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Moto G96 Long Term Review! Really Special or Hyped? 15 Points!

I have been using the Moto G96 for over 5 months, and in this Moto G96 long term review, you will know who should buy it and who should not. It is my multimedia device, and here you will learn about the Pros and Cons, Build Quality, Looks, Comfort and Grip, Display, Software Experience, Sound, Performance, Camera, and much more.

Hello there! Welcome to Padhkedekho, where we buy tech products, use them for a month or longer, before sharing the review or comparison. This helps readers like you with insights that help make an informed decision.

Moto G96 long term review
Moto G96 long term review

As a support to us, you can make purchases using the Amazon links in the article. We might earn a small commission at no additional cost. With that said, let’s begin the Moto G96 review pros and cons.

Pros & Cons

PROS

  • Amazing built quality
  • Very comfortable and lightweight design
  • Vegan leather does feel more premium
  • Display is a pleasure to look at
  • Battery-wise, quite a strong contender
  • Dual Speakers + Dolby Atmos is great

CONS

  • Finding quality tempered glass is a task
  • Lacks hdr support

Who Should Buy The Moto G96?

If you are looking for a well-built phone that can last for a few years without any issues. Second, you care about how the phone feels in the hand. If you are looking for a very premium feeling phone under 20000 Rs, then the Moto G96 is the best in this price range.

Another reason will be the display. The almost screen makes the viewing experience as beautiful as it can get under 20000 Rs.

If you are buying primarily for multimedia, then the Moto G96 needs your attention. The dual speakers with Dolby Atmos can deliver the best experience.

In terms of performance, it’s not a scooch either. It can handle multitasking as well as intensive tasks like gaming with ease without getting hot. Also, you can increase the RAM virtually up to 16GB.

Camera-wise, the Moto G96 has leaped forward, too. The photos, be it portrait, macro, normal, or 2x comes very well.

Battery backup is also good, even with 144hz refresh rate. Read, all the sections below talk about everything in detail.

Who Should Avoid The Moto G96?

After using it for over 5 months now, I have observed a few things here. If you are looking for a non-curved display, just stay away from it. It offers an edge on both sides, and getting tempered on a curved display is not easy.

The first issue will be to find a good quality one. Second, applying it uses UV technology, hence it will cost you more to buy it, and then the experiments will happen.

Another reason will be the lack of telephoto lenses. You can get good portraits and camera shots, though. If you aim to record 4K 60fps videos, then this should be avoided. Instead, Edge 50 Neo makes more sense.

Moto has only given 30 watt charger, which takes about 1 hour and 30 min to charge. Not a deal breaker, though, as many brands do not give chargers in the box.

Rest this Moto G96 review will help you choose a better phone. Let’s kick things off with the build quality.

Moto G96 Specifications

featurevalue
Moto g96 Battery mAh5500 mAh
Between 1 and 3 daysBetween 1 to 3 days
Moto G96 Brightness NitsUp to 1600 nits (peak)
Moto G96 Charging TimeUnder 1 Hour with the supplied 33-watt charger
Moto G96 Display6.67inch POLED Display
Moto G96 E-simNo E-sim; Dual Sim (Mini)
Buy Link || Read MoreFlipkart || Amazon

Moto G96 Major Features

The biggest highlight for the Moto G96 is the POLED display, which is very fast with amazing colour output.

Then the Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 is a nice addition for the price. Paired with 8GB RAM, the phone feels very quick and responsive. You can also enhance the RAM virtually to 16GB. To be honest, we never felt like doing it.

Even during gaming, I did not notice any performance drop or heat. The addition of Dolby Atmos and dual speakers makes it great for content consumption. I watched all the Harry Potter movies on speaker, and it was simply amazing.

Battery size is 5500 mAh and can last a day with a very heavy use case. It can last for about 2 days with average use.

Really impressed with the supplied 33-watt charger in the box. The phone literally charges in under 1 hour from 20% battery.

Moto G96 Built Quality 4.5/5

Best phone built quality under 20000 Rs 2026
Best phone built quality under 20000 Rs 2026

This time, the G series feels like the Edge series. Since we also have the Moto Edge 40, we can feel similarities.

On the front, you have a very good display. Will talk more in the screen section below. The side frame is plastic, which doesn’t feel like plastic. The back has vegan leather, which takes the whole experience to the next level.

Let’s talk about the side buttons. You have all the buttons on the right side. It starts with volume rockers, and then there’s the power button, which feels a little loose.

The power button doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner on it. Instead, we have face unlock and an in-display fingerprint scanner. Unheard of on the G series!

So, to sum up the build quality, Moto has taken the G series to Edge, hence we would give it. 4.5/5.

Looks (5/5)

moto g96 long term review
moto g96 long term review

This is the department where I was most impressed. Just like you, I have also seen so many Moto G96 ads on YouTube.

