Nowadays, smartphones seem to be getting bigger and bigger every year, and all manufacturers are trying to compete with each other in terms of who has the biggest screen. But not everyone wants a huge phone, since some of us value having something compact enough to fit easily in our pocket and want a phone that can only be used with one hand. Believe it or not, there are plenty of options if you want something small.
While a lot of people want to "go big or go home", there are still some of us who like something a little smaller. Of course, we're not talking about going back to the original iPhone size, but it's nice to just have a small and compact phone without a huge footprint, you know?Remember what it was like to easily use your phone with one hand?Those wonderful days!
Thankfully, there are still some phones that offer a great experience in a smaller body. Without further ado, this is the best small phone you can buy in 2023!
1.iPhone 15
The best little iPhone
Apple iPhone 15 review
Merit. Large camera upgrades.
USB-C interface.
The matte glass feels incredible.
Dynamic Island. Curved edges are more comfortable.
Reverse wired charging.
Shortcoming. 60Hz refresh rate display.
Most of the color options are too light.
It gets hot when running intensive applications.
Why you should buy this: If you want to offer Apple's latest and greatest products in the most compact form factor, you can't go wrong with the iPhone 15.
Who it's for: Those who want a small, lightweight, and powerful iPhone.
Why we chose the iPhone 15:
Apple has made some significant improvements to the standard base model, the iPhone 15, this year, making it one of the best small iPhones you can buy right now – especially if you want the latest and greatest.
Although the iPhone 15 body looks similar to its predecessor, Apple did make some changes this year. First of all, the back is made of new stained glass, which has a matte finish that is superior to the previous glossy back. Fingerprints don't show that much and it's better to hold. It also has more rounded curves around the edges, so it's not as sharp as the iPhone 14 and more comfortable to hold.
The iPhone 15 now also comes with the Dynamic Island, which was previously introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro series, eliminating the notch. 6.The 1-inch display looks great in terms of color and text, offering bright and vivid colors and crisp text. It reaches a regular brightness of 1,000 nits and a peak outdoor brightness of 2,000 nits. However, it still only has a 60Hz refresh rate, but for the most part, the scrolling and animations are not bad.
Apple has made some significant improvements to the iPhone 15 camera. The main camera is now 48MP,**will default to 24MP resolution (more details), and Smart HDR 5 improves the overall tone. The ultra-wide angle and **camera are still 12MP, which is a bit disappointing, but what you get**still looks pretty good. iPhone 15 also supports the new Auto Portrait feature, so you can transform any image after the fact (as long as it's focused on a person or pet).
There is an A16 Bionic chip and 15GB of RAM in the iPhone 6. It may not be as powerful as the Pro model, but it still runs iOS 17 smoothly without any issues. For most people, it should still exceed expectations. The battery life lasts at least a full day before you need to put it on the charger. Speaking of which, it now also uses USB-C instead of Lightning, although Apple hasn't increased the charging speed. The iPhone 15 is small, powerful, and very lightweight, thanks to the aluminum frame. If you want a small iPhone, this is what you want to buy.
2.Apple iPhone SE (2022).
Best small iphone runner.
iPhone SE (2022) review
Merit. Small and lightweight.
Very powerful. Touch ID works very well.
Wireless charging. IP67 waterproof rating.
Shortcoming. Poor battery life.
60Hz screen.
64GB is not enough.
Why you should buy this: If you want a small iPhone that** is affordable and you don't mind making some compromises, the iPhone SE is great value for money.
Who it's for: Those who want a small iPhone that is affordable and even still has a home button. Why We Chose iPhone SE (2022):
If you want a small iPhone that is the most affordable and don't mind making some compromises, then the iPhone SE could be a great choice. With the iPhone SE, you get the iPhone 8 body and the interior of the iPhone 13 series, so it's a fun little mashup. This means you still have a home button and an outdated look, but more modern internals with the A15 Bionic chip. Compared to the large screen on today's flagship iPhones, 4...The 7-inch display is small. But it does have a modest 326ppi, which isn't too shabby. The colors are nice and bright, and the text is easy to read. However, it only has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is outdated at this point in time. Compared to the competition, the single-lens 12MP camera now looks weird, even more new iPhones. Still, Apple makes this basic camera impressive, as you can actually use it to shoot the ** of Portrait mode, which isn't bad. But you won't have a night mode, the camera is only 7MP and you can only record up to 1080p. The battery life isn't that impressive, though, as you'll definitely need to recharge it after a long day. Keep in mind that the iPhone SE only has up to 64GB of storage, which is really not much. However, if you just want a basic iPhone to do simple things, then this should be fine.
