Hold the Motorola Moto G85 5G, and you’ll question everything you thought about budget phones. Right out of the box, its curved vegan leather back and feather-light design scream “premium,” not “entry-level.” After spending an hour with this device, I’m genuinely startled by how Motorola is rewriting the rules for affordable 5G smartphones in India.
Design and Feel: Luxury on a Budget?
The Moto G85 5G shatters expectations with a sleek 7.6mm profile and 173g weight, making it exceptionally comfortable for one-handed use. Our test unit featured a matte-finished “Olive Green” vegan leather back—soft, grippy, and refreshingly resistant to fingerprints. The curved 3D polymer frame mimics metal convincingly, while the centered punch-hole camera gives the front a symmetrical, modern look. For ₹19,999 (~$240), this design rivals phones costing twice as much.
Screen Quality: More Than Just Bright Pixels
Motorola equips the G85 5G with a 6.67-inch FHD+ pOLED display boasting a 120Hz refresh rate—a rarity in this segment. Colors pop vividly, blacks plunge deep, and sunlight legibility is impressive for a mid-ranger. Scrolling through Instagram reels feels fluid, and binge-watching shows reveals no noticeable color shifting. Compared to the Redmi Note 13’s LCD panel, this is a visual upgrade many won’t see coming.
Performance Snapshots: Smooth Operator
Under the hood lies the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset paired with 8GB RAM (expandable to 16GB via virtual RAM). In our hands-on, apps launched swiftly, and multitasking between Chrome, WhatsApp, and YouTube caused no stutters. Casual gaming like COD Mobile ran smoothly at medium settings, though heavy titles like Genshin Impact demanded lower graphics. 5G connectivity worked flawlessly on Airtel’s network in Delhi, hitting download speeds of 380Mbps. Storage starts at 128GB (UFS 2.2), adequate for most users.
Camera First Look: Surprising Versatility
The 50MP OIS main sensor (Sony IMX882) captures surprisingly detailed daytime shots with balanced exposure. Motorola’s color science leans natural—greens in garden shots looked true-to-life, not oversaturated. The 8MP ultrawide avoids the usual fisheye distortion, though low-light performance is predictably noisy. Portrait mode handled edge detection well, but struggled with complex backgrounds. The 32MP selfie cam nails skin tones accurately. For social media creators, this setup punches above its price.
Battery and Software: All-Day Stamina Meets Simplicity
A 5,000mAh battery promises 1.5 days of moderate use—consistent with Motorola’s reputation. The 30W TurboPower charger juices the phone to 50% in 22 minutes. Software is a clean Android 14 experience with Motorola’s thoughtful tweaks: chop-for-flashlight and twist-for-camera gestures remain delightful. Bloatware is minimal, and Moto promises one Android OS upgrade—disappointing for long-term users but standard for the segment.
Price, Launch, and Indian Availability
Priced at ₹19,999 for the 8GB/128GB variant, the Moto G85 5G hits Indian shelves on June 22 via Flipkart and select retailers. Global pricing starts at $249. It competes directly with the Realme Narzo 70x 5G and Samsung Galaxy M35 5G. Motorola’s aggressive pricing undercuts both, making it a compelling option for under-₹20k buyers.
Expert Verdict: Who’s It Really For?
The Good: Motorola nails the fundamentals—gorgeous design, fluid display, reliable performance, and clean software. The vegan leather back and capable main camera are genuine surprises at this price.
The Bad: Low-light photography remains average, and just one Android upgrade feels stingy next to Samsung’s four-year pledges.
Buy If: You prioritize aesthetics, display quality, and bloat-free software over bleeding-edge specs. It’s perfect for students, social media users, and anyone upgrading from budget 4G devices.
Skip If: You’re a heavy gamer or demand flagship-level camera versatility.
The Moto G85 5G isn’t revolutionary—it’s evolutionary. By focusing on tactile luxury and core usability instead of gimmicks, Motorola delivers a phone that feels more expensive than it is. In India’s value-obsessed market, that’s a rare win.
Hi, I’m Ricky, the founder of OKSociety.in. I’m a tech enthusiast with a deep passion for smartphones, mobile technology, and everything that makes our digital lives smarter. I started OKSociety to share honest reviews, the latest phone updates, and practical buying guides to help people make better choices in this fast-paced tech world.