Things changed when I went to Reliance Digital for weekend tech shopping. I was shocked to see the Moto G96 in real life! Especially Moto G96 Ashling Blue looks dope!

It’s a slim phone with curved edges and an almost screen on the front and a vegan back, making it very premium to use and just hold.

It’s the most beautiful-looking phone under 20,000. I also checked out Samsung, Vivo, and OnePlus, but this got my attention, and I was almost ready to buy it. Motorola has done an incredible job with the G96; it doesn’t look like a G series phone.

You should also note that Moto was also ahead of their time with a punch hole display when brands were giving a tear drop notch. Coming back to G96, it’s the peak G series inspired by the Moto Edge series.

And the colors, wow, Pantone Green was on the display, and it got my attention as my primary mobile is an iPhone 13 in green. The velvet on the back is very, very premium. If you do not rock cases, the Moto G96 can be a worthy smartphone that feels like a premium-tier or even better phone.

If you care about looks, then nothing comes close, hence 5/5.

Comfort And Grip (5/5)

With a 6.67-inch display, weighing about 178 grams, and a velvet leather finish, the Moto G96 is very comfortable to use, with or without a case. The back offers a good grip and helps to hold the phone with confidence, even without a case.

The edges are also curved; as a result, there are no sharp edges or rough panels anywhere to be seen. One-handed operation is somewhat possible as it’s a tall phone.

Day to day task, you can do all of that on this phone while being a compact and lightweight form factor. Holding the phone for long hours does not hurt the pinky finger, nor does it cause any bulge.

Media consumption or playing games gives the best possible experience (visually) under 20000. Nothing comes close!

On a scale of 1 to 5, I would give it 5/5 for comfort and grip.

Display (4.5/5)

best display phone under 20000 Rs
best display phone under 20000 Rs

This 6.67-inch POLED 3d curved display does wonders! Yes, I really mean it. The display offers Full HD+ with a resolution of 2400x1080p at 395 PPI with an aspect ratio of 20:9. While the screen-to-body ratio is 92.77%, making it among the best phones with a high screen-to-body ratio.

It offers a 10bit panel with 100% DCI P3 color space. Refresh rate goes up to 144hz. The screen has really good water touch capability. 

As far as brightness goes, the peak brightness goes up to 1600nits. While mostly the phone stays around 1200 nits. Outdoor under the sun with the Dark Mode on, you can confidently use. Most phones can’t survive that!

The low brightness goes very low too, hence in the dark you can watch a movie and have a pleasant experience. In terms of overall use case in night or day, it’s great, and you will not be disappointed.

The screen comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 with SGS low blue light and SGS low motion blur. Along with water and dust resistance, thanks to the IP68 Rating.

why content looks great on curved display
moto g96 long term review

The picture quality is very good. The colors and detail are very good. And with that fast 144hz refresh rate, things sometimes come alive! Overall, the display quality is very nice. While we are at it, the phone does not support any HDR content on YouTube or other streaming services.

To sum up, I am more than satisfied. Hence 4.5. You can visit any Reliance Digital to experience the Moto G96 in action.

Software Experience (4/5)

Motorola’s Android skin on stock Android is always a pleasant experience. This time around, we have seen more pre-installed applications, which were mostly games, and the rest were Blinkit, etc which you might need.

You can uninstall all of those like you do with other apps.

Buying a Motorola phone brings their chop chop features that enable the flashlight and so much more. Like really so much more.

Since it’s a curved phone, you also have a sidebar that opens the miniature versions of the installed applications, making multitasking a breeze with a few apps.

There are some Moto apps like Moto Secure, Family Space, Smart Connect, and Moto Unplugged. Which might feel extra, but the moment you start using these, you will know how valuable they are.

Overall, the experience is quite neat and polished, and thanks to the 144 hz refresh rate, things are even more amazing as it looks.

Note: Most of the Android software is tuned for a higher refresh rate; however, some of the third-party apps are still locked below 60fps and you would definitely notice it.

The UI is fast and responsive, and over the last 3 months of daily use, I didn’t face a lot of issues.

As I remember my Moto G51, this is miles ahead of it. No jerks, stutters, delay while switching from landscape to portrait.

As per Android updates, the Motorola G96 will be supported till mid 2028. However, only one major update will be given that will makeAndroid 16 the last supported Android version.

This is not good. Motorola should really consider giving more Android upgrades. Hence, I would cut 1 mark here.

Overall, I would give Moto UI and Android updates a 4/5.

Sound Quality 5/5

Motorola has cracked the code to make popular phones, and the primary reason is the sound quality. Whatever your media consumption is, whether it’s watching movies, YouTube, Netflix series, playing games, or watching Reels or Shorts.

You can take advantage of the Dolby Atmos along with dual speakers, which makes the experience wow! Since I bought the Moto G96 for entertainment, it truly sets the mood.

