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Best Small Phones 2023
Best small phones: Quick menu
The best small phones are hard to find, but they still exist in some capacity. Apple did its part to keep compact phones in people's hands. The company's latest device is the iPhone SE (2022), a new version of the 4.7-inch iPhone that adds a newer processor and 5G connectivity. But the iPhone mini line is dead, replaced by the giant iPhone Plus models.
Then there's Asus, one of the only smartphone brands to offer a sub-6-inch phone without it being a foldable. It's well worth checking out the Zenfone 9 if you're not an iPhone fan, or don't mind which OS your new phone users.
But it's clear these models doesn't have much company, as smartphone displays continue to get larger and larger. That's fine for people who like big screens, but there are precious few options for those who prefer something they can comfortably use one-handed. Trust us, we think this is quite a tragedy.
Small phones are a rarity these days, but for anyone looking, we have your best options below that should satisfy your need for features and compactness.
The quick listWe've gone through all of the best options and put them through rigorous testing to see which ones you should buy. Here are the best small phones you can still get your hands on in brief, with longer summaries below.
Best overall
The best small phone overallYou can't beat the iPhone 13 mini for its combination of power and performance. And even better, it's one of the smallest handsets even among those on this list.
Read more below
Best Android
The best small Android phone
Asus continues to lead the way in small Androids with the Zenfone 10, offering excellent but efficient performance and some great software. It's just a shame it's got a limited update schedule and fewer cameras than most for its price
Read more below
Best foldable
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
The best small foldable phone
If you like your small phone to hide a large screen, then the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will give you that in a flexible body, along with strong performance and boosted battery life.
Read more below
Best flagship
4. IPhone 14 Pro
The best small flagship phone
The iPhone 14 Pro stuffs the latest iPhone features into a compact body. You won't find a more powerful phone, or a better photo-taker, at this size, but watch out for its battery life.
Read more below
Best budget
5. IPhone SE (2022)
The best budget small phone
The cheapest phone on this list, the iPhone SE delivers plenty of computing power for its size, but strips out some modern smartphone comforts to do so.
Read more below
Best value
6. IPhone 12 mini
The best small phone value
If you can get a hold of it, the iPhone 12 mini offers a very similar experience to the chart-topping iPhone 13 mini, only with a few missing features and a year less of software support.
Read more below
The full list: Best small phones in detail (Image credit: Tom's Guide)The best small phone you can buy
SpecificationsDisplay: 5.4-inch OLED (2340 x 1080)
CPU: A15 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No
Rear cameras: 12MP main (f/1.6), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.4)
Front camera: 12MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 4.97 ounces
Reasons to buy +Capable dual cameras
+Comprehensive 5G support
+Incredible A15 Bionic power
Reasons to avoid -Cinematic mode capped at 1080p
-No charger in the box
Apple continued the small phone legacy laid down by the iPhone 12 mini with the iPhone 13 mini. This little handset is very powerful, thanks to the new A15 Bionic chip. There's nothing it can't handle, all while being easily pocketed or used one-handed. The 5.4-inch OLED display is still crisp with excellent colors and viewing angles.
This year, Apple kept the design the same, but improved the battery life — in the Tom's Guide battery test, the iPhone 13 mini lasted for more than 1.5 hours longer than its predecessor. The cameras also got an upgrade. Both the 12MP wide-angle main and 12MP ultrawide cameras feature larger sensors now that let in more light. The ultrawide also has autofocus now. But also new this year are Cinematic Mode and Photographic Styles.
The former lets you record portrait videos with dynamically shifting focus for that artistic look. Photographic Styles are basically real-time filters that you can test out while you're aiming the camera, letting you capture photos that match your personal taste.
We love the iPhone 13 mini's compact frame and impressive power. It's perfect for people who want a small phone with powerful hardware and great creative capabilities. It is also now on sale for $599 thanks to the iPhone 14's launch.
Read our full iPhone 13 mini review.
The best small Android phone
The best small Android phone
SpecificationsDisplay: 5.9-inch AMOLED (2400 x 1080)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM: 8GB, 12GB, 16GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No
Rear cameras: 50MP (f/1.56) main, 13MP (f/3.06) ultrawide
Front camera: 32MP (f/2.5)
Weight: 6 ounces
Reasons to buy +Smaller than any other premium Android
+Mighty chipset
+Long battery life
+Productive software additions
Reasons to avoid -Limited software updates
-Only two rear cameras
Small phones may be a rarity, but Asus isn't giving up. No siree, the Zenfone 10 is exactly what we wanted to see in a small Android phone. It packs in a ton of horsepower thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The 5.9-inch AMOLED display is great with punchy colors, but the battery life doesn't suffer. We really like some of Asus' software alterations to base Android too, such as using the power button as a notification shade switch.
