Motorola G96 5G
Motorola G96 5G brings a fresh wave of competition to the midrange 5G smartphone segment. Designed for users who value smooth performance, elegant looks, and a clean Android experience, this phone strikes a strong balance between power and practicality. In this detailed analysis, we explore every aspect of the G96 5G — from design and display to performance, camera, and battery life — to help you understand if it’s truly worth buying.
Premium Design and Build Quality
Motorola has focused on style and durability with the G96 5G. The smartphone feels premium in hand, thanks to its curved pOLED display and matte-finished back panel. The curved edges blend seamlessly with the frame, giving the device a polished look that stands out from typical flat designs.
The company has added IP68 water and dust resistance, ensuring protection against accidental splashes and rain. The handset is lightweight yet sturdy, offering a good grip during long hours of use. Its minimal branding and slim profile give it a sophisticated and modern identity that complements Motorola’s design philosophy.
Immersive Display Experience
The Motorola G96 5G features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ pOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate. This high refresh rate ensures silky-smooth animations, quick scrolling, and an ultra-responsive touch experience — especially noticeable while gaming or switching between apps.
The display delivers rich colors and deep contrasts, enhancing video streaming and social media viewing. Brightness levels are impressive, allowing easy readability under sunlight. The curved design slightly enhances immersion while watching movies or playing games.
Motorola’s color calibration remains accurate, ensuring that visuals look realistic rather than overly saturated. Overall, the display is one of the strongest aspects of the G96 5G, offering premium performance in a midrange package.
Power-Packed Performance
Under the hood, the Motorola G96 5G runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. This combination makes multitasking fluid and efficient. The chipset handles day-to-day usage effortlessly, from heavy browsing and multitasking to gaming and media editing.
In gaming, the G96 5GMotorola G96 5G maintains stable frame rates even during extended sessions. The phone rarely lags or stutters, and app load times remain quick. The thermal management is decent; however, it may warm up slightly during prolonged high-performance use.
Motorola keeps its software simple and user-focused. The phone runs on Android 15 with minimal bloatware, offering a clean interface. Motorola’s own features like Moto Gestures, Peek Display, and My UX enhance the user experience without feeling intrusive.
Impressive Camera System
The Motorola G96 5G comes equipped with a triple-camera setup on the rear. The primary camera uses a 50 MP Sony sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which ensures sharp, stable shots even in low light. The secondary 8 MP ultra-wide lens adds versatility, while the third depth sensor helps in capturing more natural portraits.
In daylight, images appear crisp, with balanced contrast and accurate color tones. The HDR mode enhances dynamic range, making skies and shadows appear vivid without overexposing highlights. Low-light photography also shines thanks to OIS and advanced noise reduction.
The 32 MP front camera captures detailed selfies with good skin tones. It performs well for video calls and vlogging, offering a balanced color profile. The camera app includes AI scene detection, portrait mode, night vision, slow motion, and pro mode — giving users creative control.
Video recording supports up to 4K resolution, and stabilization ensures smooth footage during handheld shooting. Overall, the camera setup makes the G96 5G a dependable companion for photography enthusiasts.
Long-Lasting Battery and Fast Charging
Battery life is another strong pillar of the Motorola G96 5G. The phone houses a large 5,500 mAh battery that easily lasts a full day and a half under moderate usage. Even with continuous gaming or streaming, it comfortably delivers more than a day’s endurance.
Motorola includes 68 W fast charging support, which powers up the phone rapidly. Within a short span, the Motorola G96 5G gains enough charge for several hours of use. While it lacks wireless charging, the wired charging speed compensates effectively for that omission.
Battery optimization is well-handled by Motorola’s software. Background apps are intelligently managed to minimize power drain, and adaptive battery settings further enhance longevity.
Connectivity and Audio
The Motorola G96 5G supports multiple 5G bands, ensuring strong connectivity across regions. It also includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.x, NFC, GPS, and USB-C. Call quality remains clear even in areas with weaker network strength.
The stereo speakers provide loud and crisp audio output. Dolby Atmos enhancement improves depth and spatial clarity while watching movies or listening to music. The inclusion of a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and face unlock feature ensures fast and secure access.
Motorola also retains useful gestures like the double-chop to activate the flashlight and twist-to-open camera, adding convenience for everyday use.
User Interface and Software Updates
Motorola’s near-stock Android interface is one of the cleanest in the segment. The absence of ads or unnecessary pre-installed apps gives users a smoother experience. The interface feels light, responsive, and intuitive, appealing to both casual and tech-savvy users.
The company promises up to three years of Android updates and four years of security patches, ensuring the G96 5G remains up-to-date for the long run. Software animations feel fluid, and transitions between screens are seamless.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 144 Hz pOLED display with vivid colors
- Strong Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 performance
- Premium design and IP68 durability
- Excellent battery life with 68 W fast charging
- Clean, ad-free Android experience
- Reliable main camera with OIS
- Solid stereo audio quality
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Ultra-wide camera could be sharper
- Slight heating during extended gaming
- Charging speed, though fast, not top-tier
Real-World Experience
In real usage, the Motorola G96 5G impresses with its consistent performance. App switching is smooth, scrolling feels effortless, and even resource-heavy apps open without delays. The display’s refresh rate makes daily interactions incredibly fluid, whether you’re browsing, gaming, or watching content.
Camera results hold up across lighting conditions, while battery endurance ensures you don’t reach for the charger too often. The design adds an elegant touch, and Motorola’s user interface keeps things simple and efficient.
Overall, the G96 5G feels reliable, premium, and practical — a combination that defines Motorola’s return to its best form in the midrange market.
Verdict
Motorola G96 5G is a well-rounded smartphone that caters to modern users seeking value, performance, and quality design. It may not have the fastest charging or the most advanced cameras, but it delivers stability and reliability in every area that truly matters.
If you’re searching for a 5G smartphone with a beautiful display, long battery life, smooth software, and consistent everyday performance, the Motorola G96 5G deserves a strong recommendation. It stands as one of the most balanced and future-ready options in its price segment.