The mobile phone speakers need to focus on loudness and crackle free experience, and the Motorola G96 does it best! 

If you enjoy watching movies on the speakers, then the Motorola G96 is amazing. Hence, 5/5 for music output.

Moto G96 Performance (4.5/5)

I have been using the Moto G96 for over 5 months, and it has been great. I daily use most of the entertainment apps and games. Along with those, WhatsApp Web, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and Quora are always in the background.

So, there are hardly any issues of heating, lag, or hanging. Since it was bought in the winter time, let’s see how it goes in these humid and hot conditions of Dehradun. Nonetheless, nothing major so far.

As far as the benchmark tools go, here are some of the most popular scores that you can check out. Also, you can extend the RAM up to 16GB with the help of AI.

Moto G96 benchmark
Moto g96 long term review

With my use case, social and productive apps, some disturbance is observed while changing the orientation from landscape to portrait.

However, in general, UI under heavy load, there’s no sign of snag or hiccups observed.  Yes, not all apps support the higher framerate, and when things are under 60hz you can feel it.

So performance-wise, Moto G96 is a decent performer and handles a few apps in the background and can handle games like COD Mobile or NFS No Limit.

Hence, for peak performance, I would give it 4.5/5.

How’s The Moto G96 Camera Quality?

Motorola has really taken up the camera game with the Sony camera. Be it still photography or videos, the results are good. As I am coming from the Moto G51, I am witnessing so much smoothness and camera tricks on the G96.

Features-wise, Moto does a good job by making the camera app full of features. The most noticeable is the smooth camera UI with nice animations.

Here are some pictures attached; however, those will not be enough as they are highly processed by the website management apps, hence, here is our detailed video review.

As far as video goes, the Moto G96 is a step up. All cameras (front + rear) can record up to 4K at 30 FPS, and the video output is decent. Not very bad and certainly acceptable for the price. For the best video results, record in a well lit condition and 1080P 60FPS is the sweet spot.

For me, I would give 4.5/5 for camera performance and 4/5 for video output.

Network & Reception

The beauty of Motorola phones, since their inception, has been the network reception. Be it 4G or 5G, they never disappoint.

Their microphones and earpiece volume go very loud and clear that taking calls, be it indoor or outdoor, very pleasant.

For calling and network reception, beating Motorola is hard. Since I live in Dehradun, Uttrakhand we have some decent 5G coverage too.

With Airtel, most of the time you will see 5G outdoors. However, indoors the network stays full, but it downgrades to 4G.

I did a few speed test results with Airtel 5G in Dehradun. With 5G you I observed about 500mbps of Download and 63mbps as upload. Recently, I was in Delhi as well as Chandigarh for a week, and the network hardly dropped to 4G.

So network-wise and call quality, Moto phones never disappoints and Moto G96 is on par with any Moto phone.

Moto G96 Battery mAh And Charging

Motorola G96 comes with a 5500 mAh battery with 33 watt charger in the box. The battery backup will be dependent on the screen refresh rate, type of content consumption, network reception, data connection, and so much more.

I did use it extensively with multiple games, social media, camera, music, and calls, and was able to get more than 2 days of battery backup with 144hz refresh rate. It technically entered the third day, but the usage was mild, hence not counting it. With mixed Wifi + 5G mobile data was used.

You can increase the battery backup by lowering the refresh rate. I did that and set the refresh rate to 60, and ended up with more than 50% battery. The results were similar to the auto smart optimization. However, with smart optimization, the UI becomes smooth with similar battery backup. 

To charge the battery, Moto has given a 33-watt charger, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to fully charge the phone. The phone supports Moto’s 68 Watt charger too, and it cuts the charging time to just 1 hour.

So to sum up, the battery backup is good. Not bad or very good per se.

Verdict

If built and looks are your top priority, then Moto will certainly feel the best value for the money. Another reason to pick the Moto G96 is the beautiful screen with 144 hz refresh rate. Everything looks great on this.

Be it gaming or media consumption. For multimedia, Moto has a good display with great speakers. This can be a great Android with a lightweight design and bug display. As a result, typing on it is very breezy.

The major con with Motorola phones has always been the lack of availability of good-quality cases and tempered glass. Since the screen is curved, you would need to try different tempered glasses, as UV ones will get bubbles after 3 to 4 months of use.

So be prepared to pay more for protection. Take it as a con of going with a curved display.

As far as battery backup goes, you can expect about 1 full day and half of the next day too, with an average screen on time of 4 to 5.5 hours. For charging, Moto has given a 33-watt charger, and it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

So to sum up, Moto G96 is a very good phone with a premium design and a breathtaking, almost 94.5 % screen to body ratio. No nonsense features or lack of it. Overall, I would pick it as the best Android phone under 20,000 Rs.

Wrapping up!

This is Moto G96 long term review after 5 months of use. If you have any question, feel free to ping us on any of the social account below. We would love to help you out.

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