2024-11-08 00:14:00
The time has come to show you one of the cell phones that I most enjoyed testing this year, it’s the Moto G85. With the curved screen of the Edge line and a slim design, this model attracts a lot of attention, but what has it improved over last year’s Moto G84? What are the positive and negative points? Come with me and discover everything about the best Moto G ever made.
Motorola Moto G85 Review
External Construction and Design
Starting with the external construction and design of the device. I was happy to see that the Moto G85 carries all the visual identity of Motorola’s most expensive cell phones. To tell the truth, visually, it is very similar to the Edge 50 Pro that I evaluated a few weeks ago. It has the exact same size and the curvature on the screen is identical. The main difference between the two is that the Moto G’s camera module is not as complete as the Edge, and the construction of the sides is made of plastic, not aluminum.
Moto G85 in charcoal gray
There are two versions to buy: the blue one, which has that black finish. vegan leather that Motorola loves to put on its devices, and the charcoal gray, which comes with that back in plastic more traditional.
Moto G85 in blue vegan leather. Source: Tech Spurt/YouTube
It is on the right side where we find the volume buttons and also the on and off button. The top part has the logo “Dolby Atmos“, a microphone and the secondary speaker below the screen.
Moto G85
At the bottom, we find the main speaker, the USB-C input and also the chip drawer.
Here you can choose two chips or one chip and memory card. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find cell phones that still support external memory. Fortunately, the Moto G hasn’t lost this functionality, at least not yet.
Moto G85
Now, if you like wired headphones, this is not your lucky day. The Moto G85 does not have the P2 input that was previously present on the G84. If you want to listen to music on headphones, you’ll have to use a Bluetooth device or use those USB-C adapters, there’s no other way.
Protections
One difference between the Moto G and the brand’s more expensive cell phones is its protection against water, in this case, the absence of it. We don’t have IP-67, that resistance certification against diving in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, nor less an IP-54, against dust and water splashes, something that the Moto G84 already had.
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R$ 1.709,10
Moto G85 5G 256GB Azul Vegan LeatherSee offer
At least Motorola put Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the screen, so the Moto G loses its water resistance, but advances in protection against drops and scratches.
Cameras
From the technical sheet, it is noted that the Moto G85 has a set of cameras with identical specifications to the predecessor G84: it is a main sensor of 50 MP – it is with this camera that we will take practically all the photos – and it also has an ultrawide 8 MP.
Moto G85 – Photo with the main camera
The resolution is the same, but the camera sensors are different. The Moto G84 used sensors manufactured by Samsung, while in the new G85 all cameras are made by Sony. Despite this change, I confess that I didn’t notice a gross difference in quality. The photos are good, but so were the G84.
Even so, there are scenarios where the 50MP main sensor cannot handle HDR well. In this photo, you can see that the grass was very detailed and had excellent contrast, but the kitten was grainy and had a strange appearance.
Moto G85 – Photo with the main camera
The ultrawide is good too – there isn’t that big color difference between this sensor and the main camera that we usually find on cheap cell phones from other brands, such as Samsung devices.
Selfie
We had a change in the selfie camera, from 16 megapixels in the Moto G84 to 32 megapixels here in the new model. I’m going to quickly pass on several photos that I took during my days with the Moto G85. Check out all the photos I took with the Moto G85 below:
Bodies
Previously only present on Edge line phones, the curved screen now arrives on the Moto G. This is one of the most striking features of Motorola cell phones, and I particularly like this type of screen. In addition to being beautiful, the curvature makes navigation by gestures much easier.
Moto G85 curved screen
Compared to last year’s Moto G84, the display was a little bigger and brighter, they are 6.67 inches e 1600 nits.
One of the biggest positive points of the G84 was the screen, and here, it got even better. The sharpness and colors remain excellent, the size of the panel has grown without increasing the physical dimensions of the device, the brightness is sufficient even in sunny environments, and the fluidity of 120Hz is always welcome.
Moto G85
Motorola tends to invest a lot in the screens of its most expensive cell phones, and it’s cool to see some of these features reaching the brand’s mid-range models.
Hardware and Performance
Even the cheapest version of the G85 already comes with 8GB of RAM memory e 128GB of storageso it’s impossible for you to fall for the seller’s trick and get a version with just 4GB of RAM. Nowadays, 6GB is the minimum, with 8GB being the number I consider ideal for browsing without crashes.
Speaking of crashes, we need to face the biggest negative point of the Moto G85, the processor. Motorola finally abandoned the G84’s Snapdragon 695, but replaced it with another one that is practically the same, only the name changes: it is the Snapdragon 6S Gen 3. Despite that cute name, don’t expect jaw-dropping performance. It has to be said that this cell phone delivers performance numbers that are much lower than its competitors.
In the most famous cell phone performance test, the AnTuTu Benchmarkour Moto G did 475 thousand pointspractically the same as last year’s G84. To give you an idea, competing cell phones, Samsung’s Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi’s POCO X6, score much higher.
Even with this inferior processor, I didn’t notice any crashes or slowdowns using the Moto G85. The 8GB of RAM really helps a lot. Of course, the camera app takes time to open, and it’s difficult to take multiple photos in a row. But other than that, I have nothing to complain about. For now, Snapdragon is holding up well, but it is definitely the biggest weak point of this device.