The cameras are generally pretty good for most purposes, though we wish there was a telephoto camera. Also only two years of full Android updates isn't great for a phone of this price. Nonetheless, the Zenfone 10 is head of the pack when it comes to small Android phones.
Read our full Asus Zenfone 10 review.
The best small foldable phone
The best small foldable phone
SpecificationsDisplays: 6.7-inch AMOLED (2640 x 1080) outer; 1.9-inch AMOLED (260 x 512) inner
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
RAM: 8GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No
Rear cameras: 12MP (f/1.8) main, 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide
Front camera: 10MP (f/2.4)
Weight: 6.5 ounces
Today's best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 deals
Reasons to buy +Improved battery life
+Tougher with waterproof rating
+Cheap for a foldable
+Powerful chipset
Reasons to avoid -Aging cameras
-Display features obvious crease
-Expensive compared to other small phones
You'll struggle to find any phone that's smaller than the folded-up Galaxy Z Flip 4. But within it contains a 6.7-inch FHD display that's far larger than any other device on this list. So if your main reason for buying a small phone is pocket or bag space, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 provides a compelling solution.
Beyond its size, the Z Flip 4 dazzles with its powerful Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip and impressive battery longevity for its size and price. But the cameras, while enhanced from previous years, are not Samsung's best, plus using the inner display means you're constantly staring at a very obvious crease in the screen. And on a related note, the outer display can't act as a full replacement for the main screen, offering only basic widgets for certain apps. You won't be able to use the phone in its smallest mode for much.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 won't be a small phone for every potential user. But it could prove ideal for some users, and also has the benefit of being one of the newest phones on this lift, ensuring it'll have a lengthy update schedule still ahead of it.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review
The best small flagship phone
The best small flagship phone
SpecificationsDisplay: 6.1-inch OLED (2556 x 1179), 1 - 120Hz
CPU: A16 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / No
Rear camera: 48MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 12MP 3x optical telephoto (f/2.8)
Front camera: 12MP (f/1.9)
Weight: 7.3 ounces
Reasons to buy +Super-powered A16 Bionic chip
+Excellent cameras
+Bright and colorful display
Reasons to avoid -On the large side for a small phone
-Below-average battery life
-eSIM only
At 6.1 inches, the iPhone 14 Pro is a bit bigger than other small phones, but you'd be hard pressed to find a smaller phone with a better feature set.
Apple's non-Max Pro iPhone offers the some of the best cameras, performance and display quality of any phone on sale today. It's also got all the Apple touches we know and love too like iOS 16, and the new Dynamic Island, a floating camera cutout that doubles as a handy UI element for controlling certain apps.
The biggest everyday occurrence we found with this phone was disappointing battery life, with the lack of SIM tray (it's eSIM or nothing) and some over-eager photo processing also causing some irritation. But none of this really detracts from what is ultimately one of the best phones on the market overall, let alone of the best cheap phones.
Read our full iPhone 14 Pro review.
The best small budget phone (Image credit: Future)A powerful and compact phone
SpecificationsDisplay: 4.7-inch LCD (1344 x 750)
CPU: A15 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage / Expandable: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB / No
Rear camera: 12MP (f/1.8)
Front camera: 7MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 5 ounces
Reasons to buy +Fastest performance for the money
+Very good photo quality
+More durable design
Reasons to avoid -No Night mode for camera
-No mmWave 5G support
Apple seems to be the last bastion of small phones, we're sad to say. The recent iPhone 13 mini and now the new iPhone SE (2022) both keep the screen size well under six inches. In the SE's case, it's a teeny 4.7-inch LCD. We don't think it's the prettiest, nor does it have a high resolution, but it fits in small hands and pockets.
It's also no slouch when it comes to the performance department. Using the same A15 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 13 series, you'll not find any phone that is faster under $500 — even the most expensive Android phones have a hard time keeping up in some places.
