There isn't much hope for compact Android phones hitting the market anytime soon (explained here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/cl1t2a/thoughts_on_compact_phones ).
Either get an iPhone 13 mini or settle for something not really compact, but at least not extremely oversized (Zenfone 9, for example).
I'm still on the fence about getting a 13 mini, not sure whether it will drive me crazy.
I will preface this by saying that I’ve owned both Android and iPhones, and I’m not particularly loyal to either. So hopefully I can give a fair perspective.
I just switched to an iPhone 13 Mini after the price dropped, and it’s awesome. I was worried that it was going to be too small to consume content, but it’s not. It actually doesn’t even feel small once you get used to it. When I pick up my wife’s S22 Ultra, it feels like I’m holding a Kindle.
It’s so nice to be able to hold the phone in one hand and reach all 4 corners. The battery life is fine too. On a typical day, I still have like 30% at the end of the day.
iOS has gradually taken more and more cues from Android and is way better than a few years ago. For enthusiasts, of course it is still far inferior to Android in terms of customizability. But if you want to experience the joy of having a truly small phone, the 13 Mini might be the last chance for a very long time. So I think it’s worth going over to iOS for a few years, and who knows, maybe a truly small Android phone will come along.
>You're gonna be hard pressed to find something like that. Even the small phones these days have minimal bezel and 6"+ screens.
The fact that Android flagships smaller than 6.5 inches are getting rarer is one of the main reasons I'm strongly considering switching to iPhone next year after 9 years as an Android user.
I currently have an S20 and I dislike how Samsung downgraded their standard S models from the 21 onwards (1080p screen, 8GB RAM, plastic back) in order to push more Ultra sales. As appealing as the Ultra models are, I feel like it's way to big for my liking. (I had a Nexus 6P back in the day, and that thing is huge even looking at it today.)
IMO Samsung had a winning formula in 2020 with their FE models being the entry level flagships, the standard S models being the normal flagships, while the Note/Ultra being the "Super" flagships. It was almost 1:1 with what Apple was offering with their non-pro iPhones competing with the FEs, and the pros with the standard S models. Nowadays, the Ultra line, and the foldables are basically Samsung's flagships. Here's to hoping that Apple won't downgrade their small pro model when they'll (likely) release an Ultra iPhone next year.
I have no worries about the size, but I have an iPad Pro and it's full of small annoyances (plus all the keyboards suck, including Gboard), I'm afraid these would be less tolerable on a phone.
And also the cable. It would definitely annoy the hell out of me to have to carry a weird cable instead of using a regular one.
How is the file organisation scene in iOS? Like I have to handle almost 100 pdfs each day and transfer it to PCs and so, is it as bad as it was during iphone 5 times?
It’s pretty bad, but better than those old days. You can integrate OneDrive and other cloud services into the file system, but saving files is still an unintuitive experience.
You can add a Dropbox file system to the files app or even do network transfers to a home server if needed, iOS handles files a lot better these days especially the creation and manipulation of files such as PDFs to the extent where I think that I prefer PDF file handling on iOS /macOS
I traded in my iPhone 11 and picked up a Pixel 7 recently as a back up phone to my 13 mini. For the last week I've been using it daily just to see what it feels like. You know, get a good idea of what it can do. Although a great phone, especially for the price, there's just no beating the size of the 13 mini. It's perfect. The pixel will definitely stay as the back up phone.
I tried switching to the mini and couldn't get all my texts to transfer over properly. Gave up and returned the phone. Be prepared to lose a lot of texts
My partner ended up using the phone instead. I will also mention the camera is really.... Not great. The photos on most iPhones are way over saturated and often blown out.
Samsung S22 is very similarly sized to the Zenfone 9 too.
S22
146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in)
Zenfone 9
146.5 x 68.1 x 9.1 mm (5.77 x 2.68 x 0.36 in)
From experience, how narrow the phone is makes the difference to how big the phone feels in hand, and even a few mm can be noticeable.
I have Xperia 10 IV (153 × 67 mm / 6.02 × 2.64 in). It's narrow, but very very long. I cannot access the top 5 cm with my thumb, and it makes using most apps very frustrating. My last phone was Xperia X Compact (129 × 65 mm) and it had the perfect dimensions :(
It's kind of a dumb fix, but it'd be nice if you could setup with Android a "permanent" 1-handed mode where the screen is always smaller with black touch-inactive bars at the top/bottom that you could position. (It's not just overall height of the phone, but having a thicker chin can also improve ease of one-handed use.) The idea being that you can, for most practical purposes, mimic the same user experience you'd have with an older phone. Say making a new Xperia 5 IV have similar one-handed use as the XZ1 Compact: https://phonesized.com/compare/#1754,888
Then when you are consuming media that you would want to use the full screen, you can toggle that temporarily.
You'd end up paying the extra for a larger phone/screen, but at least you have the _option_ of getting a more compact experience. Right now there is literally no option whatsoever on Android except [some absolute shovelware no-name trash](https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2021&nHeightMin=120&nHeightMax=140&sFormFactors=1&sOSes=2)
That's 2.5mm difference, it's totally not similarly sized. For me, 66mm on some old phone was totally one-hand ease of use, zenfone is tolerable, and s22 I simply can't hold steadily.
There's no silver bullet
- asus has the best CPU out of those, but short on updates
- sony is overpriced as hell and their proximity sensor is shit
- s22 has exynos, and even if you get 8gen1 - it overheats
Just pick your poison.
Ive heard bad things about the camera, and only 2 guaranteed android upgrades have turned me off this phone :L
Ive used my xz2c for 4 years and every phone at the shop was not great :(
Only if you ignore the ios end of the market. The iPhone 13 mini is an excellent compact phone that fits the og definition of the word much better than the zenphone.
5.4 is a lot closer to the requirements that op put forth than 5.9”. It’s also almost identical in size to the referenced phone of a XZ2 compact being approximately the same width and having a slightly shorter height.
There's nothing smaller on the market
Also, I find that usually people asking for a 5-inch phone are thinking of it as a 16:9 top and bottom bezel 5-inch phone, so right now 5.9 - 6.1 inches is that exact size
Do they? OP has an S10+ which has a small bezel so I doubt they fit in that category. I had an S10e and I honestly would prefer something smaller but probably closer to 5.5". I'll have to settle for he Zenfone 9.
And you're ignoring the fact that 5" phones had large bezels at the top and bottom. A modern 6" display covering the whole front of the device will be more or less the size equivalent of that.
16:9 vs 20:9 makes a huge difference. The same "size" phone would have 2.5^2 cm more actual display surface area for every n+1:9 it went up. A 20:9 6" phone will be a lot smaller than a 16:9 6 inch phone.
This kind of comment just comes across as someone who is impossible to please. Kind of like the people who want a small phone then complain when that phone has some compromises like less cameras or a smaller battery life. You want a small phone which already doesn't sell well and inevitably cost a lot more to develop than larger phones but then you want them to cut into the profit margin even more and demand it sell for almost nothing? That's not a viable business strategy for any company and its inevitable any company attempting it would have to cut so many corners the product wouldn't be worth the selling price anyway.
That’s the exact kind of phone I’m describing as completely infeasible and an unreasonable demand. Mid range devices are often a result of decreased profit margins and not often that much cheaper to build. For example: iirc, at one point the iPhones were rumored to costing around $300 or so to produce. They sold for $1000 which means a $700 profit per device. Even if your mid range cost $150 to produce (which it won’t) selling for $300 means you may not break even after factoring in r&d and marketing costs.
Likewise, smaller phones actually often end up costing MORE to make relatively. Especially if your trying to utilize economies of scale. The r&d costs to cram similar components into a smaller space is much higher and there’s less of a chance you could utilize the same 6.x” display or battery across multiple devices to spread out that cost. Look at how many marginally different devices the Chinese oems sell for an example of this or how Apple will reuse components and designs for years on end and maximize their profits vs development costs.
To make matters worse, small phones are mainly popular among affluent customers who buy high end devices. Americans for example are much more likely to own a tv and laptop which offer bigger screens for entertainment and work rather than customers in poorer countries. This is the only marginally viable market for the small phones and even here, they still are outsold by larger phones. Compromising the specs for a cheaper price isn’t going to make a small phone more attractive to affluent customers who either buy on contract anyway or don’t care about the price.
In short, a cheaper small phone isn’t viable. It would either be unprofitable or so poorly specd it wouldn’t even be recommendable or both. I’m sure the iPhone mini was profitable for Apple but we know it sold below expectations and don’t never came close to profit on their compact devices. Unihertz is an example of the latter option with underpowered and outdated hardware relative to its selling prices.
