Smartphones have got so large in recent years that many of us forget that once upon a time, phones competed to be as small as possible.
Now that buttons have long disappeared from the front of our phones, there isn’t much to do with a full screen design than make that screen bigger. 2014’s 4.7in iPhone 6 was gargantuan at the time – now the same-sized iPhone SE is one of the smallest phones you can buy.
But we believe that bigger isn’t always better in smartphone land, and this list is proof you can get your hands (or hand, preferably) on ten superb small smartphones.
Whether you have small hands and prefer a compact handset or are simply fed up with phones that stick out the top of your jeans pocket or don’t find in your handbag, we have whittled down the smallest phones out there for you to choose from (though admittedly there aren’t a lot in the first place).
While we recommend phones from household names like Apple and Samsung, it’s worth checking the best small phone for you isn’t one of the others from lesser though of brands such as Asus, or ones that sell fewer phones like Google.
You might also want to consider a foldable phone – the convenience of a smaller form to carry around that can unfold into something larger and closer to the size of a ‘normal’ smartphone in 2022.
1. iPhone 13 Mini
- Lightweight and compact
- Powerful performance
- Great cameras
Cons
- Limited battery life
- Relatively expensive
- No ProMotion display
Easily the best small phone around – considering the size-to-performance balance it strikes – with its (still 60Hz) 5.4in Super Retina XDR OLED display.
The 13 Mini runs on the same cutting-edge A15 Bionic chipset found in the rest of the series and it also benefits from more base storage and a bigger battery, compared to its predecessor (even if longevity is still behind that of rivals).
The dual rear 12Mp camera also enjoys improved stabilisation, better sensors and new shooting abilities – like Cinematic mode, while the selfie snapper is among the best in the business.
The screen might feel a little cramped to type on, so try one out in an Apple Store before you buy, if you can, and think hard about the price, as 2020’s iPhone 12 Mini is still a superb small phone offering that now costs even less.
Read our full Apple iPhone 13 mini review
2. Google Pixel 6a
- Great performance
- Good battery life
- Five years of security updates
Cons
- 60Hz display
- Slow 18W charging
- Plastic back scratches easily
The Pixel 6a has a 20:9 6.1in AMOLED screen so is taller than the iPhone 13 mini, but it’s still a slender and manageable size compared to most modern smartphones. It’s a 60Hz panel, the same as the iPhone, but other small phones have higher refresh rate displays.
The Pixel is our favourite smaller Android phone thanks to top drawer performance from the Google Tensor processor, the same chip as in the larger and more expensive Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The 12.2Mp main camera is also one of the best in the game thanks to Google’s clever HDR software that processes shots excellently.
Battery life is also excellent and better than many other high-end phones and small phones alike. It’s a shame the charging is a little slow, but the pay off is worth it in the end when the phone only costs $449/£399/€459. Add to that lots of clever Google features like spam call answering, great on-device transcription, and photo tools, and this is one pocketable powerhouse.
Read our full Google Pixel 6a review
3. Asus Zenfone 9
- Flagship specs
- Great battery life
- Accomplished cameras
Cons
- Overheating issues
- Only two Android updates promised
Asus has continued to make smaller phones when the trend has been to supersize, and we are eternally grateful. In 2022, the Zenfone 9 is not only the best Zenfone model ever, it’s also one of our favourite small phones, and the best small Android flagship you can get.
It has the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which has enabled outstanding power efficiency from the necessarily small battery – this phone has very good battery life, lasting well over a day of use. The phone does occasionally run hot. but it’s not the only one on the market to do so.
The punchy OLED display is 5.9in and has a 120Hz high refresh rate screen, and on the other side is a unique grippy plastic finish – with no glass, you can rock the phone without a case, but there is one in the box if you want.
You might prefer another phone if you want more than two years of Android updates, which is all Asus promises, but if you aren’t bothered then this is one of the best phones – not just considering small ones – you can buy.
4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Elegant folding design
- Water resistance
- More affordable than ever
Cons
- No telephoto camera
- Middling battery life
- Still needs to be tougher
Samsung took its already-groundbreaking Galaxy Z Flip foldable, improved every aspect – from design to performance – and then made it cheaper too!
The Z Flip 3 is a beautiful expression of the evolution of foldable smartphone tech and somehow manages to incorporate water resistance into its design. As such, you get a phone with a pretty sizeable 6.7in 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED that folds in half, making it much more pocketable.
Battery life and the dual cameras could be better but despite flagship-class performance in a groundbreaking design, the Flip 3’s pricing also proves that foldables can tango in the same space as conventional high-end smartphones without any major sacrifices.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G review
5. iPhone 12 Mini
- Lightweight and compact
- Powerful performance
- Great cameras
Cons
- Limited battery life
- Relatively expensive
- No ProMotion display
The iPhone 12 Mini serves as the smallest of the four handsets from Apple’s 2020 line-up and still boasts an impressive size-to-performance ratio.
