The budget smartphone market has changed quite a bit over the last few years. With the rising cost of components, budget phones are no longer as affordable as they used to be. In fact, the sub-Rs 20,000 segment has emerged as the new affordable smartphone category in today’s day and age. Which also means that if you look on the brighter side, back when I had to suggest a phone to someone for under Rs 20,000, I knew the devices compromised on a few things. If anyone wanted the best performance for the budget, they had to settle for average cameras. If battery life were their priority, the display or software experience would not be good. But these days, brands are trying to offer a more balanced experience with larger batteries, high refresh rate displays, cleaner software, improved durability, and better cameras. That brings us to the two devices that follow a similar path: the OnePlus N6 and the Moto G37 Power.
Both devices target the same audience, but they take different approaches. The OnePlus N6 focuses on performance, battery life, and software, while the Moto G37 Power tries to offer an overall package with a lighter design, a clean software experience, and features that most brands have started removing. After spending time with both devices, here’s a breakdown of which phone makes the most sense for your wallet. Let’s dive into it.
Both brands have done a fantastic job with their smartphone offerings, because the first thing you’ll notice is the design, and neither phone looks like they belonged to the budget segment.
The OnePlus N6 follows a design language that closely resembles the company’s premium smartphones. The squarish camera module on the back gives you a familiar look, and the flat frame keeps the overall design minimal. Right after you pick up the phone, you can feel how dense it feels, and in a good way. Because of the 8,000mAh battery, the N6 weighs around 224 grams and measures 8.5mm thick. Despite that, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable, but you will notice the extra weight during an extended period of using the phone.
On the other hand, the Moto G37 Power comes with a vegan leather finish that offers better grip and feels comfortable to hold for long periods. The phone is also lighter and slimmer, making it easier to use throughout the day.
Durability-wise, the OnePlus N6 comes with MIL-STD-810H certification and an IP65 rating. Motorola also gets MIL-STD-810H certification, but comes with an IP64 rating, and on the front, you get Gorilla Glass 7i protection.
The Moto G37 Power has some extra features compared to the OnePlus N6. It includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and supports microSD cards of up to 1TB.
The stereo speakers on both devices perform well for the asking price.
Now, this could be a bummer for buyers as both smartphones feature LCD panels instead of AMOLED displays. Unfortunately, this is the new normal, at least in 2026, given the current market scenario.
The OnePlus N6 and Moto G37 Power come with 6.8-inch and 6.67-inch displays, respectively. Both phones offer IPS LCD panels with HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
On a positive note, at least, these are not 90Hz displays. But, since both use HD+ resolution, neither display looks particularly sharp compared to Full HD+ AMOLED displays that come in more expensive devices. That said, both panels are perfectly usable for everyday tasks. Scrolling is smooth while touch response remains quick during gaming and navigation.
In terms of brightness, both are very similar. In our testing at Digit Test Labs, OnePlus N6 reached around 1,070 nits, while Motorola reached up to 1,300 nits in High Brightness Mode. This means, while both phones are somewhat usable in harsh sunlight, just don’t expect them to be as bright as their AMOLED counterparts.
I also noticed a difference in the colour tuning. The OnePlus N6 produces colours that look slightly more natural, while the Moto G37 Power’s Display Colour Boost feature increases saturation to make photos and videos appear richer and have more contrast.
Performance is one of the areas where these two phones start showing a few differences. The OnePlus N6 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6360 Apex chipset, while the Moto G37 Power uses the MediaTek Dimensity 6400. Looking at the names alone, you might think Motorola has the advantage, but both chipsets are made on the same architecture.
In the benchmark testing, the OnePlus N6 scored 6,17,192 in Antutu, compared to 5,41,583 on the Moto G37 Power.
Geekbench 6 results were a little more mixed. Motorola managed 817 in the single-core, slightly ahead of OnePlus, which scored 785. However, OnePlus pulled ahead comfortably in the multi-core performance with a score of 2,015, while Motorola finished at 1,345.
CPU throttling results were interesting. The OnePlus N6 sustained around 95 per cent of its peak performance during the test. The Moto G37 Power, meanwhile, showed almost no throttling, which is a good result for a phone in this category.
In 3DMark Wildlife Extreme, both phones were again very close. The OnePlus scored 365, while Motorola edged slightly ahead with 383.
Now, benchmarks aside, for real-world everyday usage, both phones perform well. Opening apps, switching between multiple applications, browsing social media, and watching videos feel smooth on both devices. Neither phone struggles with regular day-to-day tasks.
Gaming is also similar. BGMI runs at up to 60fps on both smartphones. Casual games run without any issues, while more demanding titles remain playable. There are occasional frame drops during longer gaming sessions, but neither device becomes unusable.