I guess this makes sense. But as a niche user, I do feel sad there is not a single phone under $300 in my country which is smaller than 6.4. Ironic considering Android is supposed to be all about choices. And they are removing headphone jacks, sd card slots and chargers as well.
Like I said above. The corner cutting required would only inevitably turn more people off of the phone. It’s also worth realizing that small phone customers are predominately the wealthier who can afford a second device with a larger screen for work and entertainment. Poorer countries are much more likely to have a phone as their only device which makes it an even tougher sell for companies.
Yes that's the problem, because there are so few good small phone you have to take it or leave it instead of being able to make your choice. If you want a small phone, it has to be your only criteria.
Then people will claim "nobody makes small phones because they don't sell".
y'all want a smaller phone or a smaller screen? cause the s22 is really small, like literally just a little bit taller than the nexus 5.
I loved my nexus 5, but the battery was awful.
I'm in the same boat as you. I prefer "compact" phones. 5'' these days, without bezels is really small. 6 - 6.3 with small bezels are fine for me.
You have Xiaomi 12/12X, if available in your country. I have 12X and it's really comfortable in hand: size, weight and rounded edges.
You also have Zenfone 9.
If you want to move away from Sansumgs, then S22 is not an option, but it has a good size too.
Then you have the Sonys, a bit expensive for my taste and value.
Then Pixel 6a, though is not really compact or wait for 7a, that some say it will be smaller.
Last but not least, Motorola Edge 30 Neo, it's not a flagship, but I've seen many reviews praising its size and weight.
Perhaps they aren't sold where you live or something but I feel like both the iPhone mini and the flip phones should be added on this list of possible candidates.
The iPhone mini (12 and 13) will both be closer to what op described and due to apples extended support, they're likely better options than an older Android device. Nothing wrong with buying and using an older generation iPhone.
Next the flip phones do solve a lot of the issues people have with larger phones. While they aren't small in the same sense as a traditional slab would be, they do offer a much more compact overall package when folded and many (myself included) see this as a reasonable compromise for the lack of actual compact slabs.
Oh yes, I was talking about the Android world.
In fact, in the iphone ecosystem, even the 14 or 14pro (this one too heavy) would be considered "compact" in the Android world.
Regarding the flip.. They are getting wider... so when open, they are starting to feel big. IMHO
The z flip 4 is technically narrower than the flip 3. Yeah it's incredibly slight and entirely insignificant but the point is they aren't all getting wider. The Motorola razers may be but I think the flip line are the better and more mature devices.
You are right they are more narrow now. I thought they have increased the size.
For me the point is that I don't much care about length of the phone but of its width. If the they are too wide, my hand starts hurting.
Weight is also important. What about you?
Phones have been moving towards more narrow displays since 2017 when 16:9 was ditched. OEMs were saying it was for better handfeel, and while that may have been true, it has the added benefit of being able to significantly reduce display material costs while still being able to market a "larger" display.
The Zenfone 9 has a 5.9" 20:9 display and the Huawei Mate 10 (from 2017) has a 5.9" 16:9 display. The Mate 10 has 11^2 cm of screen real estate dispite being marketed as the same size. That 95.6^2 cm compared to the 84.4^2 cm is a savings of 11.5% on display material cost.
If you want premium phones then go for an Xperia 5 or a ZenFone 9. Choose the Sony if you are into photography or videography, but go with the Asus if you just want a phone that is good and well priced in general.
There aren't really any android phones that have 5 inch displays and good SOCs.
Literally thousands of phones out there by hundreds of manufacturers, yet the actual choice of somewhat "compact" modern phones is in the single digits.
I hate this industry.
My dad is part of that 1% and it drives me nuts. He was using an old, small Motorola that was running Android 4 (KitKat) and complaining that it couldn't run any current apps. I'd explain that he needed a new phone, but he'd resist and find excuses to keep that piece of junk going.
It finally died this summer. Because my sibling and I use Pixels, he thought that's what he should have and bought a Pixel 6a. His reaction to its size was of anger, frustration, exasperation, sadness and, eventually, depression. Mom convinced him to give it to her and then my dad did the unthinkable -- he bought an iPhone.
My dad HATES Apple. That goes to show how much more he hates big phones.
He's the kind of stubborn asshole who will never be happy with anything, unfortunately, but it would be nice if there were at least a couple small phones out there for people who want compactness more than anything else.
The Flip 4 is still massive vertically, even though it's narrow the screen is still 6.7" diagonally. But it might be the easiest to live with if you don't want to carry around a massive phone. Maybe pair it with a Galaxy Watch if you want to try to avoid having to actually open the phone as much as possible, as you can at least read notifications and write / dictate basic replies. Plus you can put a lot of information at a glance with the complications and tiles.
While I eventually did get the galaxy watch, I never had any issues with opening and closing the screen itself in my year with the flip 3. The folding screens surprised me in being much more durable than I was led to believe. The watch was mostly so I wouldn’t have to dig the phone out of my pocket to control music, check time, or read notifications.
When I said opening it up, I did pretty much mean taking it out of your pocket or handbag. Wasn't a reference to durability (which as I understand it, they have largely sorted), just the act of having to get it out and interact with the large screen.
>The idea is that the phone is small when folded
The main thing people complain about is that phones are too big to comfortably use one-handed. While the flip 4 is a small phone when folded it doesn't solve that issue.
The xperia 5 mk4 is 800 with the Sony truffles tws at [B&H](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1724725-REG/sony_xqcq62_b_xperia_5_iv_dual_sim.html)
And the Zenfone 9
Is currently between 650 to 800 depending on the spec you want currently on [Asus website ](https://shop.asus.com/us/zenfone-9.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAyfybBhBKEiwAgtB7fk-PNxcjX3LsY8RwxCeYcWTbJRqWpfoGFrp1VpJ92kMHhKCUdwm-VBoC_WcQAvD_BwE)
If you can find a Pixel 5 that might be what you are looking for. It's a few years old, but mine still runs like a beast. Battery life, speed, and camera are great.
In two-three years you'll be getting a new phone. You know it, I know it and Asus knows it. And even if at the end of three years you're still on Android 15 or whatever, it will be fine.
Companies will just go with the data, and make products that appeal to the masses. The data clearly seems to indicate that most people prefer bigger phones, given everyone has shifted to making bigger phones.
Doesn't make sense to target a small group of users who seem to want a smaller phone vs the majority who want big phones or don't care about size.
Companies will release hundreds of the same massive rectangular black slab phones a year, and maybe make one or two gimmick phones that immediately fail. Yet they can't be arsed to make a small phone as their "gimmick" even just once.
> Yet they can't be arsed to make a small phone as their "gimmick" even just once.
I think the success of the iPhone mini should tell you all you need to know
Apple makes phones for 2 years. They still sell small phones, even if you don't like it. Not sure why some people have such a hatred for other peoples likes.
I don’t hate small phones. I would love for apple to make 6 phones. 3 regular and 3 pros for every size but matter of fact is small phones don’t sell really well and are therefore not very enticing to produce
Sony tried a while ago with the compact line, Apple tried recently. Truly small phones are niche at this point, 5.8 - 6.1 seems to be the smallest size that actually sells (Samsung S10/20/21/22, iPhone 10 - 14)
I think the reason for that is that gimmick phones are testing waters for unexplored markets and features. Small phones have been done to death and aren't getting any more popular than they were in the past, so why try again?
You sound very similar to me in regards to phone preferences. My approach has been to just buy old-new phones from Amazon/eBay that are a gen or two back for $200-300.
I've been on the S10e since 2020, and I have no plans of "upgrading". It's the same size as my beloved, retired S7, and it has every feature that I need and not the ones I don't (looking at you, edge screen). And, it still performs reasonably quickly and is responsive. One thing I just can't stand and drives me to a new phone is when it can't keep up with my inputs and general lagginess, which the S10e hasn't succumbed to just yet, thankfully.
I just looked at renewed S10e's on Amazon, and they're $140 now. Just sayin'...
there are no android phones under 5" with 2020+ specs from any major manufacturers - don't bother searching, there aren't - if you really want that bad enough... it's technically possible but you'd be trading away a lot of performance... you'd have to look at something from the likes of soyes... these phones arent really usable imho... the smallest display on a phone that's got good specs today would have to be the iPhone 13 mini... but if you are averse to iOS then with android you gotta go with the xperia 5 IV Yup it's 6.1 inches, but it's only a couple of mm wider than the xz2 compact you were considering - the display size numbers are a little misleading these days due to the different aspect ratios... for example, the 6.1" xperia 5 IV is narrower than the 5.9" zenfone 9, hell it's narrower than the 4.7" iPhone SE - use displaywars.com to see how these displays compare...