Of course, there's no Night mode here, something the equally diminutive iPhone 13 mini has. The new SE also lacks support for Verizon's mmWave 5G network. Again, the iPhone 13 mini enjoys that luxury. But for $429, you can't have everything. If having the smallest phone is what you want, the iPhone SE (2022) should be one of your top considerations.
Read our full iPhone SE (2022) review.
The best small phone value
Older, but still one of the best small phones
SpecificationsDisplay: 5.4-inch OLED (2340 x 1080)
CPU: A14 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage / Expandable: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB / No
Rear cameras: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.6), 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.4)
Front camera: 12MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 4.76 ounces
Reasons to buy +Capable dual cameras
+Incredible A14 Bionic power
+Reasonable starting price
Reasons to avoid -Only 64GB storage to start
-Underwhelming battery life
While it's been supplanted by the new iPhone 13 mini, 2020's iPhone 12 mini is still a great small phone. From its compact 5.4-inch display to its dual camera system, the iPhone 13 mini is still the little phone that could. If we had to level any true complaint against it, it'd be that the battery life is pretty poor. Oh, and the base storage is just 64GB.
Even so, you get the powerful A14 Bionic chip powering the whole experience, making for a handset that can run laps around many Android phones. We think the main wide-angle and secondary ultrawide angle can take some beautiful photos, thanks to Apple's computational photography skills.
The iPhone 12 mini is no longer for sale from Apple, so stock will start to dwindle soon. You might be able to find a good deal, especially on a used model.
Read our full iPhone 12 mini review.
How to choose the best small phone for youYou usually have to sacrifice something when buying a small phone. Of course, screen real estate is part of the tradeoff; but small phones also have smaller batteries, and sometimes less RAM or fewer camera lenses than larger, more expensive versions of the same device.
If you prioritize a compact form factor over all else — and you probably do if you're reading this page — these tradeoffs will likely be well worth it. Apple and Google are featured prominently on our list of the best small phones because they don't eliminate critical features from more compact handsets. That's illustrated by the fact that the iPhone 13 mini packs the same punch as the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Or how the new iPhone SE (2022) utilizes the same A15 Bionic chipset found in those more premium iPhone 13 models.
But the biggest challenge you might face when shopping for the best small phone is just how little choice there is. Smartphone shoppers favor bigger screens and that's where most device makers are putting their efforts these days.
How we test smartphonesIn order for a smartphone to make our best phone list, it needs to excel on several tests that we run on every handset. We perform some of these tests in our labs and some in the real world.
When it comes to performance, we rely on such synthetic benchmarks as Geekbench 5 and 3DMark to measure graphics performance. These tests allow us to compare performance across iPhones and Android devices. We also run a real-world video transcoding test on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the result. (We unfortunately have to skip this test on some phones due to app compatibility issues, but we attempt this benchmark with each device we get in to review.)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Performance benchmarks Row 0 - Cell 0 Geekbench 5 (single-core / multicore) 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (FPS) iPhone 13 mini 1733 / 4643 61 Zenfone 9 1190 / 4069 58 Galaxy Z Flip 4 1291 / 4015 67 iPhone 14 Pro 1891 / 5469 74 iPhone SE (2022) 1718 / 4482 50 iPhone 12 mini 1602 / 4123 54To measure the quality of a phone's display, we perform lab tests to determine the brightness of the panel (in nits), as well as how colorful each screen is (DCI-P3 color gamut). In these cases, higher numbers are better. We also measure color accuracy of each panel with a Delta-E rating, where lower numbers are better and score of 0 is perfect.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Display benchmarks Row 0 - Cell 0 sRGB (%) DCI-P3 (%) Delta-E iPhone 13 mini 117 83 0.27 Zenfone 9 157 (Optimal) / 184 (Natural) 111 (Optimal) / 130 (Natural) 0.28 (Optimal) / 0.3 (Natural) Galaxy Z Flip 4 188 (Vivid) / 110 (Natural) 132 (Vivid) / 78 (Natural) 0.36 (Natural) / 0.24 (Natural) iPhone 14 Pro 120 85 0.25 iPhone SE (2022) 115 81 0.21 iPhone 12 mini 118 83 N/AOne of the most important tests we run is the Tom's Guide battery test. We run a web surfing test over 5G (or 4G if the phone doesn't have 5G support) at 150 nits of screen brightness until the battery gives out. In general, a phone that lasts 10 hours or more is good, and anything above 11 hours makes our list of the best phone battery life.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Battery life benchmark Row 0 - Cell 0 Battery life (Hrs:Mins) iPhone 13 mini 8:54 Zenfone 9 13:13 (adaptive), 12:52 (120Hz), 13:20 (60Hz) Galaxy Z Flip 4 8:33 (Adaptive), 8:57 (60Hz) iPhone 14 Pro 10:13 iPhone SE (2022) 7:39 iPhone 12 mini 7:28Last but not least, we take the best phones out in the field to take photos outdoors, indoors and at night in low light to see how they perform versus their closest competitors. We take shots of landscapes, food, portraits and more, and also allow you to be the judge with side-by-side comparisons in our reviews.
