Motorola G85 5G

The Motorola G85 5G is one of the latest mid-range offerings from Motorola, a brand that has consistently delivered strong value-for-money devices over the years.

With a plethora of features packed into a sleek design, the G85 5G is a smartphone aimed at users looking for a budget-friendly device that doesn’t compromise on essential performance aspects. In this review, we’ll delve deep into its various features, performance, design, and overall user experience.

1. Introduction to Motorola G85 5G

Motorola has carved a name for itself in the budget and mid-range smartphone segment, and the G85 5G continues that legacy. The device comes equipped with an impressive 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, making it one of the most efficient phones in its category. Designed to offer solid performance in a stylish form factor, the G85 5G brings the power of 5G connectivity at an affordable price point.

The focus here is on users who want reliable performance for multitasking, media consumption, and gaming, without breaking the bank. With 5G becoming more accessible globally, the G85 positions itself as an ideal device for those looking to future-proof their smartphone without entering the premium price range.

2. Design and Build Quality

One of the first things you notice about the Motorola G85 5G is its design. Motorola has kept things simple but elegant, offering a minimalistic look that resonates well with modern smartphone aesthetics. The phone has a plastic back with a matte finish, which feels comfortable in hand and doesn’t attract fingerprints as easily as glossy finishes do. The rear of the device features a triple-camera setup housed in a square module, along with the iconic Motorola logo in the middle.

Dimensions and Weight:
At 175 grams, the G85 5G feels light for its size, making it easy to handle, especially with one hand. The phone’s dimensions, 165.4 mm x 75.8 mm x 9 mm, make it slightly bulky, but it’s not uncomfortable to hold. It strikes a balance between a large display and ergonomics, ensuring that the phone doesn’t feel overly large for everyday use.

Build Quality:
Motorola has stuck with a plastic frame and back to keep the costs down, but the build quality remains solid. The phone feels sturdy, and there are no creaky or flimsy parts. The back panel has a subtle texture, offering a better grip. While not a premium material like glass or metal, Motorola has done a great job making the plastic back feel robust and stylish.

Ports and Buttons:
The right side of the device houses the volume rockers and the power button, which has a built-in fingerprint sensor. This placement is convenient, allowing easy access to unlocking the device. At the bottom, there is a USB-C port for charging, a speaker grille, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, something that’s becoming rare in modern smartphones but is a welcome addition for users who prefer wired headphones.

3. Display

The Motorola G85 5G features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. The screen uses an IPS LCD panel, which provides good color accuracy and brightness levels for a device in this price range. While it doesn’t reach the vibrancy or deep blacks that you would find in OLED panels, the IPS display still offers sharp images and a good viewing experience for most users.

Brightness and Visibility:
The display on the G85 5G gets decently bright, reaching around 500 nits. This makes it comfortable to use in most lighting conditions, including outdoors under sunlight, though visibility can become slightly limited under very bright sunlight. Viewing angles are also respectable, and there’s no significant color shifting when viewed from different angles.

Refresh Rate:
One of the standout features of the display is its 90Hz refresh rate. While it’s not the highest in the market (some phones offer 120Hz or even 144Hz), 90Hz is a substantial improvement over the standard 60Hz and makes the overall experience smoother. Scrolling through apps, browsing websites, and gaming all feel more fluid, and once you get used to a higher refresh rate, it’s hard to go back to 60Hz.

4. Performance

The Motorola G85 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, a capable mid-range processor that supports 5G connectivity. Paired with 8 GB of RAM, this phone offers smooth performance for daily tasks, multitasking, and moderate gaming.

MediaTek Dimensity 700 Chipset:
The Dimensity 700 is a 7nm chip that provides a good balance between power efficiency and performance. It has an octa-core CPU, with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores running at 2.0 GHz. For graphics, the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU is included, which handles casual gaming and video streaming with ease.

RAM and Storage:
With 8 GB of RAM, the G85 5G is more than capable of handling multiple apps running in the background. Switching between apps is smooth, and even demanding tasks like photo editing or playing heavy games don’t cause the phone to stutter. The 128 GB of internal storage is ample for most users, and there’s also a microSD card slot for expanding storage up to 1 TB.

Software Experience:
The phone runs on near-stock Android, which is a plus for those who prefer a clean, bloatware-free interface. Motorola has included some of its own Moto Actions, such as gestures for turning on the flashlight or opening the camera, which enhance the overall user experience without feeling intrusive.

