The Moto G85 5G: A Solid Mid-Range Contender With Some Quirks
The Moto G85 5G, the latest mid-range offering from Motorola, packs in a punchy Snapdragon 695 Gen 3 chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, a 50-megapixel rear camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. For a price starting at Rs. 17,999 in India, it certainly sounds like a tempting proposition, especially considering the competition from the likes of OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G, CMF Phone 1, Infinix Note 40 5G, iQoo Z9, and Samsung Galaxy M35 5G. But does this phone truly live up to the hype? Let’s delve into the details and find out.
Moto G85 Design: A Pleasantly Curved Experience
The Moto G85 5G distinguishes itself from its predecessor with a curved OLED display, a feature rarely seen in the sub-Rs. 20,000 category. The rear panel, adorned with a vegan leather finish, is comfortable to hold and boasts a minimal aesthetic with only the Motorola batwing logo breaking its clean lines.
While the Olive Green color option, favored for this review, is darker than depicted on Motorola’s website and prone to collecting dirt and marks, the Urban Grey alternative offers a matte finish for those seeking a less fingerprint-prone option. The plastic side rails, while a cost-saving measure, create a sense of the phone’s affordability.
On the bottom, you’ll find a speaker grille, a USB Type-C port, but regrettably, no 3.5mm audio jack, unlike its sibling, the Moto G84. The top houses a microphone and the faint Dolby Atmos logo. Motorola includes a charging brick, a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, and a slim transparent TPU cover in the box.
Moto G85 Software: Hello UI and Unwanted Guests
The Moto G85 runs on Android 14 with Motorola’s new Hello UI overlay, replacing My UX. This skin largely resembles Google’s stock Android, mirroring the Pixel experience. However, the phone’s setup process comes with a disappointing surprise: it pre-installs several games (Block Blast, Carrom Disc Pool, Doll Dress Up: Sweet Girl), adding unwelcome bloatware to the otherwise clean interface.
The MotoHub app further adds to the clutter, sending an abundance of notifications about clickbait news articles and suggesting unnecessary app installs through a dedicated home screen widget.
Despite this initial hiccup, Hello UI offers helpful features such as Family Space for parental controls, Moto Unplugged for digital well-being, and Moto Secure for enhanced security. The interface also allows for more customization options than stock Android, and the Smart Connect feature enables cross-device task initiation from your phone.
Motorola promises two major Android updates and four years of security updates, aligning with the standard for the price bracket. However, the Samsung Galaxy M35 5G stands out by offering four OS updates and a more generous five years of security patches.
Moto G85 Performance: Above Average for the Price
Powered by the Snapdragon 695 Gen 3, a repackaged version of the Snapdragon 695 with a slight CPU speed improvement, the Moto G85 delivers above-average performance for its price. It’s worth noting that this 6nm chipset is three years old and falls behind newer offerings like the 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7200 (CMF Phone 1) and Dimensity 7300 (iQoo Z9), which might offer a more future-proof experience.
While it effortlessly handles browsing, social media, and messaging, you might notice occasional lag when using demanding apps like Snapchat. Fortunately, the phone tackles games like Asphalt 9: Legends (now Asphalt Legends Unite) and BGMI without any issues, even with Genshin Impact, although some lag is noticeable in crowded environments.
The rear panel remains cool even after prolonged gaming sessions.
Benchmark scores reiterate the similarities between the Moto G85 and the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G, but it’s important to remember that both fall behind other higher-performing devices in their price range.
Moto G85 Benchmark Comparison:
| Benchmark | Moto G85 | CMF Phone 1 | OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite | iQoo Z9 | Realme 12 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single Core | 935 | 1,037 | 904 | 1,151 | 956 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi Core | 2,102 | 2,932 | 2,015 | 2,669 | 2,369 |
| AnTuTu v10 | 450,865 | 639,355 | 448,127 | 687,545 | 570,926 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 11,757 | 12,398 | 9,850 | 13,319 | 13,319 |
| 3DMark Wild Life | 1,569 | 3,122 | 1,508 | 4,126 | 4,126 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited | 1,578 | 3,131 | 1,507 | 4,205 | 4,205 |
| 3DMark Sling Shot | 4,406 | 6,690 | 4,226 | 6,654 | 6,654 |
| 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme | 3,259 | 5,177 | 3,121 | 5,766 | 5,766 |
| GFXBench Car Chase | 60 | 29 | 17 | 33 | 21 |
| GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 | 50 | 50 | 30 | 60 | 39 |
| GFXBench T-Rex | 89 | 60 | 60 | 108 | 60 |
Moto G85 Display: A Bright and Responsive Experience
The 6.67-inch Full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) AMOLED display on the Moto G85 shines with its brightness, making it easy to use under direct sunlight. The 144Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and responsiveness, while the claimed 360Hz touch sampling rate enhances gaming performance. The curved edges contribute to a modern feel without causing accidental touches.
Movie and TV show enthusiasts will appreciate the vivid and vibrant display, especially with the phone’s long battery life. Multiple screen color modes allow for personalization, with the Natural setting proving more appealing than the default Vivid option.
Moto G85 Cameras: AI-Enhanced Performance
The Moto G85’s primary 50-megapixel camera with OIS and EIS delivers a reliable performance in daylight conditions. AI-powered post-processing enhances brightness, contrast, and exposure while preserving the original colors.
The ultra-wide angle camera captures slightly less vibrant images compared to its primary counterpart, sometimes overexposing highlights and lacking the same color accuracy. Distortion around the edges is minimal.
Night Vision mode, available only on the main camera, boosts brightness and detail in low-light scenarios but requires a greater distance for larger subjects.
The dedicated macro mode on the ultra-wide angle camera excels in capturing sharp details of smaller objects, with minimal noise and smoothening.
The 16-megapixel front-facing camera offers decent details in daytime selfies, but low-light performance suffers from blurriness. Interestingly, the camera app features a Pro mode that allows for manual control over all three cameras.
The Moto G85 supports 1080p/30fps video recording across all cameras, with optional video stabilization. The primary camera delivers the best video quality across all scenarios.
Moto G85 Camera Samples:
Moto G85 Battery: Long-Lasting and Fast-Charging
The Moto G85’s slim profile belies its 5,000mAh battery, delivering more than a day of moderate use, including casual gaming, messaging, web browsing, and social media. It consistently provides around six hours of screen-on time and 20 hours of standby before needing a recharge.
The phone lasted 21 hours and 14 minutes in our HD video battery loop test. The included 33W TurboPower charger takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to fully replenish the battery.
Moto G85 Review Verdict: A Solid Choice With Some Room for Improvement
The Moto G85 5G offers a compelling package for those seeking a mid-range smartphone with a curved OLED display and a reliable camera setup. Its long battery life and useful software features, particularly focused on family controls, digital well-being, and multitasking, further enhance its appeal.
However, the phone’s bloatware and excessive notification spam detract from the overall experience.
While the Moto G85 presents excellent value for money, it faces stiff competition in the under-Rs. 20,000 price segment. The iQoo Z9 and CMF Phone 1, with more potent processors, offer faster performance. The Realme 12 Pro, despite being slightly more expensive, boasts a telephoto camera.
Consider also the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G, Infinix Note 40 5G, and Samsung Galaxy M35 5G. The Galaxy M35, with its generous software update policy (four OS updates and five years of security patches), stands out as another solid contender.
Ultimately, the Moto G85 proves a decent option for those seeking a balanced combination of features within a budget. However, its software quirks and the availability of other powerful alternatives in the same price segment make it crucial to weigh your priorities before making a decision.