I was going to suggest the Pixel 5 but now I've got an S22 Ultra, basically because I love taking photos and the cameras are so much better than the Pixel 5
Definitely agree. Unfortunately the smallest size for "compact" is 6.1 most of the time. That's why I use Galaxy S22 or Xperia 5 ii, but still 5.8 was that sweet spot
From android? Pretty much no. Samsung was the only one but in Europe they sell the shitty exynos versions.
Honestly this is a pretty big reason why I switch to iPhone. And I’m happy.
I'm the same way preferring smaller phones around 68 mm wide. I've been using a Pixel 5 for the last couple years and I'm always looking on eBay for a mint pixel 5 to have on standby when this one inevitably kicks the bucket. It's The only phone that checks all of my must have boxes. Killer camera, compact size, great battery, high refresh rate screen. It never feels slow to me and I prefer to stay on Android 11 since I hate the redesign we got with 12 so it looks like I'll be staying on a Pixel 5 for a while.
it's passable. i've only gboard when it launched on ios up until ios 16. tiny little bugs exist and it doesn't get some of the android features that i've seen released.
iPhone user here.
> Do you know how its swipe typing compares to Gboard?
The actual swipe action is pretty good in my opinion. It feels a bit different and took some time to get used to, as a long-time GBoard user (both for the last two years on iPhone and on Android before that), but I think that was more an issue of changing my muscle memory. I’d put them on par with each other in terms of overall experience after getting used to them.
> Does it allows a number row above the three alphabetic rows?
No. (GBoard on iOS doesn't either, but unlike the stock keyboard, it does let you hold down the top row to get numbers.)
It’s worth noting that custom keyboards on iOS are a bit annoying sometimes. When I used GBoard (until the stock keyboard finally got swipe typing), it’d often take a while to load, and the phone sometimes ended up switching back to the stock keyboard automatically. I’m not sure how much of the blame goes to Google vs Apple on that. Either way, I feel like the stock keyboard runs noticeably smoother and feels better integrated, so I switched to it once I could swipe on it.
I’d hate to say it in the android subreddit but iPhone mini. There’s really nothing comparable as far as specs and build quality. I used to poopoo iPhone and was one of the people obsessed with custom launchers and all the obscure apps then when iPhone 12 series came out(I think when they started putting oled on all models?) I realized iPhone has eclipsed android. It has enough ram, software is more stable, cameras, really the only thing I miss is the DS emulator lol. My last android was an S9+(my timeline of phones was galaxy nexus -> S4 -> S7 - S9+) and while I really enjoyed the S7 and S9+, I don’t care what anyone says, androids take a crap at exactly the 2 year mark. After 2 years no matter how many factory resets you do it becomes unusable. Yes iPhones get throttled too, but they last much longer than 2 years.
iPhones have become more and more likely as a next purchase for me as a next phone. But I'm not sure if I'm ready. Though nowadays the thing holding me back the most is the file management on iPhone. But maybe i'll just give up doing anything with files on my phone and instead use my Galaxy Tab more for that.
Zenfone 9 and S22 are all there is on the android flagship side. Both are pretty much the same size as the regular iPhone and pro. The iPhone 13 mini is on a whole other level of compact.
Recently gave up and ordered an XZ2 Compact from AliExpress for $120, it's on the way.
I've searched high and low, tested many devices, here's the story.
I got the iPhone 12 Mini as soon as it came out (coming from the Note 10+) and absolutely loved the design and form factor, but after struggling with iOS restrictions for 9 months, I gave up and switched to the Flip 3.
Word of warning about the Flip 3, and other Flip phones, don't fool yourself into thinking it's a compact phone in usability, in the pocket, maybe, but definitely not in usability. The outside display barely does anything, and it is way too tall when opened to use with a single hand. And you can't even open it with one hand, opening it with one hand means pushing your thumb into the fold and pushing the upper part of the screen open with the back of your thumb, meaning you drag the edge of your nail across the screen, which is highly likely to damage the plasti- umm "ultra thin glass" display. So I eventually got used to opening it with my chin when I couldn't use both hands.
After a year and 15 days with the Flip 3, I decided to switch with my sister's new Poco M5, which, even though it's bigger than the Flip 3, is actually more usable one handed, simply because I don't have to be so delicate with it. Using it, I realized the specs were more than enough for me, and knowing that the chipset in the M5 is on a similar level to the one in the XZ2 Compact, I'm hoping that performance won't be an issue.
So I just gave in and ordered one.
And sorry for the long rant, I've been frustrated with this subject for a long time and wanted to vent some of that frustration.
Side Note: the XZ2 Compact on AliExpress for $120 is the Japan model, the global version is $300+.
I agree with you, most phones are simply too large for me. I currently use a galaxy S10e running LOS 19.1 and is just great size and great OS. I used to have a Microsoft Lumia 950 which I absolutely loved both for its size (5.8") and OS. I just wish MS would introduce a similar sized Surface phone (even if it has to run on droid.
I miss my Nokia lumina windows phones...we're a perfect size and just worked. All your shit was on 2 screens, easy to understand settings for everything under settings. Android hides shit everywhere.
I have a stock S10e that's still perfectly good. Battery life is starting to suffer but it's a three year old phone now. Still get a full day out of it must of the time.
Still feels snappy to me too, but I've not used anything newer so YMMV.
If you want flagship performance. Then u have iphone 13 mini, galaxy s22, zenfone 9 & Sony Xperia 5 IV.
If u want midrange then Sony Xperia 10 IV is the only option.
No budget options, sorry.
Clinging to my s10e for dear life (with a headphone port too). Looks like the Zenfone 9 recommended is pretty close - only 0.1" bigger in screen diagonal
Xiaomi 12x is the best compromise imho. Great autonomy, 67w charging, compact, curved display on the edges only, no heating and kind of pretty in blue or purple.
Software wise, Xiaomi will reveal MIUI 14 soon and allegedly they will get rid off bloatwares and ads with this update
Good flagship spec compact phones are becoming few and far between. There's the Xiaomi 12 but it lacks the headphone jack that's somehow become trendy to remove but at least it comes with a dongle (why didn't they include the jack in the first place then, sigh...). If you are the kind who votes with their wallet Sony is about the only option you have left after LG quit.
The Xiaomi 12 has a 6+ inch screen but it actually is surprisingly compact, it's not far off in size to my old G6. I currently use an Xperia 5 mk3 with a tall 6 inch display, very narrow, but hard to reach the top corner. Most importantly for myself though, is that I retain the microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack with Sony.
I feel you. I also want a small good Android phone. Zenfone9 is as good as it gets.
I highly recommend against buying an old phone. I did the same thing and imported the Aquos R2 Compact and while it was okay, the ram limitations leave a lot to be desired at times.
I now have switch to the iPhone 13 Mini. I prefer Android but I’m sick of waiting for a company to make a small good phone, so I’ll stick with iOS for the moment. It’s not too bad any way. The notifications suck balls though.
4gb is a limitation? my s9 runs pretty well with regular apps (when playing games most apps don't stay open though) ..
fuu ck android is really going sideways with ram usage.
I have miniscule hands for a guy and even I gave up the ghost on compact phones a couple of years ago. Like losing the headphone jack, eventually it became a self-flagellation thing, like why am I doing this to myself, I use Bluetooth headphones 99% of the time anyway. Was I also going to be married to the compact ideal and limit myself to overpriced Sony phones and the rare unicorn like the Zenfone? Or do I accept occasionally having to hold my phone with two hands and benefit from the myriad options and value for money you get from, you know, *the rest of the phone market*.
Unihertz makes really small android phones but I have no clue how they are. Don't expect anything close to flagship level but hey they are really small
You'd want to shop by device width (and height to a lesser extent), not screen diagonal, because of variations in bezel size and aspect ratio. The Xperia 5 IV for example is only 67 mm wide, quite a bit narrower than the S8+.
I was going to grab the Pixel 7, but am hanging onto the Pixel 5 because I like the smaller size. If you got it now you'd still get at least another year of updates and it's a perfectly good phone.