3.Google Pixel 8
The best small android phone.
Google Pixel 8 review
Pros: Great main camera.
Amazing AI ** editing tools.
Two days of battery life.
Smooth, fast Android 14
Tensor G3 is cool and efficient.
Seven years of software support.
Shortcoming. The wide-angle camera is disappointing.
Average charging speed.
Why you should buy this: A small and compact Android phone with some powerful AI features that provide great results for smartphone photography.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a small phone and prefers Android over iOS. Why we chose the Google Pixel 8:
This year, Google has actually reduced the screen size of the Pixel 8 by 01 inch. While this may seem like a negligible change, it helps make the Pixel 8 feel more compact than previous iterations. When you place 6When the 2-inch display size is combined with a matte aluminum frame and polished glass, it becomes a very lightweight and easy-to-use phone.
Speaking of display, the Pixel 8 features an all-new OLED "Actua Display" panel with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and a refresh rate between 60Hz and 120Hz.
The Pixel 8 is powered by Google's own Tensor G3 chip and 8GB of RAM, which seems to be an improvement over previous iterations that get hot under pressure. While the G3 chip gets hot, it never gets hot, at least to the point where it's uncomfortable to hold the phone. The Pixel 8 comes with Android 14 installed, and Google promises a software update for seven years.
One of the reasons to use the Pixel is the great camera system, which you can get on the Pixel 8 as well. You have a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and 10.5MP ** camera. There's no telephoto lens on the Pixel 8 – you'll need the Pixel 8 Pro. In any case, the ** you shoot on the Pixel 8 looks great, the colors are vibrant, and it still looks natural. Plus, with all the AI editing tools you can use, such as Best Take and Magic Editor, you can get some great results that are worth sharing on social or with family and friends.
The Pixel 8's battery life is also pretty good, as at a battery capacity of 4,575mAh, the battery will last more than a day. Plugging in for 30 minutes gives you about 50% power, and you also have 18W Qi charging and reverse wirelessness.
4.Asus Zenfone 10
Best small android phone runner.
ASUS Zenfone 10 review
Advantages welcome compact size.
Outstanding performance.
Clean, simple software.
Shortcoming. Charging is slow.
The gimbal did not live up to its potential.
Why you should buy this: The phone is small, but it's packed with great features and performance.
Who it should be: Anyone who wants a smartphone that is easy to use with one hand. Why we chose the Asus Zenfone 10:
The Asus Zenfone 10 is one of the smallest Android phones you can buy right now. With a width of less than 70mm and a height of less than 150mm, it is ideal for one-handed use. ASUS has given the Zenfone 10 a simple and unique look. There are two large camera modules on the rear, and the ASUS logo in the corner feels futuristic. You also get a tactile material at the rear that provides more grip and is fingerprint resistant. It even has a headphone jack, although the case itself is thick and only 94 mm. Be that as it may, this is a very compact phone compared to other options.
The Asus Zenfone 10 comes with a compact 592-inch AMOLED display with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz for some games and a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz for typical use. You have Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip inside, as well as 16GB of RAM, so it's a very powerful little package. The display can also reach 1,100 nits of peak brightness, so while it's not as bright as other phones, it's still usable enough in sunlight.
The camera on the Asus Zenfone 10 is good, although it won't be any better than the Pixel or iPhone. A 4,300mAh battery will get you through at least the whole day, taking about 30 minutes to fully charge at 50%. This is also the first time that ASUS has added 15W wireless charging to the Zenfone.
If you value one-handed use the most, including camera performance, then the Asus Zenfone 10 is perfect for your needs.
5.Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The best little folding phone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review
Advantage: No more gaps when folded and closed.
Crafted. The hinge feels excellent.
More useful cover screen.
Fantastic performance.
Good reliable camera.
5 years of updates. Shortcoming.
The crease remains.
Mediocre battery life.
The cover screen requires a lot of adjustments.
Why you should buy this: It combines functionality and performance in an ultra-compact flip form.
Who it is for: Those who want to offer the smallest and most compact form to their smartphones. Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5:
Samsung has been the defending champion of foldable phones for several years, and so has the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a foldable flip phone, it's the absolute smallest form factor if you want a small phone. Samsung has also made improvements to the Z Flip 5 with the new Flex Hinge, allowing it to fold completely flat without unsightly gaps, which also makes the phone thinner than its predecessor when closed.
