Motorola continues to solidify its position in the budget smartphone segment with the Moto G35 5G. Priced under ₹10,000, this device promises a premium experience without burning a hole in your pocket. With a sleek design, immersive display, robust 5G connectivity, and clean Android experience, the Moto G35 aims to set a new benchmark for budget smartphones.
Design and Display
The Moto G35 5G stands out in the budget segment with its thoughtful design and impressive build quality. Offering a choice of finishes, including matte plastic and vegan leather, the device feels premium in hand. The Guava Red and Leaf Green variants feature the vegan leather option, enhancing grip and durability, while the Midnight Black comes with a 3D PMMA back for a sleek look.
At just under ₹10,000, the Moto G35 delivers a 6.7-inch FHD+ display that boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and a peak brightness of 1000 nits. Motorola’s Vision Booster Technology ensures vivid colors and sharp contrasts, whether you’re scrolling through apps or streaming HDR content. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the screen resists scratches and moderate impacts, adding to the device’s durability.
The ergonomic design, with its slightly taller profile, makes one-handed use manageable, although reaching the top icons might require some finger gymnastics. Overall, the Moto G35 is a thoughtfully designed and visually immersive smartphone.
Performance
Powered by the Unisoc T760 chipset, the Moto G35 handles everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and light gaming with ease. While it may struggle with heavier workloads, the 4GB of RAM (expandable to 12GB via RAM Boost) ensures a relatively smooth experience for multitasking. The device scored 745 on Geekbench 6’s single-core test and 2308 on the multi-core test—decent numbers for a phone in this category.
The device supports the highest 12 5G bands in its class, ensuring compatibility with all 5G network operators in India. Features like 4×4 MIMO, 4 Carrier Aggregation, and VoNR (Voice over New Radio) support further enhance its credentials, making it one of the fastest and most reliable 5G phones in its price range.
Software
The Moto G35 5G comes preloaded with Android 14, offering a clean, near-stock Android experience with minimal bloatware. This ensures smoother performance and faster updates. Additionally, Motorola has committed to providing an upgrade to Android 15 and three years of security updates, making the device a future-ready choice for users looking for longevity and reliability in the budget segment.
Camera
The Moto G35 features a capable 50MP Quad Pixel main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 16MP front-facing camera. While the camera array promises versatility, the results are mixed.
The 50MP main camera performs well in good lighting conditions, capturing detailed and vibrant shots. However, in low light, the images tend to lose clarity, with noticeable noise and soft details. The ultrawide lens delivers decent landscape shots.
Video enthusiasts will appreciate the ability to record 4K videos at 30fps, a rare feature in this segment. The 16MP selfie camera impresses, delivering sharp and well-balanced shots in sufficient lighting, ideal for social media uploads or video calls.
Battery
Equipped with a 5000mAh battery, the Moto G35 5G easily lasts a day-and-a-half with moderate to heavy use. The 20W charger included in the box can refuel the phone in about 1.5 hours, but it’s not the fastest in its category. However, the device’s efficient battery management and relatively power-light processor ensure you’re not scrambling for a charger mid-day.
Verdict
The Motorola Moto G35 5G is a standout budget smartphone that delivers more than expected for its price. With its vibrant display, ‘True 5G’ capabilities, Android 14 with guaranteed updates, solid performance, and clean software experience, it punches well above its weight.
While the camera system and charging speed leave room for improvement, these are small compromises for what the phone offers overall in this price range. At just ₹9,999, the Moto G35 5G is a stellar choice for anyone seeking a feature-packed, future-ready smartphone without breaking the bank.