5. 5G Connectivity and Network Performance

The Motorola G85 5G lives up to its name by offering full support for 5G networks. With 5G rolling out globally, having a phone that supports this next-generation connectivity standard is a major plus. The phone is compatible with both sub-6 GHz 5G bands, which ensures wide coverage and fast data speeds.

Download and Upload Speeds:
In areas with 5G coverage, the G85 5G delivers impressive download and upload speeds. While speeds vary depending on the network, users can expect speeds up to 1 Gbps or more in optimal conditions. This makes downloading large files, streaming high-definition videos, and playing online games a breeze. Even in areas without 5G, the phone performs well on 4G LTE networks, ensuring that users are always connected.

Call Quality:
The call quality on the G85 5G is excellent. Voices come through loud and clear, and the noise-cancellation microphones ensure that background noise is minimized. Motorola has always been known for reliable network reception, and this phone continues that tradition.

6. Camera Performance

The Motorola G85 5G sports a triple-camera setup at the back, featuring a 50 MP primary sensor, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. While the camera array may not be as extensive as some flagship models, it delivers solid performance for its price range.

Primary Camera:
The 50 MP primary sensor is the star of the show. It captures sharp, detailed images in good lighting conditions, with accurate colors and a decent dynamic range. Motorola’s camera software enhances the images with HDR (High Dynamic Range) to balance out highlights and shadows, resulting in well-exposed shots. In low-light conditions, the camera holds its own, thanks to Motorola’s Night Vision mode, which brightens up dark scenes without introducing too much noise.

Macro and Depth Sensors:
The 2 MP macro sensor allows for close-up shots, but the quality is average. It works best in well-lit conditions, and the shots can be fun to experiment with, but the limited resolution means they lack the sharpness and detail of the primary camera. The depth sensor, on the other hand, helps with portrait shots, blurring the background to create a bokeh effect. Portrait mode works well most of the time, though edge detection can sometimes be a bit hit-or-miss.

Front Camera:
On the front, there’s a 16 MP selfie camera that delivers sharp and vibrant selfies. It handles skin tones well and performs admirably in both indoor and outdoor conditions. Motorola’s software also includes beauty modes and filters, giving users the option to tweak their selfies before sharing them.

Video Recording:
The G85 5G can record videos in 1080p at 30fps, and while it lacks 4K recording, the video quality is more than sufficient for most users. The phone also offers electronic image stabilization (EIS), which helps reduce shakiness in videos, especially when recording handheld.

7. Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is one of the standout features of the Motorola G85 5G. The phone is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, which provides excellent endurance.

Daily Usage:
With regular use, which includes a mix of social media browsing, video streaming, and occasional gaming, the G85 5G easily lasts through a full day. Lighter users can even stretch it to a day and a half or more before needing to charge. The 7nm efficiency of the Dimensity 700 chipset, combined with Motorola’s battery optimization software, ensures that the phone doesn’t drain quickly.

Charging Speed:
The phone supports 18W fast charging, which is not the fastest in the market but is adequate for its price range. It takes about two hours to fully charge the device from 0% to 100%. While faster charging options are becoming more common in

smartphones, the G85 5G’s battery capacity ensures that you won’t need to charge the phone too frequently.

8. Security Features

For security, the G85 5G offers a side-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. This placement is convenient and works well in practice. The fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, unlocking the device in a fraction of a second. In addition to the fingerprint sensor, the phone also supports face unlock, which uses the front camera to quickly unlock the device. However, face unlock is not as secure as fingerprint authentication and can struggle in low-light conditions.

9. Audio and Multimedia Experience

The Motorola G85 5G provides a satisfactory audio experience for its price range. The bottom-firing speaker is loud enough for watching videos or casual music listening, but it lacks the depth and richness of more premium devices with stereo speakers. For a more immersive audio experience, users can connect wired headphones using the 3.5mm jack or use wireless Bluetooth earphones.

Dolby Atmos Support:
The phone supports Dolby Atmos, which enhances the audio quality when using headphones or Bluetooth speakers. It provides a more immersive sound experience, especially when watching movies or playing games.

10. Conclusion

The Motorola G85 5G is a well-rounded device that offers excellent value for its price. With a solid design, reliable performance, and 5G connectivity, it ticks many of the boxes that mid-range smartphone users look for. Its 50 MP primary camera, 90Hz display, and impressive battery life make it a competitive option in the budget 5G segment.

While it may not have all the bells and whistles of a flagship device, the G85 5G delivers where it counts, making it an ideal choice for users who want a capable 5G phone without spending too much. Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual smartphone user, the Motorola G85 5G offers the features you need at a price that’s hard to beat.