Various aspects described herein relate to techniques for mobility mode selection in uplink-based and downlink-based mobility in wireless communications systems. In an aspect, a method for wireless communications may include determining that a user equipment (UE) is operating in a first mobility mode, determining whether the UE satisfies at least one condition associated with mobility of the UE for mobility mode selection, and selecting a second mobility mode based on a determination that the UE satisfies the at least one condition, wherein each of the first mobility mode and the second mobility mode is an uplink mobility mode or a downlink mobility mode. The techniques described herein may apply to different communications technologies, including the 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) communications technology.