Moto G96 5G Review: P-OLED, 32MP Selfies, and a Budget Motorola That Feels More Premium Than Expected
The Moto G96 5G is a strong example of Motorola understanding what buyers notice first. At Rs. 20,999, it gives you a 144Hz P-OLED display, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, 32MP selfies, OIS, IP68, and a light vegan-leather build. That is a premium-feeling list at this money. The weak spots are not hidden either: only 1 year of OS updates, no NFC, no expandable storage, and 33W charging that is merely fine. So the G96 is easy to like immediately, but not quite perfect once you think about longer ownership.
This is a phone that wins in ten minutes, not only after a spreadsheet comparison.
Motorola is good at this when it gets the balance right. The G96 has the kind of hardware that makes a phone feel expensive very fast: curved P-OLED, 144Hz, a light body, vegan leather, 32MP selfies, and IP68. Those are not fake advantages. They shape how satisfying the phone feels in daily use.
The good news is that the G96 is not just surface charm. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 and OIS on the main camera keep it grounded enough to avoid feeling superficial.
The G96 does a very good job of making itself feel like a step above the average sub-25k phone.
The display is a big part of that. A 144Hz curved P-OLED still gives the phone a premium character most budget and lower-mid phones do not match. Then there is the weight. At just 178.1g, the G96 avoids the heavy-battery-phone problem that many rivals now carry.
The 32MP selfie camera is another real advantage, especially for buyers who use the front camera often. Add OIS, IP68, and a respectable chipset, and the G96 becomes one of the more attractive style-plus-substance plays in this range.
The G96 understands that people want everyday quality, not just one oversized headline spec.
The software commitment is the biggest reason the G96 cannot be recommended without caveats.
One year of OS updates is simply too short for a phone that otherwise feels this sorted. That short support window changes the ownership equation even if the hardware is good on day one.
There are also smaller omissions that matter: no NFC, no expandable storage, and 33W charging that feels modest in a market full of more aggressive charging stories. None of these ruin the phone. Together, they just stop it from becoming a completely easy recommendation.
The G96 is very good at making you want it. It is slightly weaker at making you feel safe about keeping it for years.
This is for buyers who care about display feel, design quality, and selfies more than they care about long software horizons.
If you want a phone that looks and feels premium immediately, the G96 is strong. It is also a good fit for buyers who prefer a lighter device and do not want to carry around another oversized battery brick.
If long-term software support, NFC, or the absolute strongest value-per-rupee story are your main criteria, compare alternatives first. The G96 is appealing, but it is not the only smart buy in this zone.
The short version.
- You want one of the most premium-feeling phones around this price
- You care about selfies, weight, and display quality
- You want OIS and IP68 without spending much more
- You are okay with a shorter software future
- vivo T4R: Better if you want a stronger all-round ownership package.
- Samsung Galaxy M36: Better if long software support matters more.
- realme P4: Better if you want a more battery-led value story.
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 SE 5G: Better if you want steadier value and support at similar money.
The Moto G96 5G is one of the easiest phones in this range to like on first contact. At Rs. 20,999, the 144Hz P-OLED display, 32MP selfies, OIS, IP68, and lightweight vegan-leather build give it a genuinely premium character. The only reason the verdict stays measured is the weak software commitment, plus no NFC and no expandable storage. If you buy on feel and daily comfort, the G96 is strong. If you buy on long-term ownership security, compare harder.
- vivo T4R if you want stronger overall balance.
- Samsung Galaxy M36 if software longevity matters more.
- realme P4 if battery value matters more.
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 SE 5G if you want a steadier value-first choice.
The G96 feels more expensive than it is, which is a real advantage. Buy it if premium feel and selfie quality matter more to you than having the strongest long-term software promise at Rs. 20,999.
Ready to Buy?
Shop Genuine Products
Sourced from authorised distributors. No markups.