Moto G86 Power Review After 7 Days: Pros, Cons, and Is It Worth ₹17,000?

The Motorola Moto G86 Power, launched in 2025, targets budget-conscious users seeking a 5G smartphone with a massive battery, vibrant display, and solid performance. Priced at ₹18,000 (₹17,000 with offers), it’s a contender in the sub-₹20,000 segment, competing with brands like Poco and Realme. As a tech reviewer who used the Moto G86 Power as my primary phone for seven days, I’ve tested its build, display, performance, camera, battery, and software.

Drawing from hands-on experience, insights from Cashify, and The Indian Express, this Moto G86 Power review breaks down its strengths, three major issues, and whether it’s worth buying during sales like Flipkart’s Freedom Sale 2025. Let’s dive in!

Overview of the Moto G86 Power

The Moto G86 Power is part of Motorola’s Power series, emphasizing big batteries and displays for all-day use. Available in an 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, it features a 6.76-inch 1.5K OLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor, 6720mAh battery, and a 50MP Sony Lytia 600 camera. At ₹17,000 with offers, it targets students, casual gamers, and professionals needing a reliable budget 5G phone. But with minor UI issues, limited OS updates, and slow charging, does it deliver value? Here’s my detailed analysis after a week of use.

Build Quality and Design: Premium Feel on a Budget

The Moto G86 Power feels premium despite its budget price. Its design and build highlights include:

• Materials: Vegan leather back (decent quality, not ultra-premium) with a polycarbonate frame. Non-slippery grip ensures comfortable handling.
• Weight and Ergonomics: At 198g with a 6720mAh battery, weight distribution is well-managed, though prolonged use feels slightly heavy.
• Design: Boxy frame with a modern, flat aesthetic. Hybrid SIM slot supports two SIMs or one SIM + microSD.
• Haptics: Decent vibration motor for typing, but not as refined as premium phones.
• Testing Insight: The vegan leather back resisted smudges and felt grippy during long calls or gaming sessions. The boxy frame was ergonomic but slightly bulky for one-handed use.
• Drawbacks: Polycarbonate frame feels less premium than metal alternatives in rivals like the Poco X7 (₹14,189).

Verdict: The design offers a near-premium feel for ₹17,000, ideal for students and casual users, but don’t expect flagship-grade materials.

Display: A Vibrant 1.5K OLED Highlight

The display is a standout feature, making the Moto G86 Power a great choice for media consumption. Key details:

• Specs: 6.76-inch 1.5K OLED (1600×2560), 120Hz refresh rate, 4500 nits peak brightness, 720Hz PWM dimming, Gorilla Glass 7i protection.
• Performance: Vibrant, poppy colors enhance movies and YouTube videos. Supports 4K playback and Widevine L1 for HD Netflix streaming (no HDR support).
• Testing Insight: The flat OLED panel delivered crisp visuals for 4K YouTube videos and HDR content (e.g., nature documentaries). Viewing angles were excellent, with minimal black tint from sides. Outdoor visibility was strong, even in direct sunlight. However, 120Hz UI animations showed minor jitters, needing software optimization.
• Use Cases:
  • Students: Great for watching educational videos or Netflix in dorms.
  • Media Enthusiasts: Vibrant colors for movies (e.g., JioCinema) and YouTube.
  • Casual Users: Smooth scrolling for social media (Instagram, X).
• Comparison: Outshines the Poco X7’s 6.67-inch AMOLED (₹14,189) in size and brightness but lags behind the iPhone 16’s Super Retina XDR (₹63,000) in color accuracy.
• Drawbacks: No Netflix HDR support; UI jitters at 120Hz.

Verdict: The 1.5K OLED is a highlight, offering immersive visuals for budget buyers, though software tweaks could improve smoothness.

Performance: Capable but Needs UI Polish

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400, the Moto G86 Power handles daily tasks well but has some hiccups. Key points:

• Specs: Dimensity 7400 (4nm, ~6.8–7 lakh AnTuTu score), 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.2 storage, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, 11 5G bands.
• Performance: Smooth for daily tasks (WhatsApp, Chrome, Zoom) and gaming (BGMI at 60 FPS, Smooth+Extreme settings). The processor stays cool (38–40°C after long gaming).
• Testing Insight: Multitasking (5–6 apps) was decent, but the Hello UI showed minor jitters and lag, especially in animations. BGMI ran smoothly with minimal frame drops, and the phone stayed cool during 1-hour gaming sessions. USB 2.0 data transfer was slow but adequate for casual use.
• Use Cases:
  • Students: Handles study apps (BYJU’S, Google Docs) and multitasking.
  • Gamers: Decent for PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, and Asphalt 9.
  • Professionals: Reliable for emails and video calls.
• Comparison: Matches the Poco X7’s Dimensity 7300 Ultra (₹14,189) in gaming but lags in UI smoothness. Falls short of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE’s Exynos 2400e (₹33,000).
• Issues: Occasional freezing and two random restarts (likely UI bugs, fixable via updates); UI optimization needs improvement.
• Tip: Apply tempered glass for extra display protection, as Gorilla Glass 7i isn’t infallible.

Verdict: The Dimensity 7400 is power-efficient and capable, but UI jitters and bugs slightly hamper the experience, pending software updates.

