Motorola G96 vs Motorola G85: Motorola has made a strong hold in the mid-range segment in India with its G-series. The company launched the Moto G85 5G in 2024 to give a stylish, affordable and powerful smartphone. And now in 2025, Motorola is coming back with the Moto G96 5G, which looks similar to the G85 but brings something new and powerful inside.

Now that the G96 5G is going to launch in India on July 9 and the G85 5G is already available in the market, the question in people’s mind is – which of these two phones will be better to buy?

Let’s now understand this comparison in simple language – from display to battery, by going into the depth of each and every thing.

Price and launch date

First of all, let’s talk about the price, so Moto G85 5G has been launched in India on 10 July 2024 last year and its price starts from ₹ 17,999. The version with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is available at this price, while the price of 12GB + 256GB variant has been kept at around ₹ 18,799.

On the other hand, Moto G96 5G is going to come in 2025 – its launch date in India has been fixed as 9 July 2025. Talking about the price, it can be in a slightly premium range – between ₹ 19,990 to ₹ 23,999.

Meaning G96 5G is definitely a bit expensive, but according to the price, it is also going to give upgrades. So it completely depends on how much you want to spend and what level of performance you want.

Design and look

Talking about the design, both the phones are thin, light and fit in the hand. The Moto G96 5G will get a back panel with premium finish, which will come in Pantone-validated color options like Ashleigh Blue, Cattleya Orchid and Greener Pastures. The weight of the phone is also going to be around 170-180 grams.

The biggest difference that is visible is the durability. The Moto G96 5G will get IP68 rating, which means the phone will be completely safe from both water and dust – this feature is especially great for those who spend a lot of time outside or like adventure.

On the other hand, the Moto G85 5G gets an IP52 rating – meaning there is some protection from water splashes, but it cannot be called completely waterproof.

In this way, the G96 5G becomes a more durable and premium feel phone in terms of design.

Display competition

Moto G85 and G96 – Both phones have a 6.67-inch FHD+ pOLED display. The screen is curved on all three sides and the colors are very vibrant. The brightness also goes up to 1600 nits, meaning it will be easily visible even in sunlight.

Now the difference comes in the refresh rate – while the Moto G85 5G comes with 120Hz, in the Moto G96 5G you will get a higher refresh rate of 144Hz. This can prove to be a big difference especially for users with gaming and fast scrolling, because the 144Hz screen gives a smoother feel.

Performance and processor

Now let’s come to the most important part – performance. The Moto G85 5G gets Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset, which is enough for daily usage and normal gaming.

But if you like heavy apps, multitasking and gaming, then the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor found in the Moto G96 5G will be better for you. This processor is not only fast, but also handles multitasking easily.

Along with this, the Moto G96 has UFS 2.2 storage and RAM options go up to 8GB and 12GB. Storage is expandable in both phones, although the G85 has microSD support up to 2TB while the G96 has up to 1TB.

The G96 is clearly ahead in terms of performance.

Camera talk

Both phones have a dual camera setup – 50MP main camera and 8MP ultra-wide + macro combo. The difference is that the G96 uses the new Sony LYT-700C sensor which can be slightly better in low light and details.

On the front, both have a 32MP front camera which is quite good for selfies and video calls. Video recording is limited to 1080p@30fps in both.

Meaning there is not much difference in the camera, but the G96 will definitely get the benefit of some new technology.

Battery and charging

Moto G85 5G has a 5,000 mAh battery and it supports 33W TurboPower fast charging. At the same time, Moto G96 5G goes one level up and gives a bigger battery of 5,500 mAh and also 68W superfast charging.

This means that the G96 will not only last longer, but will also be fully charged in less time – this thing is very important according to today’s fast lifestyle.

Software and other features

The G85 comes with Android 14 which runs on Motorola’s own My UX. This interface feels quite clean and like stock Android.

The G96 will get Android 15 pre-installed, and it may have a new Hello UI skin which will give a slightly more refined experience. Both phones are expected to get Android updates for 2 years and security patches for 4 years.

The rest of the features are almost the same – like Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, in-display fingerprint sensor, USB-C port and absence of 3.5mm jack.

Final Verdict

If you are on a tight budget and want a stylish, daily-use friendly phone, then the Moto G85 5G is the best value-for-money device for you. It is priced low but has great features.

But if you can spend a little extra and want a future-ready phone that comes with a better processor, higher refresh rate, bigger battery and faster charging – then the Moto G96 5G is your perfect choice.

Both the phones are great, the only difference is your need and budget. Whether you buy G85 or G96 – Motorola will not let you make any compromise in this price range.