If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn’t skimp on features, the Motorola Moto G85 5G is likely on your radar. At £300 in the UK, this device aims to deliver a balance between affordability and functionality, but does it succeed? In this comprehensive review, we’ll unbox the Moto G85, explore its design, delve into its camera performance, and put its gaming capabilities to the test. By the end, you’ll know whether this phone is worth your hard-earned cash.
The unboxing experience of the Moto G85 is a straightforward affair. If you’re hoping for a plethora of accessories, you might be a bit disappointed. Inside the box, you’ll find the essentials: a USB-C cable, a SIM pin, and a quick start guide. Notably absent is an adapter, so you’ll need to use your existing charger or purchase one separately. However, Motorola does include a pre-installed protective case, which is a nice touch. This case ensures that your new device is safeguarded against minor bumps and scratches right from the start.
The Moto G85 5G impresses right out of the box with its sleek design. It bears a strong resemblance to Motorola’s flagship Edge 50 series, with a display that almost completely covers the front of the phone. The screen subtly curves around the edges, giving it a modern and premium feel. The phone is also incredibly light, weighing just over 170 grams, making it one of the lightest smartphones of 2024.
While the frame is made of plastic rather than aluminum, the back of the phone features vegan leather, offering a soft-touch finish that feels great in the hand. Depending on the color you choose, you can get a textured design on the back, such as the vibrant Calt Blue or Olive Green. If you opt for the Urban Gray model, you’ll get a hard plastic shell instead. One of the standout design features is the minimal camera bump, which barely protrudes from the back, ensuring that the phone sits flat on surfaces.
The Moto G85 5G is not water-resistant but is water-repellent, so accidental spills or light rain shouldn’t pose a problem. Overall, the design of the Moto G85 is impressive for a budget device, though it may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer flat screens over curved edges.
The Moto G85 sports a 6.67-inch P-OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution. While this isn’t as sharp as some higher-end models, it’s more than adequate for everyday use, whether you’re editing photos, streaming Netflix, or browsing social media. The display is bright enough for most environments, though it might struggle in direct sunlight. The curved edges of the screen not only enhance its aesthetic appeal but also provide a more immersive viewing experience.
When it comes to refresh rates, you have options. You can set the screen to 60Hz, 120Hz, or leave it on automatic mode, where the refresh rate adjusts depending on what you’re doing. This flexibility ensures that you can balance smoothness with battery life based on your needs.
One area where the Moto G85 shines is its audio quality. The phone is equipped with stereo speakers, which provide a decent audio experience for a device in this price range. While the bottom speaker is more powerful than the earpiece speaker, the overall sound quality remains respectable, even at maximum volume. The speakers support Dolby Atmos, which can automatically adjust the audio settings based on what you’re listening to, be it music, movies, or games.
Unfortunately, the Moto G85 does not include a headphone jack, a feature that is becoming increasingly rare in modern smartphones. Instead, you’ll need to rely on Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless audio, which works well with most speakers and headphones.
The Moto G85 is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, which is a slight upgrade over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 695. While the chipset’s architecture is similar, the Gen 3 offers higher clock speeds, resulting in marginally better performance. However, this doesn’t translate into a significant improvement in real-world usage. Everyday tasks like browsing the web, using social media, and watching videos are handled smoothly, but the phone may struggle with more demanding applications.
Gaming on the Moto G85 is a mixed experience. While it can handle titles like “Zenless Zone Zero” at lower graphic settings, pushing the settings higher results in noticeable frame rate drops. This is particularly evident during intense action sequences. On the plus side, the phone manages heat well, staying relatively cool even during extended gaming sessions.
The in-display fingerprint sensor, while not the fastest, is reliable, and you also have the option of using face unlock, which is quicker but less secure.
The Moto G85 comes with a 5,000mAh battery, which is the same capacity as its predecessor. This battery is more than capable of powering the phone through a full day of heavy use, including hours of screen-on time and camera usage. In fact, with moderate use, you could easily get through a weekend on a single charge.
The phone supports 30W wired charging, which isn’t as fast as some competitors but should be sufficient for most users. It’s a shame that the Moto G85 doesn’t offer faster charging speeds like the 68W TurboPower charging found in the Edge 50 Fusion. Nevertheless, the battery life is one of the strong points of this device.
The camera setup on the Moto G85 is another area where Motorola has made some changes. The primary camera is a 50MP sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which should help in low-light situations. Interestingly, Motorola has switched from using a Samsung sensor to a Sony IMX 600 sensor, which is also found in other mid-range smartphones like the Realme 13 Pro Plus.
Accompanying the main camera is an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, which doubles as a macro camera. While the ultra-wide shots are decent, they lack the sharpness and detail found in more premium devices. The camera app itself is packed with features, including a portrait mode, ultra-high resolution mode, and a night vision mode. There’s also a pro mode, which allows for manual adjustments and shooting in RAW format for more flexibility in post-processing.
In daylight, the Moto G85 captures good detail and accurate colors, especially when using the auto-enhance feature for high-contrast scenes. However, the camera struggles in low-light conditions, producing images with noticeable noise and reduced detail.
For video recording, the Moto G85 maxes out at Full HD resolution. There’s no 4K recording option, which is likely due to the limitations of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset. On the plus side, the video stabilization is decent, and the audio capture is clear, even in windy conditions.
The front-facing camera has been upgraded to a 32MP sensor, which is a welcome improvement. It performs well for selfies and video calls, even in challenging lighting conditions. However, like the rear camera, it’s limited to Full HD video recording.
The Moto G85 runs a near-stock version of Android 14, which is a big plus for those who prefer a clean and bloatware-free user interface. Motorola has added a few of its own touches, such as custom fonts and additional features accessible through the Moto app. These include gestures like the famous “chop twice for flashlight” and “twist for camera,” which have become staples of Motorola’s user experience.
One area where Motorola falls short is in software support. The Moto G85 is promised only two major Android updates (Android 15 and 16) and four years of security patches. While this is better than nothing, it’s not as competitive as some other manufacturers, like OnePlus, which offer more extended software support.
Motorola has included a few useful apps with the Moto G85, such as Family Space and Smart Connect. Family Space is a great feature for parents who want to hand their phone to their kids without worrying about them accessing inappropriate content. Smart Connect, on the other hand, allows you to wirelessly pair your phone with a laptop, monitor, or other devices to share apps and files seamlessly.
Unfortunately, the Moto G85 does come with some pre-installed apps that many users might consider bloatware, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and a few games. The good news is that these can be uninstalled to free up space.
The Motorola Moto G85 5G is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers good value for its price. While it doesn’t bring any groundbreaking features to the table, it excels in key areas like battery life, design, and a clean software experience. The camera performance is respectable, though not exceptional, and the lack of 4K video recording is a notable omission.
For those who are already fans of Motorola phones or are looking for a reliable, no-nonsense device, the Moto G85 5G is a worthy contender. However, if top-tier performance or extended software support is a priority, you might want to explore alternatives like the OnePlus Nord series.
At Gadget Kings, we understand how important your smartphone is in your daily life. Whether you’ve got a cracked screen, battery issues, or need help with software updates, we’ve got you covered. Our expert technicians specialize in phone repairs for a wide range of models, including the latest from Motorola, Samsung, and more. Visit us at Gadget Kings PRS for fast, reliable, and affordable phone repair services.
Shop no. 20 A kensington village shopping center, 8 sovereigns ave, Bray Park QLD 4500
gadget.kings.prs@gmail.com
4/28 Elizabeth St, Acacia Ridge QLD 4110 Brisbane Australia
gadget.kings.prs@gmail.com