Camera: Solid Daylight Performance, Average Portraits

The camera setup is functional for a budget phone but has limitations. Details include:

• Specs: 50MP Sony Lytia 600 primary (f/1.8), 8MP ultrawide, ambient light sensor for AI optimization; 32MP front camera; 4K 30 FPS video support.
• Performance: Daylight photos are sharp with good dynamic range and natural skin tones (slight warm tone). The ultrawide struggles in low light, and portrait mode (1x only) lacks edge detection. Selfies are impressive in daylight but oversaturate in tricky conditions.
• Testing Insight: The 50MP sensor captured detailed shots in daylight (e.g., outdoor landscapes), with vibrant colors for social media posts. Portraits had inconsistent edge detection, and low-light photos were average. The 32MP selfie camera excelled for video calls (Zoom, Google Meet) but struggled in dim lighting.
• Use Cases:
  • Students: Good for scanning notes or casual photography.
  • Social Media Users: Decent for Instagram selfies and daylight posts.
  • Casual Shooters: Adequate for everyday photography.
• Comparison: Comparable to the Poco X7’s 50MP camera (₹14,189) but lags behind the iPhone 16’s 48MP Fusion camera (₹63,000) in low-light and portrait quality.
• Drawbacks: Weak portrait mode; inconsistent selfie performance in tricky lighting.

Verdict: The camera is reliable for daylight shots and selfies, but don’t expect flagship-level versatility.

Battery and Charging: Marathon Runner, Slow Charger

The battery is a key highlight, though charging speed disappoints. Key points:

• Specs: 6720mAh battery, 33W fast charger (included), 0–100% in ~1 hour 45–50 minutes.
• Performance: Offers 7 hours of screen-on-time (SOT) with mixed use (gaming, streaming, calls), lasting 1.5 days on a single charge. Charging is slow compared to rivals.
• Testing Insight: In my tests, the battery powered through a day of heavy use (4G, YouTube, BGMI) with 20% remaining. Charging took nearly 2 hours, lagging behind the Poco X7’s 45W charging (₹14,189).
• Use Cases:
  • Students: Ideal for long study sessions or travel without frequent charging.
  • Professionals: Reliable for all-day emails and calls.
  • Casual Users: Perfect for extended streaming or browsing.
• Comparison: Outlasts the iQOO Z10 Lite’s 5000mAh battery (₹9,000) but charges slower than the Realme V3 Ultra’s 45W (₹19,686).
• Drawbacks: Slow 33W charging feels outdated for a 6720mAh battery.

Verdict: The battery life is exceptional for budget users, but slow charging is a noticeable drawback.

Software: Clean but Disappointing Updates

The Moto G86 Power runs Hello UI, a near-stock Android experience, but software support is limited. Details include:

• Specs: Hello UI (Android 14-based), 1 year of OS updates, 3 years of security updates, Moto Gestures, Moto Secure, Family Space, Smart Connect.
• Performance: Clean UI with minimal bloatware (uninstallable apps like Glance). Features like Moto Gestures (e.g., chop for flashlight) enhance usability. However, minor jitters and occasional freezes (with two restarts) indicate optimization issues.
• Testing Insight: The UI was smooth for basic tasks, but animations lagged in apps like Chrome and Settings. Glance bloatware was easily disabled, and Moto Secure offered robust privacy features. The single OS update (to Android 15) is disappointing for long-term use.
• Use Cases:
  • Students: Clean UI suits productivity apps (Google Docs, Microsoft Teams).
  • Casual Users: Intuitive for social media and calls.
  • Tech Enthusiasts: Limited updates may frustrate long-term users.
• Comparison: Lags behind the Poco X7’s 2-year OS updates (₹14,189) and Samsung Galaxy S24 FE’s 4-year updates (₹33,000).
• Issues: Only 1 year of OS updates; UI bugs (freezing, restarts) need fixes.
• Tip: Disable Glance in settings for a cleaner experience and monitor Flipkart for OTA update announcements.

Verdict: The clean UI is user-friendly, but limited OS updates and minor bugs are drawbacks for long-term value.

Major Issues with the Moto G86 Power

The transcript highlights three major problems after seven days of use:

1. UI Optimization Issues: Minor jitters and lag in the Hello UI, especially in 120Hz animations, affect smoothness. Likely fixable via software updates but noticeable in daily use.
2. Occasional Freezing and Restarts: The phone froze randomly and restarted twice, indicating a UI bug. This disrupts user experience, though updates may resolve it.
3. Limited Software Updates: Only 1 year of OS updates (to Android 15) and 3 years of security updates, lagging behind competitors like Poco (2 years OS updates) at similar price points.

Impact: These issues, particularly the limited updates and UI bugs, reduce long-term reliability, especially for users planning to keep the phone for 2–3 years.

Comparison with Competitors

Who Should Buy the Moto G86 Power?

• Students: Ideal for long battery life, vibrant display for study apps, and budget-friendly price.
• Casual Gamers: Decent for BGMI and Free Fire at 60 FPS with minimal heating.
• Budget Buyers: Great for those needing 5G, a large OLED, and marathon battery life under ₹20,000.
• Avoid If: You prioritize long-term software updates (opt for Poco X7) or need fast charging (consider Realme V3 Ultra).

The Moto G86 Power impresses with its 6.76-inch 1.5K OLED, 6720mAh battery, and solid daylight camera for ₹17,000, making it a strong contender in the budget 5G segment. However, UI jitters, random freezes, and only one year of OS updates are notable drawbacks. During Flipkart’s Freedom Sale 2025, it’s a good pick for students and casual users, but tech enthusiasts may prefer alternatives like the Poco X7 for better software support. Got questions or thoughts on the Moto G86 Power? Share in the comments below!

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• Source: Moto G86 Power Review After 7 Days