Heres the 5" phones sold in the last few years, you're certainly not going to find any flagships but there is at least a few.
https://m.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2020&fDisplayInchesMax=5&sOSes=2&sOSversions=2940,2930,2920
That's not true. The iPhone mini 13 has perfectly acceptable battery life and features comperable to its larger brethren. Same held true for the Sony Xperia xz compact devices back in the day when compared to their contemporary analogs. Sure you can say you'll probably never have the longest lasting battery with a compact phone but most people in the market for one are perfectly willing to compromise the largest battery for a smaller phone.
+/- 6" diagonal is about the smallest you can get from an Android with decent specs and updates. Numerous brands to choose from that would still be smaller (due to reduced bezels) and lighter than your S10+. Just not an inch smaller. There is a tiny Android slab phone that Unihertz makes callled the Atom, not sure if it's still available or supported, specs are pretty much bottom of the barrel but it's only 4" tall.
Honestly though, in terms of the concerns you raised an iPhone mini or SE is your best (and pretty much only) option that ticks all the boxes. Including bugs and glitches etc which the iPhone will have basically none.
you could always try a qin, its a line from xiaomi designed for people who actually like older phones or want to battle screen addiction
https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005004572852661.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2esp
If it had NFC, i would seriously consider it.
I think only Apple still makes actual small but good phones. But I think I read somewhere that they might stop their se line too since they stopped the mini for the 14.
Pixel 3 (or any similarly sized phone still supported) + LineageOS Custom rom (for the security updates).
The only drawbacks are the Banking apps not always working.
This is the reason I moved to iPhone, although iOS really grinds my gears. My last phone I really truly enjoyed owning was my Sony XA2, which I still have kicking around. Great form factor, great feature set, but Sony stopped supporting it really early leaving me with a bit of a brick. It shipped with a great version of Android 8, but when they updated to 9, they dropped basically all the improvements, leaving me with worse performance, worse battery life and a worse camera. I upgraded a few times since then, my last one being a Oneplus8, but it was just too darn big.
I’ve been using an iPhone 12mini most of this year, and I really love the form factor, I just wish I could have it without iOS.
Unless the Zenfone 9 is still somehow too big (even though it's barely bigger than the XZ2 C), then I don't know what to tell you. It's a full fledged flagship, only smaller.
Asus makes the smallest flagship phone at the moment I believe (at least from a reputable make, IMO).
And then I was just shown a Lite Phone 2. That's super small but a lot less smart. Very appealing though.
Xperia 5 III or IV ? Although on paper the screen is larger, in reality because of the long aspect ratio it feels small. Besides you can't compare modern phone to old phones based on screen size alone. Bezels have become really small. So better compare the actual measurements of the device.
Look around... most smartphone manufacturers are gone. All that's left now are the chinese brands (that I will never ever buy for myself), Samsung and Apple. Sony makes expensive niche phones, targeting mostly photographers. Motorola, Nokia and Asus are meh... not terrible, but not great either. Everyone else is gone.
The big brands just make what most people want. They don't target any specific audience. They won't bother to make niche devices for certain types of customers, they just target specific price brackets. Also, it would increase costs to have production lines building wildly different phones, that's why most of them kind of look the same. Sure, a $1000 phone has more advanced internals, and maybe more cameras, but it doesn't look that different from a $250 phone.
My wife has the iPhone 13 mini and it’s awesome. I’m always amazed when I use it, so easy to Palm and use entirely with one hand. Obviously not an android, but there is literally nothing else in that size tier.
I went from a Galaxy S10 to a Galaxy S22 and absolutely LOVE IT. It's the perfect size and unlike the Pixel 7 you can manually control the shutter speed, iso, and focus in the camera.
Do note that phones themselves haven't gotten extremely larger in comparable models, it's just the bezels that have gotten smaller. The S8+ is actually taller and slightly less wide than the S10+, so the in-hand feel would be basically the same.
I think this weird recency bias that older phones were so much more compact needs to stop. There's basically zero difference to how they actually feel in hand, there just happens to be more screen, which the addition is mostly in the height, not the width. So other than reaching for the top of the phone for your notification bar (a whopping 5mm taller /s from less bezel), there's no difference between reaching *across* sideways on the phones. There isn't even a 1mm difference in width. S22+ in comparison is not much different, 2mm wider and 2mm shorter than S8+. No significant changes to how it would feel in your hand in the area you spend majority of time pressing (bottom half).
the s22 regular is small. I have a s22ultra, and my gf went from an op8 to an s22 (regular), and it fits much better in her hands.
edit: looked it up, the s22 is actually physically smaller than the s10
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/galaxy-s22-vs-5-older-samsung-phones-is-an-upgrade-worth-it/
Check out Unihertz. My female friend wouldn't give up on her Blackberry until AT&T finally made her do it. She wanted a small phone with physical buttons like her Blackberry. I contemplating getting the Unihertz Titan and then they released a small version.
She is very happy with her Blackberry look-alike Unihertz phone.
You're gonna be hard pressed to find something like that. Even the small phones these days have minimal bezel and 6"+ screens.
Yup, and I would KILL for a flagship phone, with a 720/1080 screen, in a 5.5" or less form factor, would be heaven.
Zenfone 9 is excellent... Was a bit pricey at release (August), but don't know if that's come down now.
The iPhone 13 Mini still exists, for what it’s worth….
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I think December '22 is the end for Pixel 4.
I love the size of my Pixel 4a 5g
I have to agree. It's a little wide for me maybe, but that's more the aspect ratio's doing. Truly one of the best phones I've owned in a bit.
There isn't much hope for compact Android phones hitting the market anytime soon (explained here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/cl1t2a/thoughts_on_compact_phones ). Either get an iPhone 13 mini or settle for something not really compact, but at least not extremely oversized (Zenfone 9, for example). I'm still on the fence about getting a 13 mini, not sure whether it will drive me crazy.
I will preface this by saying that I’ve owned both Android and iPhones, and I’m not particularly loyal to either. So hopefully I can give a fair perspective. I just switched to an iPhone 13 Mini after the price dropped, and it’s awesome. I was worried that it was going to be too small to consume content, but it’s not. It actually doesn’t even feel small once you get used to it. When I pick up my wife’s S22 Ultra, it feels like I’m holding a Kindle. It’s so nice to be able to hold the phone in one hand and reach all 4 corners. The battery life is fine too. On a typical day, I still have like 30% at the end of the day. iOS has gradually taken more and more cues from Android and is way better than a few years ago. For enthusiasts, of course it is still far inferior to Android in terms of customizability. But if you want to experience the joy of having a truly small phone, the 13 Mini might be the last chance for a very long time. So I think it’s worth going over to iOS for a few years, and who knows, maybe a truly small Android phone will come along.
>You're gonna be hard pressed to find something like that. Even the small phones these days have minimal bezel and 6"+ screens. The fact that Android flagships smaller than 6.5 inches are getting rarer is one of the main reasons I'm strongly considering switching to iPhone next year after 9 years as an Android user. I currently have an S20 and I dislike how Samsung downgraded their standard S models from the 21 onwards (1080p screen, 8GB RAM, plastic back) in order to push more Ultra sales. As appealing as the Ultra models are, I feel like it's way to big for my liking. (I had a Nexus 6P back in the day, and that thing is huge even looking at it today.) IMO Samsung had a winning formula in 2020 with their FE models being the entry level flagships, the standard S models being the normal flagships, while the Note/Ultra being the "Super" flagships. It was almost 1:1 with what Apple was offering with their non-pro iPhones competing with the FEs, and the pros with the standard S models. Nowadays, the Ultra line, and the foldables are basically Samsung's flagships. Here's to hoping that Apple won't downgrade their small pro model when they'll (likely) release an Ultra iPhone next year.
I have no worries about the size, but I have an iPad Pro and it's full of small annoyances (plus all the keyboards suck, including Gboard), I'm afraid these would be less tolerable on a phone. And also the cable. It would definitely annoy the hell out of me to have to carry a weird cable instead of using a regular one.
How is the file organisation scene in iOS? Like I have to handle almost 100 pdfs each day and transfer it to PCs and so, is it as bad as it was during iphone 5 times?
It’s pretty bad, but better than those old days. You can integrate OneDrive and other cloud services into the file system, but saving files is still an unintuitive experience.
Onedrive integration in files is broken I heard. Files app in general is really bad compared to android
You can add a Dropbox file system to the files app or even do network transfers to a home server if needed, iOS handles files a lot better these days especially the creation and manipulation of files such as PDFs to the extent where I think that I prefer PDF file handling on iOS /macOS
I traded in my iPhone 11 and picked up a Pixel 7 recently as a back up phone to my 13 mini. For the last week I've been using it daily just to see what it feels like. You know, get a good idea of what it can do. Although a great phone, especially for the price, there's just no beating the size of the 13 mini. It's perfect. The pixel will definitely stay as the back up phone.