Other improvements include a larger coverage display, which is a 3A 4-inch Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 720 x 748 pixels and a 60Hz refresh rate. You can also run any app on the cover display, but there are some settings that need to be made before it can function properly. The cover display has several different widget panels, which are also useful.
The interior display is also lovely. It's the same as last year's 6The 7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is the same, with a resolution of 2640 x 1080 and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The brightness level now reaches 1,750 nits as well, making it very useful in bright sunlight. The creases are very prominent, but they do not affect daily use.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5's camera is the same as last year, but there are some noticeable improvements. Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, the Z Flip 5 has an upgraded image signal processor that provides better color conversion in ** and **. When combined with 8GB of RAM, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 can handle almost anything you throw at it.
Just don't expect incredible battery life because this is a small flip phone. The 3,700mAh battery in the Galaxy Z Flip 5 should get you through the day, but it definitely needs to be charged at night. It has a 25W wired charging speed, 15W wireless charging, and also has 45W reverse wireless charging. 6.Samsung Galaxy S23
The best small Samsung phone.
Samsung Galaxy S23 review
Pros: Sleek and compact design.
Comfortable to use with one hand.
Very fast performance.
A reliable camera can shoot beautifully**.
Long battery life.
Five-year guaranteed updates.
Shortcoming. The base storage is still 128GB
Fast charging, up to 25W
The zoom quality is limited, more than 10x.
Why you should buy this: The smallest one in the S23 series still packs a lot of power, performance, and reliability.
Who it's for: Those who like Samsung and still want a traditional phablet. Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy S23:
While the Galaxy S23 is the smallest of the S23 series (including the S23 Plus and S23 Ultra), it's still a great Android phone, especially for those who prefer a smaller form factor. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is perfect for people who like small phones. It has a 61-inch screen that weighs only 593 oz. Due to its light weight, it's also easy to use with one hand, so if that's what you're looking for, then the Galaxy S23 is a great choice.
On the Galaxy S23, you get a 61-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X display that looks bright and vibrant. It has a 2340 x 1080 resolution and an impressive 425ppi, so everything looks very crisp and sharp. The brightness can reach 1,750 nits, so it is also enough to use in sunlight.
The camera on the Galaxy S23 is also impressive, as it comes with a triple-lens camera system, although it is the base model. With a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide angle, and 10MP telephoto, you'll get a great ** no matter what situation you're in. You also have the Snapdragon 23 Gen 8 for Galaxy in the S2 with 8GB RAM. This means that the S23 is very fast when you need it, and the chip also helps improve power efficiency. The S23 can last for more than a day on a single charge with a 3,900mAh battery with a charging speed of 25W, a wireless charging speed of 15W, and a reverse wireless of 45w。Frequently Asked Questions
Why should you consider buying a smaller smartphone?
When the user's preferences always shift towards everything, smartphones start to get bigger, especially in the form of reading,** and playing games. These activities benefit from an increase in screen real estate. The problem is that larger phones are heavier, more difficult to carry and use with one hand, and higher. Large phones are inconvenient for people with small hands or hands that can't be used 100%. If you like to hide your phone in your shirt or pants pocket, want or have to use it with one hand, don't mind being on a slightly smaller screen*** and prefer a more compact, lightweight device, then a small phone may be the best option for you. How do I choose the best small smartphone for me?
The direct impact of a small smartphone is the size of the screen, but minor attributes such as a smaller battery, a less powerful processor, an inferior camera, and less storage space may affect how small you want to be. Please note that we did not say anything about **. While larger phones are more expensive, opting for a smaller phone may not save you a lot of money,** and may even be comparable to some of the larger models. This is because high-quality small smartphones cleverly pack high-end features into a small package, and you're still paying for that high quality. Therefore, our favorite iPhone mini or SE or Google Pixel are great options for phones with small sizes, which do not skimp on features or materials.
Who shouldn't consider buying a smaller smartphone?
Smartphone size is a matter of personal style and necessities. If you like to fit your phablet in your backpack or purse for movies**, meetings, report reading, art creation, gaming, or any other work or entertainment-related activity that is more suited to a spacious canvas, then stick to a larger smartphone. If you're a traveler who doesn't carry around a full laptop tech gear, a large phone will serve many uses well. Not only do you benefit from a large, bright screen, but you also benefit from a larger, longer-lasting battery that may even have extra RAM built-in.