That said, if gaming is a regular part of your routine, the OnePlus N6 does feel slightly more stable over longer sessions. The difference isn’t huge, but it’s enough to give OnePlus the edge in this category.
The OnePlus N6 runs OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16, while the Moto G37 Power ships with Android 16 alongside Motorola’s Hello UI.
OxygenOS continues to be one of the better Android interfaces available. Navigation feels smooth, animations are well-tuned, and multitasking remains responsive throughout the system. OnePlus has also added several AI-powered tools, including AI Eraser, AI Reflection Eraser, and AI Unblur. These features add some extra functionality in everyday use.
Motorola has traditionally offered one of the cleanest Android experiences, and Hello UI continues that approach. The interface stays close to stock Android, making it simple to navigate even for first-time users. Motorola’s gesture controls and customisation options also remain some of the better implementations in this segment. That said, Motorola has started including more pre-installed apps than before. Newsroom, recommended games, and a few third-party applications now come installed by default. They can be removed, but it’s still something worth mentioning.
OnePlus also includes some pre-installed apps, although the overall experience still feels slightly cleaner on the Motorola.
The OnePlus N6 will receive two major Android updates along with three years of security updates. With the G37 Power, Motorola promises one major Android update to Android 17 and three years of security patches. Neither policy is industry-leading, but OnePlus clearly offers the better long-term support.
Battery life is one of the biggest highlights of both smartphones. The OnePlus N6 packs an 8,000mAh battery, while the Moto G37 Power comes with a 7,000mAh battery. Both easily last through a full day of heavy use, but the OnePlus stretches even further.
During our PCMark Battery Test, the OnePlus N6 lasted an impressive 23 hours and 18 minutes. The Moto G37 Power managed 19 hours and 50 minutes.
In daily use too, the difference in battery life is noticeable. The OnePlus consistently offers longer screen-on time, making it the better choice for users who spend long hours gaming, streaming or travelling.
Charging is also slightly quicker on the OnePlus. It supports 45W fast charging and takes around 81 minutes to charge completely from 0 to 100 per cent. Motorola supports 30W TurboPower charging and reaches 0 to 100 per cent in roughly 85 minutes.
While the charging times are fairly close, OnePlus also supports 5W reverse wired charging, allowing you to charge accessories or another phone when needed.
The OnePlus N6 comes with a 50MP primary camera paired with a depth sensor. Selfies are handled by an 8MP front camera. The Moto G37 Power also features a 50MP primary sensor alongside a depth sensor and an 8MP selfie camera.
Starting with daylight photography, both phones produce images that are more than good enough for social media and everyday use. Colours look pleasing, dynamic range is acceptable, and exposure remains fairly consistent across different lighting conditions.
However, after comparing photos side by side, the OnePlus N6 produces slightly sharper images. Fine details are retained better, and close-up shots generally look cleaner on the N6.
When it comes to clicking portraits, once again, it is the OnePlus N6 that delivers more consistent edge detection and separates subjects from the background more accurately. The Moto G37 Power occasionally struggles around hair and finer edges, especially when the lighting isn’t ideal. Skin tones also look slightly more natural on the OnePlus.
When it comes to selfies, the OnePlus N6’s front camera produces selfies with more neutral colours, while the Moto G37 Power tends to brighten faces slightly. Some users may prefer Motorola’s processing, while others may find OnePlus looks closer to real life.
In video recording, the Moto G37 Power supports up to 2K resolution at 30fps. The OnePlus N6 is limited to 1080p at 60fps.
This brings us to the final verdict. If your budget is around Rs 20,000, which smartphone would you buy?
On one hand, there’s the OnePlus N6 that offers better performance, longer software support, stronger battery life, faster charging and a camera system that performs more consistently in everyday use.
Having said that, the Moto G37 Power also has a lot of things going in its favour. Its lighter design makes it more comfortable to use. Hello UI offers a clean Android experience, and practical additions like the headphone jack and expandable storage will still matter to many buyers. It’s also a good option for anyone shopping closer to the Rs 16,000 price point.
The biggest deciding factor, however, is value. The improvements OnePlus brings with the N6 aren’t limited to one area. As seen in this comparison, the N6 performs better, lasts longer on a single charge, and is likely to remain relevant for a longer period thanks to better software support. And that is what makes it easier to recommend to most buyers.
The Moto G37 Power remains a sensible option if you’re looking to spend less and prefer a cleaner software experience.
Long story short, if you’re deciding between these two phones and can spend some extra, the OnePlus N6 is the one I’d recommend. It simply offers the more complete package for the money.