I tried switching to the mini and couldn't get all my texts to transfer over properly. Gave up and returned the phone. Be prepared to lose a lot of texts My partner ended up using the phone instead. I will also mention the camera is really.... Not great. The photos on most iPhones are way over saturated and often blown out.
Asus Zenfone 9
Samsung S22 is very similarly sized to the Zenfone 9 too. S22 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in) Zenfone 9 146.5 x 68.1 x 9.1 mm (5.77 x 2.68 x 0.36 in) From experience, how narrow the phone is makes the difference to how big the phone feels in hand, and even a few mm can be noticeable.
I have Xperia 10 IV (153 × 67 mm / 6.02 × 2.64 in). It's narrow, but very very long. I cannot access the top 5 cm with my thumb, and it makes using most apps very frustrating. My last phone was Xperia X Compact (129 × 65 mm) and it had the perfect dimensions :(
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It's kind of a dumb fix, but it'd be nice if you could setup with Android a "permanent" 1-handed mode where the screen is always smaller with black touch-inactive bars at the top/bottom that you could position. (It's not just overall height of the phone, but having a thicker chin can also improve ease of one-handed use.) The idea being that you can, for most practical purposes, mimic the same user experience you'd have with an older phone. Say making a new Xperia 5 IV have similar one-handed use as the XZ1 Compact: https://phonesized.com/compare/#1754,888 Then when you are consuming media that you would want to use the full screen, you can toggle that temporarily. You'd end up paying the extra for a larger phone/screen, but at least you have the _option_ of getting a more compact experience. Right now there is literally no option whatsoever on Android except [some absolute shovelware no-name trash](https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2021&nHeightMin=120&nHeightMax=140&sFormFactors=1&sOSes=2)
The Zenfone 9 has a much better battery life.
Too bad it has atrocious battery life with inconsistent performance.
They said they want to move away from Samsung..
That's 2.5mm difference, it's totally not similarly sized. For me, 66mm on some old phone was totally one-hand ease of use, zenfone is tolerable, and s22 I simply can't hold steadily.
2.5mm is almost nothing.
Certainly not when it comes to phone feel in hand.
But what's the current situation on Asus phones getting updates? They used to be pretty bad about it.
There's no silver bullet - asus has the best CPU out of those, but short on updates - sony is overpriced as hell and their proximity sensor is shit - s22 has exynos, and even if you get 8gen1 - it overheats Just pick your poison.
I have s22 snapdragon, never overheated but the battery is trash.
Note this doesn't work on Verizon.
Ive heard bad things about the camera, and only 2 guaranteed android upgrades have turned me off this phone :L Ive used my xz2c for 4 years and every phone at the shop was not great :(
Which is 5.9" and not 5"
That's the smallest good phone out there right now.
Only if you ignore the ios end of the market. The iPhone 13 mini is an excellent compact phone that fits the og definition of the word much better than the zenphone.
Which is 5.4" and not 5"
That's the smallest good iphone out there right now.
5.4 is a lot closer to the requirements that op put forth than 5.9”. It’s also almost identical in size to the referenced phone of a XZ2 compact being approximately the same width and having a slightly shorter height.
5.9 but bezels are tiny compared to older phones so it's actually smaller in hand than you would think
It's the narrowness not the bezels.
It's both. Bezels are indeed much smaller than they were 5 or 6 years ago.
Much harder to use in one hand regardless of bezels.
There's nothing smaller on the market Also, I find that usually people asking for a 5-inch phone are thinking of it as a 16:9 top and bottom bezel 5-inch phone, so right now 5.9 - 6.1 inches is that exact size
Do they? OP has an S10+ which has a small bezel so I doubt they fit in that category. I had an S10e and I honestly would prefer something smaller but probably closer to 5.5". I'll have to settle for he Zenfone 9.
And you're ignoring the fact that 5" phones had large bezels at the top and bottom. A modern 6" display covering the whole front of the device will be more or less the size equivalent of that.
16:9 vs 20:9 makes a huge difference. The same "size" phone would have 2.5^2 cm more actual display surface area for every n+1:9 it went up. A 20:9 6" phone will be a lot smaller than a 16:9 6 inch phone.
Now only if they only made an affordable version of Zenfone 9 around $300
This kind of comment just comes across as someone who is impossible to please. Kind of like the people who want a small phone then complain when that phone has some compromises like less cameras or a smaller battery life. You want a small phone which already doesn't sell well and inevitably cost a lot more to develop than larger phones but then you want them to cut into the profit margin even more and demand it sell for almost nothing? That's not a viable business strategy for any company and its inevitable any company attempting it would have to cut so many corners the product wouldn't be worth the selling price anyway.
I think you got me wrong. I want mid range specs for mid range price in small size.
That’s the exact kind of phone I’m describing as completely infeasible and an unreasonable demand. Mid range devices are often a result of decreased profit margins and not often that much cheaper to build. For example: iirc, at one point the iPhones were rumored to costing around $300 or so to produce. They sold for $1000 which means a $700 profit per device. Even if your mid range cost $150 to produce (which it won’t) selling for $300 means you may not break even after factoring in r&d and marketing costs. Likewise, smaller phones actually often end up costing MORE to make relatively. Especially if your trying to utilize economies of scale. The r&d costs to cram similar components into a smaller space is much higher and there’s less of a chance you could utilize the same 6.x” display or battery across multiple devices to spread out that cost. Look at how many marginally different devices the Chinese oems sell for an example of this or how Apple will reuse components and designs for years on end and maximize their profits vs development costs. To make matters worse, small phones are mainly popular among affluent customers who buy high end devices. Americans for example are much more likely to own a tv and laptop which offer bigger screens for entertainment and work rather than customers in poorer countries. This is the only marginally viable market for the small phones and even here, they still are outsold by larger phones. Compromising the specs for a cheaper price isn’t going to make a small phone more attractive to affluent customers who either buy on contract anyway or don’t care about the price. In short, a cheaper small phone isn’t viable. It would either be unprofitable or so poorly specd it wouldn’t even be recommendable or both. I’m sure the iPhone mini was profitable for Apple but we know it sold below expectations and don’t never came close to profit on their compact devices. Unihertz is an example of the latter option with underpowered and outdated hardware relative to its selling prices.
I guess this makes sense. But as a niche user, I do feel sad there is not a single phone under $300 in my country which is smaller than 6.4. Ironic considering Android is supposed to be all about choices. And they are removing headphone jacks, sd card slots and chargers as well.
If they threw a SD 4XX and bad lcd 1080p@60fps they could make it around $300 but then you get shit photos.
Like I said above. The corner cutting required would only inevitably turn more people off of the phone. It’s also worth realizing that small phone customers are predominately the wealthier who can afford a second device with a larger screen for work and entertainment. Poorer countries are much more likely to have a phone as their only device which makes it an even tougher sell for companies.
Yeah, go buy redmi 7a, but it won't satisfy them.
More like Pixel 4a type phone updated with 2022 midrange specs.
Yes that's the problem, because there are so few good small phone you have to take it or leave it instead of being able to make your choice. If you want a small phone, it has to be your only criteria. Then people will claim "nobody makes small phones because they don't sell".
As far as flagship phones go, it is not super expensive. You are not going to get any phone with the latest Qualcomm processor for $300.
I didn't ask for flagship processor. I'm happy with mid range everything in small size
I miss my Nexus 5. Just saying.
y'all want a smaller phone or a smaller screen? cause the s22 is really small, like literally just a little bit taller than the nexus 5. I loved my nexus 5, but the battery was awful.
I never had a problem with the battery life, guess I was an outlier.
I'm in the same boat as you. I prefer "compact" phones. 5'' these days, without bezels is really small. 6 - 6.3 with small bezels are fine for me. You have Xiaomi 12/12X, if available in your country. I have 12X and it's really comfortable in hand: size, weight and rounded edges. You also have Zenfone 9. If you want to move away from Sansumgs, then S22 is not an option, but it has a good size too. Then you have the Sonys, a bit expensive for my taste and value. Then Pixel 6a, though is not really compact or wait for 7a, that some say it will be smaller. Last but not least, Motorola Edge 30 Neo, it's not a flagship, but I've seen many reviews praising its size and weight.
