Motorola Signature launched in India as brand’s first flagship since 2024

Utshab Biswas
1 hour ago
5 min read

Motorola has silently crept back to the flagship conversation in India, with the Motorola Signature being its first top-tier smartphone since 2024. Starting at Rs 59,999, this phone is not here to win on discounts or shock value. Instead, Motorola does seem to be testing if Indian buyers are ready to pay the price for long-term software support, refined hardware, and more mature design language from the brand.

From our tracking of Motorola's past launches, this is also the first time in years that the company is positioning itself directly against Samsung FE models and OPPO's premium Reno lineup rather than performance-first phones from iQOO or OnePlus. That shift alone makes the Signature worth examining closely.

Motorola Signature Price in India and availability

The Motorola Signature is priced firmly in the upper-premium segment, a space that has become crowded and unforgiving.

Motorola Signature price in India

12GB + 256GB - Rs 59,999
16GB + 512GB - Rs 64,999
16GB + 1TB - Rs 69,999

The phone will be made available in the market from January 30, exclusively via Flipkart, where customers will enjoy a discount of 5,000 Rupees with HDFC Bank and Axis Bank cards, effectively making it a starting priced device at 54,999 Rupees.

At this price point, the Motorola smartphone is competing in a crowded field that already has popular models such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, the OPPO Reno15 Pro Mini, as well as OnePlus and Xiaomi flagships even at a discount! While this is a tough segment to compete in, Motorola can still succeed in this field particularly because of software and longevity considerations!

Design and display

Motorola, however, has chosen a different path in terms of design with the Signature, and one can tell straight away. Equipped with a fabric finish at the rear and an aluminium frame, the device certainly boasts a unique look. Moreover, it does not emulate a glass-and-glass design philosophy, a refreshing touch for 2026.

The phone is just 7 mm thick and weighs only 186 grams, making it one of the sleekest devices in its class. Weight is one attribute of a phone that does not get enough attention. A lighter phone is a significant plus, as it reduces fatigue on the hands.

The 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display is another highlight:

FHD+ resolution
165Hz dynamic refresh rate
Up to 6,200 nits peak brightness
Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection

The high brightness should help outdoors, and LTPO ensures better battery efficiency. That said, some buyers may question the FHD+ resolution at this price, especially when QHD panels are still available on certain rivals.

Performance and software

The Motorola Signature runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which sits just below Qualcomm's absolute top-tier chip. On paper, that puts it at a disadvantage compared to phones running the Gen 5 Elite, but real-world usage is rarely that simple.

As we have seen in devices like the OnePlus 15R, a well-optimised sub-flagship chip can easily end up feeling indistinguishable in daily use. Apps should open instantly, multitasking smooth, and sustained performance will likely be more stable than peak benchmark numbers indicate.

It ships with Android 16 out of the box, garnished with some Moto AI features that are focused on productivity rather than gimmicks. It's backed by the promise of seven years of Android OS and security updates, a commitment still all but unheard of outside of Samsung and Google. That counts more than most specs for anyone planning on keeping their phone four to five years.

Camera setup

Motorola has gone all-in on 50MP sensors, which is a bold but somewhat conservative approach.

The rear camera setup includes:

50MP Sony Lytia 828 main sensor with OIS
50MP ultrawide (112-degree field of view)
50MP Sony Lytia 600 periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom

On paper, the plan appears to offer a fair and flexible design. The provision of a genuine periscope lens is particularly welcome, with digital zoom still commonly employed in cameras at this level.

The 50MP front camera comes equipped with autofocus, making this another major addition to this camera version.

Nevertheless, the primary camera resolution seems limited when compared to its competitors, like the Reno15 Pro Mini, which has a 200 MP sensor in place. However, it remains to be seen whether such a sensor would actually produce better images during usage; only Moto’s treatment would ensure that, which might require a deeper scrutiny of its reviews rather than specs.

Battery and charging

The Motorola Signature packs a 5,200mAh battery, which feels modest in a world where 6,000–7,000mAh batteries are becoming common thanks to silicon-carbon tech. Heavy users may need to top up before the end of the day.

Charging, however, is a strong point:

90W wired fast charging
10W wireless reverse charging
5W wired reverse charging

This means short charging sessions should be enough for daily use. Combined with the phone’s slim design, Motorola seems to be prioritising comfort over sheer endurance.

Comparison with rivals in the same price segment

What Motorola offers against the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is faster charging, a smoother display, and longer software support. Samsung still wins for the consistency of its cameras and eco-system integration.

Compared to the OPPO Reno15 Pro Mini, the Signature feels more serious and durable with those IP69 and MIL-STD-810H certifications. OPPO, however, does seem to have an edge in camera hardware and probably imaging output too.

What it comes down to, after observing this segment, is that the real advantage Motorola has built is to provide flagship-like durability, clean software, and long-term support at a time when many brands were focused on year-over-year upgrades.

The Motorola Signature feels like a phone designed for patience rather than excitement. It doesn’t chase extreme battery sizes or headline-grabbing camera numbers. Instead, it bets on balance, longevity, and usability.

What works

Clean Android with long-term updates
Lightweight, premium design
Strong display with 165Hz LTPO
Versatile triple-camera setup
Excellent durability ratings

Potential risks

Battery size may disappoint power users
Camera performance is still an open question
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 may be perceived as “not top-tier”
Pricing leaves little room for error

Motorola is asking buyers to trust its software and optimisation story. That trust will depend on how well the phone performs after a few updates, not on day one.

What this means for Indian buyers

It should be noted that while changing phones every two years, this Motorola Signature would appear to be pricey. However, should an owner wish to have their phone for four to five years, this is perhaps the only Android smartphone that will be kept relevant through updates alone.

While it’s not the most powerful option around, and it’s not the best camera phone around either, it could possibly turn out to be the most livable flagship in the same range in the future, depending on how the company optimizes it in terms of software and cameras.