Summary
Smaller phones can be more comfortable to use, especially with one-handed operations. Some small phones inspire you to use your phone less by offering less smart features, while others provide all the modern conveniences you’re used to.
What to Look for in a Small Phone
For the most part, selecting the right small phone for you is just like choosing any new phone. The biggest difference between selecting a smartphone in general and a small phone is, of course, screen size and form factor. Look up the size of your current phone’s screen to help you decide how much smaller you might want to go.
There are modern smartphones with a full touchscreen that’s simply smaller than your average screen, or smartphones that can fold, delivering a smaller form factor when closed and a large screen to watch videos or play games on when open. Or, you could opt for a minimalist option that can only call, text, and perform other basic tasks, like a flip phone or a “dumb” phone.
Consider which internal specs you need, including the amount of RAM and storage, the screen quality, the camera setup, the operating system, battery capacity, and the processor’s speed. Think about your experience with your current smartphone when considering specs in a future phone. Is your current amount of storage too little? Do you wish your cameras were better? Does your phone die way too quickly on a full charge?
Though it can be difficult to know how much you’ll spend on your future phone when you start shopping, it’s smart to set a maximum to keep yourself from buying extra storage space you might not need or a premium camera setup you might not use.Buying your phone from your carriercan save you a little money or allow you to pay over time, whereas buying it unlocked can give you more freedom in moving carriers.
Best iPhone:iPhone 13 Mini
If you want a modern iPhone with a small screen, look no further than theiPhone 13 Mini. The phone measures 5.2 x 2.5 x 0.3 inches, and the screen measures 5.4 inches diagonally. It’s perfectly pocket-sized, and weighs almost nothing at 4.97 ounces.
The iPhone 13 mini’s 5.4-inch screen may be smaller than most modern smartphones, but it’s no less spectacular. It has a Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, and a curved design with rounded corners. Inside, you’ll find an A15 Bionic Chip with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine running the latest iOS 16, along with storage capacity options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB. Then, there’s support forBluetooth 5.0,5G,Wi-Fi 6, andNFCtechnology.
Pictures taken with the iPhone 13 Mini may not be as stunning as those taken withApple’s iPhone 14 Pro. But with its dual 12MP camera system,auto image stabilization, and countless smart features, your photos will still come out great. The 12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera is also equipped with smart features and suggestions to help you take the best selfie possible.
On a single charge, the iPhone 13 Mini can last up to 17 hours with just video playback or up to 55 hours with only audio playback. You can charge it via Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W, MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W, or a 20W adapter for up to 50% charge in 30 minutes. The iPhone 13 Mini starts at $599, and the box will include the phone and a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
Best iPhone
Apple’s iPhone 13 Mini is tiny, but mighty. Its compact design makes one-handed operations simple, and it’s packed with plenty of powerful components inside.
Best Budget iPhone:iPhone SE (2022)
At the time of writing, theiPhone SE (2022)features Apple’s smallest screen, measuring only 4.7 inches diagonally. The phone itself measures 5.5 x 2.7 x 0.3 inches, and weighs 5.09 ounces. Its 4.7-inch Retina HD display is equipped with IPS technology and has a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels.
Beneath the display, the iPhone SE (2022) features the same A15 Bionic Chip found in the iPhone 13 mini, running iOS 16 and delivering smooth performance. You’ll have storage capacity options of 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB, and the phone comes with support for5G,Wi-Fi 6,Bluetooth 5.0, andNFCtechnology.
With its 12MP rear camera and the A15 Bionic Chip working behind the scenes to optimize photos, you’ll be able to capture beautiful landscapes and closeups with sharp detail. You can also snap some awesome selfies with the front-facing 7MP camera.
The battery life of Apple’s 3rd generation iPhone SE isn’t the best, but it’s a worthy tradeoff for its budget-friendly price and small form factor. Its battery can withstand up to 15 hours of video playback or up to 50 hours of audio playback. The iPhone SE (2022) starts at $429 for the lowest storage capacity option.
iPhone SE 2022
Best Budget iPhone
Although it’s considered a budget iPhone compared to the current flagship series, the iPhone SE (2022) has solid cameras, iOS 16, and a powerful A15 Bionic chipset.
Best Android: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4gives you the best of both worlds—a large main display when opened and a compact form factor when folded. Thisfoldable phonefrom Samsung has a stunning 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 120Hz display that you can fold in half horizontally. When the phone is folded, you can use the 1.9-inch Super AMOLED cover display for certain tasks instead of opening the phone.
The Z Flip 4 weighs 6.6 ounces and measures 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches when open. That 6.5-inch height gets cut in half when the phone is folded, creating a quaint square form factor that can easily slip into your pocket. This phone supports all the latest technologies, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, 5G, and NFC.
Samsung’s Z Flip 4 camera system may not be as great as the Galaxy S series’ camera system, but because the Z Flip 4 can fold and stay propped open, it makes taking selfies or group photos incredibly easy. There’s a 10MP front-facing camera, and the rear camera setup consists of a 12MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide lens.