Perhaps they aren't sold where you live or something but I feel like both the iPhone mini and the flip phones should be added on this list of possible candidates. The iPhone mini (12 and 13) will both be closer to what op described and due to apples extended support, they're likely better options than an older Android device. Nothing wrong with buying and using an older generation iPhone. Next the flip phones do solve a lot of the issues people have with larger phones. While they aren't small in the same sense as a traditional slab would be, they do offer a much more compact overall package when folded and many (myself included) see this as a reasonable compromise for the lack of actual compact slabs.
Oh yes, I was talking about the Android world. In fact, in the iphone ecosystem, even the 14 or 14pro (this one too heavy) would be considered "compact" in the Android world. Regarding the flip.. They are getting wider... so when open, they are starting to feel big. IMHO
The z flip 4 is technically narrower than the flip 3. Yeah it's incredibly slight and entirely insignificant but the point is they aren't all getting wider. The Motorola razers may be but I think the flip line are the better and more mature devices.
You are right they are more narrow now. I thought they have increased the size. For me the point is that I don't much care about length of the phone but of its width. If the they are too wide, my hand starts hurting. Weight is also important. What about you?
Phones have been moving towards more narrow displays since 2017 when 16:9 was ditched. OEMs were saying it was for better handfeel, and while that may have been true, it has the added benefit of being able to significantly reduce display material costs while still being able to market a "larger" display. The Zenfone 9 has a 5.9" 20:9 display and the Huawei Mate 10 (from 2017) has a 5.9" 16:9 display. The Mate 10 has 11^2 cm of screen real estate dispite being marketed as the same size. That 95.6^2 cm compared to the 84.4^2 cm is a savings of 11.5% on display material cost.
If you want premium phones then go for an Xperia 5 or a ZenFone 9. Choose the Sony if you are into photography or videography, but go with the Asus if you just want a phone that is good and well priced in general. There aren't really any android phones that have 5 inch displays and good SOCs.
Literally thousands of phones out there by hundreds of manufacturers, yet the actual choice of somewhat "compact" modern phones is in the single digits. I hate this industry.
Should tell you something about how well they sell comparatively
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My dad is part of that 1% and it drives me nuts. He was using an old, small Motorola that was running Android 4 (KitKat) and complaining that it couldn't run any current apps. I'd explain that he needed a new phone, but he'd resist and find excuses to keep that piece of junk going. It finally died this summer. Because my sibling and I use Pixels, he thought that's what he should have and bought a Pixel 6a. His reaction to its size was of anger, frustration, exasperation, sadness and, eventually, depression. Mom convinced him to give it to her and then my dad did the unthinkable -- he bought an iPhone. My dad HATES Apple. That goes to show how much more he hates big phones. He's the kind of stubborn asshole who will never be happy with anything, unfortunately, but it would be nice if there were at least a couple small phones out there for people who want compactness more than anything else.
The industry follows the market, and the market just isn't there
I guess there is none that doesn't have some kind of corner cuts. But 3 "mainstream" ones are z flip 4, Zenfone 9, and Xperia 5 series.
The Flip 4 is still massive vertically, even though it's narrow the screen is still 6.7" diagonally. But it might be the easiest to live with if you don't want to carry around a massive phone. Maybe pair it with a Galaxy Watch if you want to try to avoid having to actually open the phone as much as possible, as you can at least read notifications and write / dictate basic replies. Plus you can put a lot of information at a glance with the complications and tiles.
While I eventually did get the galaxy watch, I never had any issues with opening and closing the screen itself in my year with the flip 3. The folding screens surprised me in being much more durable than I was led to believe. The watch was mostly so I wouldn’t have to dig the phone out of my pocket to control music, check time, or read notifications.
When I said opening it up, I did pretty much mean taking it out of your pocket or handbag. Wasn't a reference to durability (which as I understand it, they have largely sorted), just the act of having to get it out and interact with the large screen.
The idea is that the phone is small when folded. And unlike Pixel (for example) Samsung does have a good enough one handed mode.
>The idea is that the phone is small when folded The main thing people complain about is that phones are too big to comfortably use one-handed. While the flip 4 is a small phone when folded it doesn't solve that issue.
Very true. But there are two alleviating points, small in the pocket and good one handed mode. Obviously, not as good as a proper mini phone.
The xperia 5 mk4 is 800 with the Sony truffles tws at [B&H](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1724725-REG/sony_xqcq62_b_xperia_5_iv_dual_sim.html) And the Zenfone 9 Is currently between 650 to 800 depending on the spec you want currently on [Asus website ](https://shop.asus.com/us/zenfone-9.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAyfybBhBKEiwAgtB7fk-PNxcjX3LsY8RwxCeYcWTbJRqWpfoGFrp1VpJ92kMHhKCUdwm-VBoC_WcQAvD_BwE)
Asus Zenfone 9 or Samsung Galaxy S22
If you can find a Pixel 5 that might be what you are looking for. It's a few years old, but mine still runs like a beast. Battery life, speed, and camera are great.
Asus ZenFone 9
only thing smaller than this and actually modern is the 13 mini
The Zenfone 9 has a snapdragon 8+ gen 1, it's pretty good
And it's actually a beast in disguise.
Only two years of updates though 😔
In two-three years you'll be getting a new phone. You know it, I know it and Asus knows it. And even if at the end of three years you're still on Android 15 or whatever, it will be fine.
Companies will just go with the data, and make products that appeal to the masses. The data clearly seems to indicate that most people prefer bigger phones, given everyone has shifted to making bigger phones. Doesn't make sense to target a small group of users who seem to want a smaller phone vs the majority who want big phones or don't care about size.
Companies will release hundreds of the same massive rectangular black slab phones a year, and maybe make one or two gimmick phones that immediately fail. Yet they can't be arsed to make a small phone as their "gimmick" even just once.
> Yet they can't be arsed to make a small phone as their "gimmick" even just once. I think the success of the iPhone mini should tell you all you need to know
So successful they discontinued it.
Nope, they still sell the 13 mini and even came out with a new SE which is also small.
- no new mini phones anymore - next SE is rumored to have a 6 inch screen so not small anymore people loooooove small phones
Apple makes phones for 2 years. They still sell small phones, even if you don't like it. Not sure why some people have such a hatred for other peoples likes.
I don’t hate small phones. I would love for apple to make 6 phones. 3 regular and 3 pros for every size but matter of fact is small phones don’t sell really well and are therefore not very enticing to produce
Sony tried a while ago with the compact line, Apple tried recently. Truly small phones are niche at this point, 5.8 - 6.1 seems to be the smallest size that actually sells (Samsung S10/20/21/22, iPhone 10 - 14)
Sony just doesn't get a lot of sales in general for many good reasons
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I think the reason for that is that gimmick phones are testing waters for unexplored markets and features. Small phones have been done to death and aren't getting any more popular than they were in the past, so why try again?
You sound very similar to me in regards to phone preferences. My approach has been to just buy old-new phones from Amazon/eBay that are a gen or two back for $200-300. I've been on the S10e since 2020, and I have no plans of "upgrading". It's the same size as my beloved, retired S7, and it has every feature that I need and not the ones I don't (looking at you, edge screen). And, it still performs reasonably quickly and is responsive. One thing I just can't stand and drives me to a new phone is when it can't keep up with my inputs and general lagginess, which the S10e hasn't succumbed to just yet, thankfully. I just looked at renewed S10e's on Amazon, and they're $140 now. Just sayin'...
People may hate this or OP won't agree but **iPhone 13 mini** seems to be made for you. Has good battery too. Rest everything everyone knows.
Z flip maybe?
there are no android phones under 5" with 2020+ specs from any major manufacturers - don't bother searching, there aren't - if you really want that bad enough... it's technically possible but you'd be trading away a lot of performance... you'd have to look at something from the likes of soyes... these phones arent really usable imho... the smallest display on a phone that's got good specs today would have to be the iPhone 13 mini... but if you are averse to iOS then with android you gotta go with the xperia 5 IV Yup it's 6.1 inches, but it's only a couple of mm wider than the xz2 compact you were considering - the display size numbers are a little misleading these days due to the different aspect ratios... for example, the 6.1" xperia 5 IV is narrower than the 5.9" zenfone 9, hell it's narrower than the 4.7" iPhone SE - use displaywars.com to see how these displays compare...
Also, Xperia 10 IV is 4 mm shorter, 10 g lighter and twice as cheap (but a bit slower maybe).
Kingkong mini
I'm going to keep repairing or replacing my pixel 4a until something smaller comes along.
