Motorola Moto G86 Power Review: A Battery Beast with a Stunning OLED Screen That Lasts for Days
Here's the thing most people overlook: When you're hunting for a mid-range phone, battery life often gets sacrificed for flashy features. But what if you didn't have to choose?
The Motorola Moto G86 Power positions itself as a compelling mid-tier device that prioritizes endurance without compromising on essential features. For approximately €80 more than the standard Moto G86, you're getting roughly 30% more battery life—a trade-off that could fundamentally change how you use your smartphone daily.
This device maintains sensible dimensions and weight despite housing a massive power cell, and it doesn't force you to accept significant feature compromises. The screen impresses with exceptional brightness levels rarely seen at this price point, while the elevated PWM frequency might provide welcome relief for those who experience discomfort from screen flicker.
Photography capabilities are respectable, the build quality feels premium and durable, and while you shouldn't anticipate flagship-level performance from the wireless connectivity or processor, both deliver adequate performance for typical daily tasks.
One area of concern: Motorola has committed to security updates, though their delivery schedule appears inconsistent at best.
What Makes This Phone Stand Out
Strengths:
- Enormous battery capacity delivering exceptional runtime
- Vibrant OLED panel with 120 Hz refresh rate and impressive brightness
- Capable camera configuration
- MicroSD expansion slot included
- Robust and aesthetically pleasing construction
- IP68/IP69 environmental protection
- eSIM functionality supported
Weaknesses:
- WiFi 6 limited to 1x1-MIMO configuration
- Noticeable warmth during intensive use
- PWM flickering detectable (though at high frequency)
- Uncertain update delivery schedule
But here's where it gets controversial: Is paying €80 extra for better battery life actually worth it when you could invest that money in a faster charger or portable power bank?
The Moto G86 Power retails for just under €320 (approximately $345 USD) through online retailers, delivering outstanding endurance relative to its cost.
During our evaluation period, the device was available on amazon.de for about €344 (roughly $370 USD).
Build Quality: Colorful and Surprisingly Tough
Visually, the Motorola Moto G86 Power bears striking resemblance to its standard sibling with the smaller battery. The primary distinctions appear in physical measurements and mass. The Power variant adds approximately 13 grams and 0.8 millimeters to the thickness—differences that prove virtually imperceptible during regular handling.
Color selections remain consistent across models: red, dark grey, light purple, and light green. Every finish draws from the Pantone color system and carries correspondingly distinctive names. However, the Moto G86 Power omits Motorola's characteristic fragrance treatment.
The device carries IP68/IP69 certification, providing defense against dust infiltration and even temporary water submersion. The chassis demonstrates impressive durability throughout everyday scenarios.
Storage Options: Now Available with Higher Capacity
And this is the part most people miss: The Moto G86 Power now comes with a 512 GB internal storage option, currently available for approximately €30 additional cost. Our test unit featured 256 GB storage paired with 8 GB RAM—a configuration that aligns perfectly with expectations at this price tier.
A nano-SIM slot is provided, while eSIM support enables dual-SIM functionality.
A microSD card reader is also integrated. Testing with the Angelbird V60 reference card revealed impressive transfer speeds, establishing it as a reliable solution for expandable storage.
Software: Updates Through 2029, But With Caveats
Motorola builds its operating system atop Android 15 with minimal modifications. All essential manufacturer features are accessible through the Moto application, which also facilitates convenient system updates.
The manufacturer promises software support extending to 2029. However, our review device displayed security patches dated May 2025—somewhat outdated at the time of evaluation. This raises legitimate questions about how consistently Motorola will deliver future security updates.
The smartphone packaging eliminates plastic materials, and according to Motorola, the device itself incorporates approximately 14 percent recycled materials.
Based on the European energy certificate, battery replacement should be relatively straightforward. Repair guides and replacement components are available through replacebase.eu, though the Moto G86 Power wasn't yet catalogued there during our testing period.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, But Only 1×1 MIMO
Wi-Fi 6 as the fastest wireless standard sounds impressive initially, but the Moto G86 Power only implements a 1x1 MIMO configuration—meaning a single antenna handles both transmission and reception. Consequently, data transfer rates with the Asus ROG Rapture AXE11000 reference router measured relatively modest at approximately 300 to 375 Mbit/s.
5G connectivity is fully implemented for mobile networks, and throughout our spot evaluations, the smartphone maintained decent signal quality.
Call Quality: Clear and Distinct
When placing calls through the earpiece, the caller's voice sounds slightly thin but remains easily comprehensible. The microphone captures your voice with clarity.
