The Moto G85 5G, recently unveiled by Lenovo, is the latest addition to the mid-range smartphone market. Featuring a Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, a 50-megapixel rear camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging, the Moto G85 competes with affordable smartphones like the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G, CMF Phone 1, Infinix Note 40 5G, iQoo Z9, and Samsung Galaxy M35 5G. In India, it is priced at Rs. 17,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant and Rs. 19,999 for the 12GB+256GB variant.
Moto G85 Design: Nice to Hold
The Moto G85 5G stands out with its curved display and vegan leather rear panel, which is easy to grip and features a minimalist design with no branding aside from the Motorola batwing logo. The device’s dimensions (161.91×73.06×7.59 mm) and weight (172g) make it comfortable to hold. It is available in Cobalt Blue, Olive Green, and Urban Gray, with this review focusing on the Olive Green variant. This color option, while unique, appears darker than Motorola’s promotional images and tends to attract dirt and marks. The plastic sides of the phone reinforce its mid-range status, and the absence of a 3.5mm audio port is a notable omission compared to its predecessor, the Moto G84. The Moto G85 comes with a USB Type-C port, a speaker grille at the bottom, and a microphone with the Dolby Atmos logo at the top. The package includes a charging brick, a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, and a slim transparent TPU cover.
Moto G85 Software: Hello, Bloatware
Running on Android 14 with Motorola‘s new Hello UI, the Moto G85 provides an experience close to Google’s stock Android. However, the phone comes with pre-installed games like Block Blast and Carrom Disc Pool, and the MotoHub app, which sends frequent notifications and suggests apps via a home screen widget. Despite these distractions, the Hello UI offers useful features such as Family Space (parental controls), Moto Unplugged (digital wellbeing), and Moto Secure (security enhancements). The interface also provides better customization options compared to stock Android, and Smart Connect allows for various tasks on other devices using the phone. Motorola promises two major Android updates and four years of security updates, aligning with industry standards, though falling short of Samsung’s Galaxy M35, which offers longer support.
Moto G85 Performance: Above Average
Powered by the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, the Moto G85 delivers satisfactory performance for daily tasks like web browsing, social media, and messaging. The device handles games like Asphalt 9: Legends and BGMI well, though more demanding games like Genshin Impact may exhibit some lag. The 6.67-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED screen with a 144Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth and responsive user experience. Despite the chipset’s minor improvements over the Snapdragon 695 found in competitors like the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, the Moto G85 holds its own in the mid-range segment. The phone’s 5,000mAh battery supports reliable all-day use, complemented by 33W fast charging.