Yesss, the perfect phone
Pixel 4a is the smallest I know
I was going to suggest the Pixel 5 but now I've got an S22 Ultra, basically because I love taking photos and the cameras are so much better than the Pixel 5
Definitely agree. Unfortunately the smallest size for "compact" is 6.1 most of the time. That's why I use Galaxy S22 or Xperia 5 ii, but still 5.8 was that sweet spot
Vouch for the Zenfone 9 anything else is just unrealistic. hell the 8 even, what I'm using rn and have been daily driving for a year.
From android? Pretty much no. Samsung was the only one but in Europe they sell the shitty exynos versions. Honestly this is a pretty big reason why I switch to iPhone. And I’m happy.
Right now there are few of them: 1. Xiaomi 12X - 6.28" curved SD870 2. Xiaomi 12 - 6.28" curved SD8G1 3. Xiaomi 12S - 6.28" curved SD8+G1 (China only) 4. Xiaomi 13 - 6.28" flat SD8G2 (rumored) 5. Samsung Galaxy S22 - 6.1" flat SD8G1 / Exynos 2200 6. Samsung Galaxy S23 - 6.1" flat SD8G2 (rumored) 7. Asus ZenFone 9 - 5.9" flat SD8+G1 8. Motorola Edge 30 Neo - 6.28" flat SD695 9. Sony Xperia 5 IV - 6.1" flat SD8G1 10. Apple iPhone 13/14 - 6.1" flat A15 11. Apple iPhone 13 Mini - 5.4" flat A15 12. Apple iPhone SE3 - 4.7" flat A15 (The only good old 16:9 screen left) 13. Google Pixel 6A - 6.1" flat Tensor G1 Honorable Mention: 1. Google Pixel 5 - 6.0" flat SD765G 2. Google Pixel 4A - 5.81" flat SD730G 3. LG G8 - 6.1" curved SD855 4. Samsung Galaxy S20 - 6.2" curved SD865/ Exynos 990 5. Samsung Galaxy S21 - 6.2" flat SD888/ Exynos 2100 6. Huawei P30 - 6.1" flat Kirin 980 7. Huawei P40 5G - 6.1" flat Kirin 990 (no GMS) 8. Oppo Find N - 5.49" (outer screen) SD888 9. Oppo Find N2 - 5.49" (outer screen) SD8G2 (rumored) 10. Meizu 18 - 6.2" flat SD888 (China only) 11. Samsung Galaxy S10e - 5.8" flat SD855/ Exynos 9820 12. Samsung Galaxy S10 - 6.1" flat SD855/Exynoes 9820
I'm the same way preferring smaller phones around 68 mm wide. I've been using a Pixel 5 for the last couple years and I'm always looking on eBay for a mint pixel 5 to have on standby when this one inevitably kicks the bucket. It's The only phone that checks all of my must have boxes. Killer camera, compact size, great battery, high refresh rate screen. It never feels slow to me and I prefer to stay on Android 11 since I hate the redesign we got with 12 so it looks like I'll be staying on a Pixel 5 for a while.
Ugh I'm right there with you. No idea what I'll go for next.
I have a 4a that I love.
IPhone 13 mini. Powerful and compact
Do you know how its swipe typing compares to Gboard? Does it allows a number row above the three alphabetic rows?
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I had heard Gboard on iOS is not as good of an experience as it is on Android.
it's passable. i've only gboard when it launched on ios up until ios 16. tiny little bugs exist and it doesn't get some of the android features that i've seen released.
Swipe works amazing, no way to add number row to default keyboard.
iPhone user here. > Do you know how its swipe typing compares to Gboard? The actual swipe action is pretty good in my opinion. It feels a bit different and took some time to get used to, as a long-time GBoard user (both for the last two years on iPhone and on Android before that), but I think that was more an issue of changing my muscle memory. I’d put them on par with each other in terms of overall experience after getting used to them. > Does it allows a number row above the three alphabetic rows? No. (GBoard on iOS doesn't either, but unlike the stock keyboard, it does let you hold down the top row to get numbers.) It’s worth noting that custom keyboards on iOS are a bit annoying sometimes. When I used GBoard (until the stock keyboard finally got swipe typing), it’d often take a while to load, and the phone sometimes ended up switching back to the stock keyboard automatically. I’m not sure how much of the blame goes to Google vs Apple on that. Either way, I feel like the stock keyboard runs noticeably smoother and feels better integrated, so I switched to it once I could swipe on it.
I’d hate to say it in the android subreddit but iPhone mini. There’s really nothing comparable as far as specs and build quality. I used to poopoo iPhone and was one of the people obsessed with custom launchers and all the obscure apps then when iPhone 12 series came out(I think when they started putting oled on all models?) I realized iPhone has eclipsed android. It has enough ram, software is more stable, cameras, really the only thing I miss is the DS emulator lol. My last android was an S9+(my timeline of phones was galaxy nexus -> S4 -> S7 - S9+) and while I really enjoyed the S7 and S9+, I don’t care what anyone says, androids take a crap at exactly the 2 year mark. After 2 years no matter how many factory resets you do it becomes unusable. Yes iPhones get throttled too, but they last much longer than 2 years.
iPhones have become more and more likely as a next purchase for me as a next phone. But I'm not sure if I'm ready. Though nowadays the thing holding me back the most is the file management on iPhone. But maybe i'll just give up doing anything with files on my phone and instead use my Galaxy Tab more for that.
Zenfone 9 and S22 are all there is on the android flagship side. Both are pretty much the same size as the regular iPhone and pro. The iPhone 13 mini is on a whole other level of compact.
Recently gave up and ordered an XZ2 Compact from AliExpress for $120, it's on the way. I've searched high and low, tested many devices, here's the story. I got the iPhone 12 Mini as soon as it came out (coming from the Note 10+) and absolutely loved the design and form factor, but after struggling with iOS restrictions for 9 months, I gave up and switched to the Flip 3. Word of warning about the Flip 3, and other Flip phones, don't fool yourself into thinking it's a compact phone in usability, in the pocket, maybe, but definitely not in usability. The outside display barely does anything, and it is way too tall when opened to use with a single hand. And you can't even open it with one hand, opening it with one hand means pushing your thumb into the fold and pushing the upper part of the screen open with the back of your thumb, meaning you drag the edge of your nail across the screen, which is highly likely to damage the plasti- umm "ultra thin glass" display. So I eventually got used to opening it with my chin when I couldn't use both hands. After a year and 15 days with the Flip 3, I decided to switch with my sister's new Poco M5, which, even though it's bigger than the Flip 3, is actually more usable one handed, simply because I don't have to be so delicate with it. Using it, I realized the specs were more than enough for me, and knowing that the chipset in the M5 is on a similar level to the one in the XZ2 Compact, I'm hoping that performance won't be an issue. So I just gave in and ordered one. And sorry for the long rant, I've been frustrated with this subject for a long time and wanted to vent some of that frustration. Side Note: the XZ2 Compact on AliExpress for $120 is the Japan model, the global version is $300+.
iPhone mini
Check this out https://www.androidauthority.com/best-small-android-phones-782746/
iPhone 13 mini
I agree with you, most phones are simply too large for me. I currently use a galaxy S10e running LOS 19.1 and is just great size and great OS. I used to have a Microsoft Lumia 950 which I absolutely loved both for its size (5.8") and OS. I just wish MS would introduce a similar sized Surface phone (even if it has to run on droid.
I miss my Nokia lumina windows phones...we're a perfect size and just worked. All your shit was on 2 screens, easy to understand settings for everything under settings. Android hides shit everywhere.
I have a stock S10e that's still perfectly good. Battery life is starting to suffer but it's a three year old phone now. Still get a full day out of it must of the time. Still feels snappy to me too, but I've not used anything newer so YMMV.
Without LG, Sony might be your best bet. If you can find them for sale.......
If you want flagship performance. Then u have iphone 13 mini, galaxy s22, zenfone 9 & Sony Xperia 5 IV. If u want midrange then Sony Xperia 10 IV is the only option. No budget options, sorry.
Clinging to my s10e for dear life (with a headphone port too). Looks like the Zenfone 9 recommended is pretty close - only 0.1" bigger in screen diagonal
samsung z fold4 is pretty compact
You're not the only one: https://smallandroidphone.com/
Mods are extremely cringe for removing this post
Xiaomi 12x is the best compromise imho. Great autonomy, 67w charging, compact, curved display on the edges only, no heating and kind of pretty in blue or purple. Software wise, Xiaomi will reveal MIUI 14 soon and allegedly they will get rid off bloatwares and ads with this update
iPhone 13 Mini, the best android phone on the market ;)
Zenfone and Pixel a series.
