Moto G96: New Mid-Range Motorola or Just Another Rebrand?

Motorola Moto G96: A Familiar Face in a Crowded Crowd

Motorola is prepping another addition to its already crowded G-series — meet the Moto G96. If you’re feeling déjà vu, you’re not alone.

From the looks of it, this could be a rebranded Motorola Edge 50 Fusion with a few minor tweaks, raising questions about Motorola’s product strategy in 2025.

The Moto G96 is expected to feature a 6.67-inch curved pOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, a slight spec bump over the flat 120Hz panel of the G86. Under the hood, it’ll be powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The camera setup includes a 50 MP Sony LYT-700C main sensor, an 8 MP macro/ultrawide shooter, and a 32 MP front camera. A 5,500 mAh battery (with rumored 68W charging) rounds out the package.

It will come in four color options: Cattleya Orchid, Dresden Blue, Greener Pastures, and Ashleigh Blue. Expected price: around INR 22,990 (~$270 USD).

But while the specs sound decent on paper, the Moto G96 leaves enthusiasts scratching their heads. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is already feeling outdated in a landscape where Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 and Gen 4 are entering mid-range devices. And many are wondering — does the curved screen and slightly newer camera sensor really justify a whole new model name?

Adding to the confusion, the recently launched Moto G86 features the Dimensity 7300, a flat 120Hz display, and similar memory specs — making the G96’s upgrade path blurry at best. Consumers are left comparing minute differences between Moto phones that look almost identical, leading to product fatigue.

In a time where competitors like iQoo, Realme, and Vivo are offering Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chips and 7000+ mAh batteries in the same price bracket, Motorola’s latest feels more like a reshuffle than a reinvention.

If anything, the Moto G96 is a symbol of a larger issue: too many devices, too little differentiation. Instead of refining and focusing on fewer, stronger models, Motorola seems intent on flooding the market — and consumers are starting to notice.