In speakerphone mode, call quality improves noticeably: the other party's voice sounds fuller and more natural, while your own voice remains clear and easily understood.
Camera Performance: The Moto G86 Power Delivers Good Image Quality
The camera system remains unchanged compared to the Moto G86. The primary camera still utilizes a 50-megapixel sensor, producing generally impressive photographs with accurate colors and acceptable sharpness.
In low-light conditions, numerous details remain visible, though definition in darker regions proves somewhat limited.
The ultra-wide-angle camera captures usable images, though fine detail rendering isn't particularly strong.
What's in the Box: Two Years of Coverage
Motorola includes a rigid plastic protective case, a USB cable, and a SIM ejection tool with the Moto G86 Power, but no power adapter is supplied in European markets.
Motorola provides a 24-month warranty on its smartphones.
Input and Operation: Responsive Touchscreen
Motorola relies on Google's standard keyboard application, which addresses all fundamental functions with an uncluttered interface and dependable performance.
The touchscreen feels swift and fluid during use, as anticipated from a panel supporting refresh rates up to 120 Hz.
An under-display fingerprint sensor recognizes stored fingerprints with remarkable speed and precision.
Facial recognition via the front-facing camera is also available and operates reliably throughout everyday use.
Display: Bright and Vivid P-OLED
The display specifications remain largely consistent with the Moto G86, which is excellent news. Motorola already delivered one of the brightest screens in the mid-range category, and the Moto G86 Power maintains that advantage.
Throughout our measurements, the panel achieved up to 3,865 cd/m² when displaying HDR content on smaller areas, while typical maximum brightness during everyday usage measured around 1,429 cd/m².
Color precision remains outstanding, with barely detectable deviations from reference standards.
At reduced brightness levels, the P-OLED panel exhibits PWM flickering at an exceptionally high frequency, which may prove less noticeable even for sensitive individuals. Because flicker perception varies significantly between individuals, testing the display personally before purchasing remains advisable.
The display remains easily readable outdoors, with only mild reflections under bright illumination.
Colors and contrast maintain quality even at shallow viewing angles.
Performance: Sufficient for Everyday Tasks
The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 is a mid-range system-on-chip that doesn't deliver particularly high performance.
Throughout everyday usage, the Motorola Moto G86 Power operates reasonably smoothly, though it struggles with more demanding applications.
Regarding graphics capabilities, the Moto G86 Power provides adequate power for smooth gameplay in less demanding Full HD titles. More intensive games typically operate at approximately 40 fps, as demonstrated by our gaming evaluations of the Moto G86.
Web browsing feels responsive and quick, with even complex websites loading promptly.
The UFS 2.2 storage performs admirably, contributing to faster loading times and data transfers.
Thermal Management: Can Get Warm
Temperatures reaching up to 48.6 °C are clearly perceptible under sustained load.
However, this doesn't appear to impact the SoC's performance. The Moto G86 Power continues delivering comparable results even after extended stress testing, as evidenced by the 3DMark stress test.
Audio: Stereo Speakers (Hybrid)
The compact speaker receives support from the earpiece, enabling subtle stereo effects when the phone is oriented in landscape mode.
Maximum volume is respectable, and audio output is clear with relatively full sound. However, these remain the speakers of an affordable smartphone, so expectations for deep bass or powerful low frequencies should be tempered.
External audio devices can connect via the USB-C port or Bluetooth. Sound output maintains cleanliness and good quality, with all common codecs supported for wireless audio transmission.
Battery Life: Few Rivals Last This Long
Here's what nobody's talking about: The Moto G86 Power's colossal 6,720 mAh battery represents one of its most compelling advantages.
Throughout our Wi-Fi evaluation, the phone endured an astounding 27 hours, making two complete days of usage on a single charge entirely achievable.
The smartphone supports charging at up to 30 watts, functioning flawlessly with all chargers tested. Fully charging the substantial battery requires roughly three hours.
Final Verdict: Motorola Moto G86 Power
The substantial battery capacity and optionally exceptional display brightness emerge as the Moto G86 Power's defining strengths.
It represents a solid mid-range smartphone overall, though the irregular update schedule and sluggish Wi-Fi performance prove somewhat disappointing.
Now here's the controversial question I need to ask you: Would you sacrifice some processing power and faster wireless speeds for battery life that actually lasts two full days? Or do you think manufacturers are using "battery life" as an excuse to cut corners elsewhere?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below—do you agree that battery endurance matters more than raw performance for most users, or am I completely off base here? Let's debate this!