Games
We have an entire channel dedicated to testing the performance of cell phones in mobile games, it’s Roda Liso. There, the Moto G85 did relatively well. It doesn’t have jaw-dropping performance, but even so, it can run with the graphics in medium-heavy games like Genshin Impact e Fortnite. In lighter games, like Mortal Kombat e CODE Mobilehe succeeds calmly. I do recommend the Moto G85 for games – it’s good value for money and will play practically all games on the Playstore, with very few exceptions.
Battery
If the Moto G85 doesn’t impress in performance, it makes up for it in autonomy. I was starting to get used to cell phones doing poorly in our battery test, but finally, the Moto G85 arrived to show that it is still possible for a new cell phone to have good autonomy.
He finished the 8 hour test and still had 27% battery left. It’s a great result, especially when we compare it with other devices in the same price range: in the battery test, the Galaxy A55 ended up with just 15% left. The cheapest model, Galaxy A35, managed to spend even more, ending up with 14% left. But the worst of all was the POCO X6, which finished the 8-hour test with 1% battery remaining.
Moto G85 during the fifth stage of our battery test. Here we really test!
If you need a cell phone with extended autonomy – that can last more than a day of use – the Moto G85 is the best option under R$2,000.
When charging, the Moto G85 comes with a charger 33W. At this power, we tested and the Moto G goes from 0 to 100% battery in approximately 1h13.
System and updates
The Motorola system is one of my favorites to use – it’s very close to the pure Android experience, but with some extra features that are very interesting, such as gestures. This is nothing new, but Motorola users who get used to turning on their cell phone’s flashlight by shaking their hand will never be able to use another cell phone again.
Moto G85 flashlight can be activated with a simple gesture
The Moto G comes with Android 15 and will receive system updates for 2 years, that is, up to Android 17. Motorola also promises 4 years of security patches. This is an ok number of updates – Motorola has improved on this – but it is still less time than the competition. Xiaomi updates its cell phones for 3 years, while Samsung promises 4 years of updates on its cheapest cell phones.
Price and Competitors
The Moto G85 has many positive points – the design is beautiful: despite the large screen, the camera bump doesn’t pop out like it does on other devices: the cell phone is thin and light, very good to store and take out of your pocket.
It is also impressive to see a display curvo de 120Hz on such a cheap cell phone. Before, we only had good screens on the most expensive Motorola models, never on a Moto G.
In terms of battery and charging, this is where the G85 really outperforms the competition, offering an impressive amount of autonomy and a good charger in the box too.
But this cell phone has two big negative points that you need to know: the first is the construction, although I praised the design, the Moto G85 It does not have water and dust protection certification, something that Samsung’s Galaxy A35 has. The other negative point is the performance. Last year, I criticized the Moto G84 for using an old processor – and this year, the G85 presents the exact same performance as the previous model.
This impaired performance is felt when playing games and especially when using the camera.
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R$ 1.709,10
Moto G85 5G 256GB Azul Vegan LeatherSee offer
If you’re looking for a good cell phone that does it all, for less than R$1,500, I highly recommend taking a look at our Galaxy A35 review. Now, if that device doesn’t appeal to you for any reason, it’s worth waiting for a little promotion on the Moto G85. Below R$1,550, it’s well worth buying, especially now that Motorola has been offering two years of updates and four years of security patches.
Motorola Moto G85
- Lots of autonomy
- Excellent screen
- Design bonito
- No certification against water and dust
- Video recording could be better
- Below average performance
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#long #battery #life #curved #screen
As you can see, the Moto G85 stands out for its impressive battery life and decent gaming capabilities, despite some limitations in performance due to its processor. With 8GB of RAM, users can enjoy a smooth experience for most applications, albeit with some delays in the camera app and multitasking.
Performance and Gaming
The Snapdragon processor may not be the latest model, but it holds up adequately for regular use. In gaming tests, the Moto G85 performs admirably, managing to run medium to heavy games like Genshin Impact and Fortnite with satisfactory graphics settings. For lighter games like Mortal Kombat and CALL OF DUTY Mobile, it performs without issues. Thus, gamers on a budget will find this device a suitable option for their needs.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Moto G85 is its battery performance. During an extensive 8-hour test, the device retained an impressive 27% charge, outpacing several competitors. For example, the Galaxy A55 held only 15% and the more affordable Galaxy A35 ended with just 14%. The POCO X6 performed the worst with only 1% battery remaining. If extended battery life is a priority for you, the Moto G85 emerges as the top contender under R$2,000.
Moreover, it supports fast charging with a 33W charger, reaching a full charge from 0 to 100% in about 1 hour and 13 minutes, allowing for minimal downtime.
Software Experience
The Motorola interface on the Moto G85 offers a nearly pure Android experience with added bonuses, including useful gesture controls, such as activating the flashlight with a simple shake. This intuitive design feature can be a game-changer for those who value convenience in their smartphone usage.
Running on Android 15, the Moto G85 promises two years of system updates—with a pathway to Android 17—and four years of security patches. While this is an improvement from previous models, it still lags behind competitors like Xiaomi and Samsung, which offer longer support periods.
Design and Competitors
Beyond performance metrics, the Moto G85 boasts an appealing aesthetic. The slim and lightweight design, combined with a 120Hz curved display, offers a premium feel typically reserved for higher-end models. However, this model does lack an official IP rating for water and dust resistance, a feature present in devices like the Samsung Galaxy A35. Additionally, the performance constraints posed by the processor remain a critical drawback in comparison to its rivals.
The Moto G85 is retailing at a competitive price of R$ 1,709.10. Despite some shortcomings, it provides solid value, especially considering its battery life and display features, making it a compelling choice for users seeking an affordable smartphone experience.