On the front, you’ll find a beautiful 5.4in display that extends across the entirety of the phone’s front (save for the Face ID-capable notch).
It also packs in a pair of stellar cameras, MagSafe for iPhone-compliant wireless charging and what is still one of the most powerful SoCs out there, in Apple’s own A14 Bionic. 5G is included too, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Read our full iPhone 12 mini review
6. iPhone 13 Pro
- ProMotion display
- Superb cameras
- Top-tier performance
- Improved battery life
Cons
- Cinematography Mode and HDR algorithm need work
- Pricey
Even though it lacks a ‘Mini’ in its name, the size of Apple’s standard and ‘Pro’ phones still come in below the average, thanks to the size of most Android alternatives.
The iPhone 13 Pro sits at the top of that pile, offering the latest and greatest in terms of raw performance (from its A15 Bionic chip), along with a trio of excellent cameras that boast support for Apple’s ProRAW and ProRes still and video standards; not to mention a few more experimental features, like Cinematic mode that – after a little tuning from Apple – will leave you impressed.
Battery life is also hugely improved and the 13 Pro also finally integrates ProMotion onto an iPhone, with a 6.1in Super Retina XDR display that supports a dynamic refresh rate up to 120Hz.
Read our full Apple iPhone 13 Pro review
7. Xiaomi 12
- Impressive fast charging
- Crisp 120Hz display
- Great performance
Cons
- MIUI isn't for everyone
- No IP certification
- Underwhelming battery life
If you want a small but powerful Android phone with more a little more kick than 2020’s Pixel 5, 2022’s Xiaomi 12 is a brilliant alternative.
Provided you’re happy to contend with its more convoluted MIUI-based user experience, the Xiaomi 12 packs in the latest flagship chipset, great cameras and impressive 67W fast charging; addressing one of the frequent shortcomings of smaller phones – weaker, shorter battery life.
Size-wise, its 6.28in 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED display isn’t to be sniffed at either.
Read our full Xiaomi 12 review
8. iPhone 13
- Brilliant performance
- Capable cameras
- Long battery life
- Great value
Cons
- Still a 60Hz display
- No telephoto camera
- Slow charging
While it loses out on the 13 Pro’s high refresh rate display, the iPhone 13 still boasts cutting-edge features like Apple’s newest A15 Bionic 5nm chip and the latest camera features, including Cinematic Mode.
The rear camera system now sits at a diagonal, primarily to accommodate the impressive sensor-shift OIS (optical image stabilisation) that was exclusive to 2020’s iPhone 12 Pro Max (although there’s still no telephoto sensor), while on the front – despite the same 60Hz refresh rate as before – you get a stunning 6.1in OLED display, complete with a 20% smaller notch.
Like the 13 Pro, some of the best battery life on an iPhone comes as part of the iPhone 13 experience, but fast charging speeds are still well behind the curve
Read our full Apple iPhone 13 review
9. Sony Xperia 5 III
- Great 120Hz display
- Periscope zoom camera
- Headphone jack
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Expensive
The Xperia 5 III takes Sony’s flagship Xperia 1 III specs and squeezes them into a compact body; much like Apple does with its Mini models.
That means you get a 120Hz AMOLED display in Sony’s trademark slim 21:9 aspect ratio, but in this phone it measures just 6.1in across the diagonal. Sony has also packed in advanced speakers and audio features, along with a modern rarity: a headphone jack.
Top specs round out the phone, and the camera is also notable: this is one of the few small phones to include a periscope lens, going up to 4.4x zoom.
It’s a bit expensive, but this is one of the most powerful small Android phones around.
Read our full Sony Xperia 5 III review
10. iPhone SE 2022
- Latest Apple chip
- Wireless charging
- Cheap (for an iPhone)
Cons
- Extremely dated design
- Low-resolution display
- Single rear camera
The iPhone SE is one of Apple’s smallest iPhones – only the two Mini models are more petite – but it’s not our first choice.
That’s mostly because Apple’s has stuck to its old iPhone design here, meaning that while the SE is small, a lot of that space is wasted by a big black bezel and Home Button. That means the display is absolutely tiny and still low resolution – other small phones will feel bigger.
Still, you get the same processor as the iPhone 13 series, along with wireless charging and water-proofing. And while there’s only one rear camera it is pretty good – though not at night.
Buy this if you can’t afford either of the Minis, but otherwise it’s better to stretch your budget if you can.
Read our full Apple iPhone SE (2022) review
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