Inside theGalaxy Z Flip 4, there’s a speedy Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB, starting at $999.99 for the lowest storage amount. This phone is also equipped with a 3,700 mAh battery that can last up to 56 hours when just playing audio.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Best Android
The Samsung Galaxy Flip 4 is a great folding phone that packs powerful specs at an affordable price. It’s vertical folding style makes it easy to use and offers a bit of nostalgia too
Best Budget Android: Asus Zenfone 9
TheAsus Zenfone 9is an affordable Android phone with a relatively small screen. Compared to most modern phones with an average 6.3-inch screen, the Zenfone 9’s 5.9-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display will feel smaller. Plus, Asus decks out the Zenfone 9 with many one-handed operations that make the phone feel more comfortable in hand. This phone weighs 5.96 ounces, and measures 5.8 x 2.7 x 0.36 inches.
Its internal specs make the Zenfone 9 one of thebest Android phones, and it can handle anything you throw at it, including demanding mobile games. It’s equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, and you’ll have options of 8GB or 16GB of RAM, as well as 128GB or 256GB of storage.
No matter which spec combination you go for, everyZenfone 9sports a decent camera setup. There’s a 12MP front-facing camera, a 50MP main rear camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer and AI photo-assist technologies. The Zenfone 9 also features the latest connectivity technologies, including 5G LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, and Wi-Fi 6/6E.
To power its internal specs and keep everything running smoothly, there’s a 4300mAh battery that can last up to 18.5 hours with video playback. Unlike many other modern smartphones, the Zenfone 9 comes with a 30W HyperCharge adapter in the box, not just the charging cable. The most affordable combination of specs retails for $699.99.
Asus Zenfone 9
Best Budget Android
The Asus Zenfone 9’s 5.9-inch display isn’t the smallest option available, but with its many one-handed operations, it’ll feel like a good fit in your hand. Plus, it has a buttery smooth 120Hz display and an incredible battery life.
Best Flip Phone:Alcatel Go Flip 3
Modern flip phones offer the smallest possible form factor, and come equipped with simple features, like calling, texting, and snapping quick photos. TheAlcatel Go Flip 3measures 4.1 x 2 x 0.8 inches, weighs 7.4 ounces, and features two small displays.
On the 2.8-inch LCD internal display, you can send texts by typing or using your voice, read through emails, and make phone calls. The 1.4-inch external display shows who’s calling or texting without needing to flip the phone open. You can utilizeWi-Fi callingand speedy 4GLTEconnectivity, and share mobile data with up to eight devices at a time with Mobile Hotspot technology.
The internal specs of the Go Flip 3 aren’t as impressive as flagship smartphones, but the phone performs well with the simple tasks it’s able to carry out. There’s a quad-core processor, up to 4GB of built-in storage capacity, and an option to expand storage up to 32GB with a microSD card. Taking photos with the 2MP rear camera won’t produce picturesque masterpieces, but it’ll get the job done if you just need a simple picture to remember which brand to pick up at the grocery store.
Alcatel’s Go Flip 3 runs KaiOS 2.5, which comes withGoogle Assistantso you can carry out tasks with simple voice commands. With Google Assistant, you can book appointments, ask questions, and control smart devices within your home. Because you can’t scroll on social media or waste time playing games, you won’t need to charge the battery often. On a single charge, the Go Flip 3’s battery can last almost eight hours with nonstop talk time over 4G. The lowest starting price for this phone is $114.
Alcatel Go Flip 3
Best Flip
Alcatel’s Go Flip 3 is equipped with everything you need, just in a flip form factor. You can use Google Assistant, type out messages with your voice, and make phone calls, but you won’t have access to third-party apps or navigation.
Best Dumb Phone:Light Phone II
With theLight Phone II, you won’t be able to spend hours playing a mobile game or scrolling on social media. You can make calls, send texts, use Google Maps, and carry out other basic phone tasks—all on a 2.8-inchE-Ink displaythat makes it look more like paper than a traditional LCD display. The phone itself measures 3.8 x 2.2 x 0.3 inches, and weighs only 2.75 ounces.
The Light Phone II features a headphone jack, a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (210 MSM8909), a custom Light OS based on Android 8.1, and support for Bluetooth 4.2, 4G LTE, and Wi-Fi. Though you can’t download many third-party apps, there are a few useful built-in tools, including an alarm, a calculator, navigation, a place to jot down notes and record voice memos, and a simple music player.
On a single charge, the Light Phone II can last up to seven days on standby or up to two hours while chatting with someone on the phone. Because there’s not much you’re able to do on the Light Phone besides connect with people and use simple tools, the phone could easily last you two to three days between charges. Whether you go for the light gray or black version, the Light Phone II costs $299.99.
Light Phone II
Best Dumb
The Light Phone II demonstrates the beauty of simplicity, providing just the necessities, like calling, texting, and navigating features.
