with a dual rear camera setup:
- Primary: 50 MP Sony LYT-700C with OIS (optical image stabilization) Motorola Support+3Gadgets 360+3The Economic Times+3
- Ultra-wide / secondary: 8 MP lens 91mobiles+2Motorola Support+2
- Front (Selfie): 32 MP, with ability to record in 4K 91mobiles+3Gadgets 360+3The Economic Times+3
In favorable daylight, the primary camera captures sharp images with good color balance. The OIS helps reduce shakes, especially in indoor or low-light conditions. The ultra-wide lens is serviceable but should not be expected to match the main camera in clarity or low-light performance.
For selfies and video calls, the 32 MP front camera does a respectable job. It delivers crisp shots with decent detail. If you record video in 4K, it does an okay job, though stabilization is not perfect.
In low light, though, performance drops: noise creeps in, and images can get a bit soft. Night mode helps, but it’s not a miracle worker.
If you love to tinker, Motorola’s camera app offers useful features — filters, manual tweaks, portrait mode, etc. But for pro-grade photo editing, you’ll see the limitations.
Battery & Charging
One of the strong suits of the G96 is its battery life. It packs a 5,500 mAh battery, which in real life tends to get you comfortably through a full day (even “heavy” usage). The Economic Times+391mobiles+3Motorola Support+3
However, charging is a bit of a weak point: it supports 33 W wired fast charging (TurboPower). That’s decent, but not blazing fast by 2025 standards. You’ll still need ~1 hour or so to get from low to full, depending on usage during charging. The Economic Times+2Motorola Support+2
No wireless charging is mentioned in official spec sources, so don’t count on it. Motorola Support+3The Economic Times+391mobiles+3
Battery-wise, the G96 is solid for everyday users. If you’re someone who’s away from outlets all day and drains the phone heavily, it might require mid-day top-ups.
Pros & Trade-offs (What Works / What Doesn’t)
✅ Pros
- Premium display experience (144 Hz curved pOLED)
- Good balance of specs and daily performance for its price class
- Stylish design with vegan leather and color options
- Solid battery life
- Decent cameras with OIS on main sensor
- Clean Motorola software with useful extras
⚠️ Trade-offs / Considerations
- Charging speed is moderate (not ultra-fast)
- Ultra-wide camera is weaker compared to the main lens
- In very bright sun or harsh lighting, screen readability can struggle
- No wireless charging (as per current specs)
- Software update promise is decent but not flagship-level
- Under heavy sustained load, heating and performance drops may show
Final Verdict
If you’re shopping in the mid-range 5G segment, the Motorola G96 5G presents a compelling option. It doesn’t push boundaries in every domain, but for most users, it strikes a smart compromise: you get a fluid display, a capable camera for everyday shots, a battery that won’t bail on you mid-day, and the reliability of Motorola’s software ethos.