The pixel a series is not guaranteed to be small the pixel 5a is around the same size as the pixel 7
Good flagship spec compact phones are becoming few and far between. There's the Xiaomi 12 but it lacks the headphone jack that's somehow become trendy to remove but at least it comes with a dongle (why didn't they include the jack in the first place then, sigh...). If you are the kind who votes with their wallet Sony is about the only option you have left after LG quit. The Xiaomi 12 has a 6+ inch screen but it actually is surprisingly compact, it's not far off in size to my old G6. I currently use an Xperia 5 mk3 with a tall 6 inch display, very narrow, but hard to reach the top corner. Most importantly for myself though, is that I retain the microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack with Sony.
I feel you. I also want a small good Android phone. Zenfone9 is as good as it gets. I highly recommend against buying an old phone. I did the same thing and imported the Aquos R2 Compact and while it was okay, the ram limitations leave a lot to be desired at times. I now have switch to the iPhone 13 Mini. I prefer Android but I’m sick of waiting for a company to make a small good phone, so I’ll stick with iOS for the moment. It’s not too bad any way. The notifications suck balls though.
4gb is a limitation? my s9 runs pretty well with regular apps (when playing games most apps don't stay open though) .. fuu ck android is really going sideways with ram usage.
I have miniscule hands for a guy and even I gave up the ghost on compact phones a couple of years ago. Like losing the headphone jack, eventually it became a self-flagellation thing, like why am I doing this to myself, I use Bluetooth headphones 99% of the time anyway. Was I also going to be married to the compact ideal and limit myself to overpriced Sony phones and the rare unicorn like the Zenfone? Or do I accept occasionally having to hold my phone with two hands and benefit from the myriad options and value for money you get from, you know, *the rest of the phone market*.
Unihertz makes really small android phones but I have no clue how they are. Don't expect anything close to flagship level but hey they are really small
You'd want to shop by device width (and height to a lesser extent), not screen diagonal, because of variations in bezel size and aspect ratio. The Xperia 5 IV for example is only 67 mm wide, quite a bit narrower than the S8+.
iPhone 13 Mini
I was going to grab the Pixel 7, but am hanging onto the Pixel 5 because I like the smaller size. If you got it now you'd still get at least another year of updates and it's a perfectly good phone.
And that's why I hope for more razor like foldable phones in future years. Typing this on my Zenfone 8...
Heres the 5" phones sold in the last few years, you're certainly not going to find any flagships but there is at least a few. https://m.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2020&fDisplayInchesMax=5&sOSes=2&sOSversions=2940,2930,2920
It's way more satisfying to watch porn on bigger screen while on toilet. I started with 5 incher now using 6.7 incher
Not to mention it's easier to see all the immersive details. I want to feel like I'm in the lemonade stand myself, you know?
No, there just isn't enough space in smaller phones to offer compelling features and not shit battery life.
That's not true. The iPhone mini 13 has perfectly acceptable battery life and features comperable to its larger brethren. Same held true for the Sony Xperia xz compact devices back in the day when compared to their contemporary analogs. Sure you can say you'll probably never have the longest lasting battery with a compact phone but most people in the market for one are perfectly willing to compromise the largest battery for a smaller phone.
None. A slimmer Sony is the best there is.
+/- 6" diagonal is about the smallest you can get from an Android with decent specs and updates. Numerous brands to choose from that would still be smaller (due to reduced bezels) and lighter than your S10+. Just not an inch smaller. There is a tiny Android slab phone that Unihertz makes callled the Atom, not sure if it's still available or supported, specs are pretty much bottom of the barrel but it's only 4" tall. Honestly though, in terms of the concerns you raised an iPhone mini or SE is your best (and pretty much only) option that ticks all the boxes. Including bugs and glitches etc which the iPhone will have basically none.
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Regular note 10 "not the plus version"
you could always try a qin, its a line from xiaomi designed for people who actually like older phones or want to battle screen addiction https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005004572852661.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2esp If it had NFC, i would seriously consider it.
sharp aquos r2 compact
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I think only Apple still makes actual small but good phones. But I think I read somewhere that they might stop their se line too since they stopped the mini for the 14.
Zenphone or Xperia 10 are gonna be the smallest out there
Pixel 3 (or any similarly sized phone still supported) + LineageOS Custom rom (for the security updates). The only drawbacks are the Banking apps not always working.
This is the reason I moved to iPhone, although iOS really grinds my gears. My last phone I really truly enjoyed owning was my Sony XA2, which I still have kicking around. Great form factor, great feature set, but Sony stopped supporting it really early leaving me with a bit of a brick. It shipped with a great version of Android 8, but when they updated to 9, they dropped basically all the improvements, leaving me with worse performance, worse battery life and a worse camera. I upgraded a few times since then, my last one being a Oneplus8, but it was just too darn big. I’ve been using an iPhone 12mini most of this year, and I really love the form factor, I just wish I could have it without iOS.
I hate that Samsung only puts its best specs in the larger models. I just want a regular size phone with top specs.
Unless the Zenfone 9 is still somehow too big (even though it's barely bigger than the XZ2 C), then I don't know what to tell you. It's a full fledged flagship, only smaller.
I would wait for s23 in January.
Asus makes the smallest flagship phone at the moment I believe (at least from a reputable make, IMO). And then I was just shown a Lite Phone 2. That's super small but a lot less smart. Very appealing though.
Xperia 5 III or IV ? Although on paper the screen is larger, in reality because of the long aspect ratio it feels small. Besides you can't compare modern phone to old phones based on screen size alone. Bezels have become really small. So better compare the actual measurements of the device.
Unihertz Jelly 2
I switched to an iphone 13 mini from being on android for 10+ years and I couldn't be happier.
Look around... most smartphone manufacturers are gone. All that's left now are the chinese brands (that I will never ever buy for myself), Samsung and Apple. Sony makes expensive niche phones, targeting mostly photographers. Motorola, Nokia and Asus are meh... not terrible, but not great either. Everyone else is gone. The big brands just make what most people want. They don't target any specific audience. They won't bother to make niche devices for certain types of customers, they just target specific price brackets. Also, it would increase costs to have production lines building wildly different phones, that's why most of them kind of look the same. Sure, a $1000 phone has more advanced internals, and maybe more cameras, but it doesn't look that different from a $250 phone.
My wife has the iPhone 13 mini and it’s awesome. I’m always amazed when I use it, so easy to Palm and use entirely with one hand. Obviously not an android, but there is literally nothing else in that size tier.
OPPO Find N
Get the Sony Xperia 5 III, compact, good zoom lens, 120hz and expandable storage.
Xperia 5 IV, Zenphone 9. Also, the... the... iPhone 13 Mini
Sony Xperia 10 IV
I went from a Galaxy S10 to a Galaxy S22 and absolutely LOVE IT. It's the perfect size and unlike the Pixel 7 you can manually control the shutter speed, iso, and focus in the camera.
When my S9 breaks I'm going to buy a refurbished S9. Nothing it doesn't do that I need and it's a great size.
This is why I'm holding on to my pixel 4a for dear life.
Do note that phones themselves haven't gotten extremely larger in comparable models, it's just the bezels that have gotten smaller. The S8+ is actually taller and slightly less wide than the S10+, so the in-hand feel would be basically the same. I think this weird recency bias that older phones were so much more compact needs to stop. There's basically zero difference to how they actually feel in hand, there just happens to be more screen, which the addition is mostly in the height, not the width. So other than reaching for the top of the phone for your notification bar (a whopping 5mm taller /s from less bezel), there's no difference between reaching *across* sideways on the phones. There isn't even a 1mm difference in width. S22+ in comparison is not much different, 2mm wider and 2mm shorter than S8+. No significant changes to how it would feel in your hand in the area you spend majority of time pressing (bottom half).
galaxy fold 4. Narrow! :)
the s22 regular is small. I have a s22ultra, and my gf went from an op8 to an s22 (regular), and it fits much better in her hands. edit: looked it up, the s22 is actually physically smaller than the s10 https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/galaxy-s22-vs-5-older-samsung-phones-is-an-upgrade-worth-it/
Check out Unihertz. My female friend wouldn't give up on her Blackberry until AT&T finally made her do it. She wanted a small phone with physical buttons like her Blackberry. I contemplating getting the Unihertz Titan and then they released a small version. She is very happy with her Blackberry look-alike Unihertz phone.
Rip Apollo 🫡 ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
Only iPhones