What if I told you that the phone with visible screws on its back isn’t the one that looks built for rugged use?
That’s the kind of contradiction you run into when comparing the Moto G96 (review) and the CMF Phone 2 Pro (review). Priced at Rs 17,999 and Rs 18,999 for the base variants, they go head to head on paper. But while they share a similar target audience, their priorities couldn’t be more different.
The Moto G96 has a curved frame with a vegan leather back that makes up for a soft and comfortable grip. It’s also lighter at 178 grams and is IP68 dust and water resistance rated which is a notable advantage in this price segment. The overall build feels polished and refined and goes well with the rest of the Motorola’s Pantone validated lineup.
In contrast, the CMF Phone 2 Pro takes a more industrial approach with a flat design that makes screws visible, a matte backplate (not removable this time), and modular styling that make it stand out visually. It is IP54 rated which is sufficient for basic splash resistance, but doesn’t match the durability of the G96. The CMF also feels bulkier and heavier in daily use.
If you want something refined and comfortable, go for the Moto, but if you are looking to make a statement the moment you pull your phone out, the CMF is an easy choice.
The Moto G96 offers a 6.6-inch 144Hz pOLED panel with excellent colour tuning and impressive touch response. With 2100 nits peak brightness, it offers excellent colour tuning and touch responsiveness. However, it lacks HDR support.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro uses a slightly larger 6.7-inch AMOLED panel, which is slightly brighter at 2200 nits, HDR compatible, and with 1000Hz touch sampling it feels snappier when gaming. BGMI, for instance, felt more responsive on the CMF.
While Moto’s panel is more colour accurate, the CMF display offers higher brightness and HDR capabilities, making it more suitable for content consumption and gaming.
Under the hood, the Moto G96 runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, while the CMF uses Dimensity 7300 Pro. Benchmarks slightly favour the CMF, especially under sustained loads, but both perform admirably for daily use.
For gamers, 120FPS support in BGMI on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a significant advantage. Thermal management is also slightly better on the CMF, especially during extended sessions.
Both run Android 15. Moto’s Hello UI is clean and intuitive with helpful gestures and no bloat. CMF’s Nothing OS 3.2 is more visually distinct, focusing on minimalism and unique widgets.
Software support is another differentiator. Moto offers 1 year of OS updates and 3 years of security patches, while CMF provides 3 years of OS updates and 6 years of patches. A clear long-term win for CMF.
The Moto G96 is equipped with a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C main sensor with OIS, 8MP ultrawide, and a 32MP front camera. It supports 4K video recording on both front and rear cameras, which is rare in this price range.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a 50MP main, 50MP 2x telephoto, 8MP ultrawide, and a 16MP front camera. While the telephoto lens provides additional flexibility for zoom shots and portraits, the overall consistency of the main camera system isn’t quite as reliable in tricky lighting.
In well-lit conditions, both phones perform well. Moto delivers slightly more vibrant colours and better portrait separation. The CMF’s neutral colour science and 2x telephoto lens give it an edge for close-up compositions and zoomed shots.
If selfie video recording or stable HDR performance is a priority, the Moto G96 has the upper hand. If versatility across focal lengths is more important, the CMF offers more options.
The Moto G96 packs a 5500mAh battery, giving it about 7.5 hours of screen time. CMF’s 5000mAh lasts a little less (~6.5–7 hours), but not by much.
Charging speeds are close: 30W on Moto, 33W on CMF. Both charge to full in about an hour. The CMF also supports 5W reverse wired charging, which can be useful for charging accessories like earbuds.
If you want a phone that feels premium in-hand, boasts flagship-grade water protection, takes excellent selfies and portraits, and stays out of your way with clean software—go for the Moto G96. It’s practical, polished, and dependable.
But if you want to stand out, appreciate modular design, love taking zoom shots, need longer software support, and enjoy vibrant visuals—the CMF Phone 2 Pro brings something truly fresh to the table.
Ultimately, both phones make sense and deliver excellent value. Whether you prioritise consistency and refinement (Moto G96) or versatility and design centric innovation (CMF Phone 2 Pro). It just depends on the kind of sense you’re looking for.