The launch of the new Moto S50 Neo undoubtedly put the spotlight on Motorola’s China-exclusive premium Android phone, although it should be noted that the company discreetly launched another midrange device in the form of the Moto g85. Arriving for select markets in Europe and the United Kingdom, the g85 packs some worthwhile features that Motorola fans – as well as folks curious about the manufacturer’s offerings – will love. With that being said, is this a phone that matches your needs? Let’s take a quick look.
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Design and Display
The Moto g85 is available in three different colour options, which include Cobalt Blue, Olive Green, and Urban Grey. The phones feature a slim form factor that’s reminiscent of other recent Motorola handsets, with the rectangular shape and camera island in the top left corner of the rear panel. As for the display, the phone features a curved screen design (which Motorola markets as an “endless edge” display) that measures 6.67 inches, and uses a p-OLED display for vibrant colours and deep contrast.
The screen also gets decently bright at 1600 nits of peak brightness, and comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1080×2400 pixel resolution, and Gorilla Glass 5 which should be useful against most scratches and accidental damage. Additionally, Motorola says that the design features a water-repellent finish, although there’s no mention of full-on ingress protection.
Internals and Cameras
Inside, the Moto g85 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, a midrange chipset which while isn’t on the same level as the more premium 8 Gen 3, is still a welcome addition nonetheless. It works alongside 8GB of RAM, although Motorola will also offer a 12GB RAM version in select regions. The phone comes with 256GB of internal storage, which should be more than enough space for movies, music, photos and more – should you need a bit more storage space though, the phone does support micro SD cards for a bit more space for your media.
For cameras, the phone’s main shooter setup consists of a 50 MP, f/1.8 primary lens, aided by an 8 MP, f/2.2 ultrawide camera; in front you’ll find a 32 MP, f/2.4 camera for selfies and video calls. Given the 6-series Snapdragon chip though, the phone’s video-recording capabilities are limited to a maximum resolution of 1080p at 60 frames per second, which is something to keep in mind. For battery, the phone runs on a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 30W fast-charging.
Pricing and Availability
At the moment, the Moto g85 is available in the UK starting at £299.99, placing it in direct competition with phones such as the Google Pixel 7a and the Samsung Galaxy A35, for example. It’s available via Motorola’s official website, and we should expect to see it soon on other participating retailers in the UK. It’s certainly a nice consideration for buyers after a phone with a premium display and design, although factors such as the modest chipset inside are a consideration, especially if performance is your main concern.