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By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.This pared-down handset looks like a smaller version of the HTC One M8 and behaves like one, but it's a different phone entirely. Read more in our HTC One Mini 2 review
The HTC One Mini 2 is NOT a smaller version of the HTC One M8, but actually that's ok.
Unlike the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact HTC has decided that its smaller phones will still aim to achieve the same goals that its flaghship phones do, but in a number of different ways.
Other rivals include the iPhone 5c and to an extent, the cheaper Motorola Moto E and Moto G.
The HTC One Mini 2 is not the miniature powerhouse you were expecting; instead it's leaner than that, with battery life getting as much focus as the screen. Is that a bad thing? Of course not, and here's why.
HTC One Mini 2: Size and buildTake a glance at the HTC One Mini 2 and it's clear that HTC is onto a good thing - it's a stunning phone and every bit as good looking as the HTC One M8.
The combination of brushed metal with black plastic accents feels premium, while a slight increase in weight over the last one actually helps it feel more planted in the hand.
The phone is also thicker, however despite its 10.6mm thickness the curved back helps negate a lot of that plus it allows more room for hardware and battery.
If we had any complaints about the design then it would be its length. With the phone already featuring a 4.5-inch display the addition of the bezel at the bottom can sometimes make using the screen a little awkward, a problem which will surely be accented if you have smaller hands.
HTC One Mini 2: FeaturesThe HTC One Mini 2 sports the same software as the M8, which means you'll get Android KitKat 4.4.2 as well as HTC's new Sense 6 UI.
One important thing to note about Sense 6 is that it's definitely not a revolution in design, more a refined evolution of what was already there.
That's not a bad thing – Sense is one of the best Android UIs out there, it's simple, streamlined and extremely nimble. That said it would have been nice to see HTC shake things up even a little for its new range.
Improvements on the old UI are useful though, the ability to completely remove BlinkFeed is genuinely handy for those that would rather opt-out.This combined with the ability to set custom home screens means Sense 6 feels a whole lot more customisable.
Where issues arrive however is with HTC's own integration features, it wants to connect to Facebook, Twitter and pretty much any other social network you have, tying in your contacts and images.
This would be great for those that love a socially connected phone but for those of us that don't want Facebook 24/7 it can be a little annoying constantly having to refuse access when you first start using the phone.
On an unrelated note it's worth mentioning the BoomSound speakers on the One Mini 2. Each boasting their own digital processor the speakers are once again some of the best to appear on a smartphone.
HTC One Mini 2: ScreenIt's become quite clear over the past 12 months that a Full-HD screen isn't the be all and end all of a modern smartphone. Advances in screen technology mean that 720p displays and above can look just as good as any Full-HD panel.
As such, the Mini 2 comes with a 4.5-inch 720p display and it's brilliant. Pixel density is superb which means the Mini 2 is perfect for reading text or watching films.
Viewing angles were also impressive however we found viewing in direct sunlight did seem to cause a few problems, nothing drastic but worth noting.
HTC One Mini 2: CameraThe Mini 2 comes with a 13MP camera, which is interesting for two reasons. The first is that it isn't the Duo camera you'll find on the HTC One M8 and the second is that it isn't the Ultrapixel camera you'll find on the old HTC One Mini.
Why? Well, we asked the chaps at HTC and they've yet to respond but we can only assume the answer to both of those is cost.
That said, this is by no means a bad sensor, in actual fact it's really rather good. The focus is incredibly fast while the lens can handle a great range of distances without blurring or imperfections.
The UI is a triumph as well, particularly useful when using the 5MP front-facing camera. There is, we're sad to say, a 'Selfie mode'. Thankfully despite the name it is a genuinely useful feature as it'll count down to the shot with large numbers – perfect for setting up landscape shots with groups.
HTC One Mini 2: BatteryHTC has upped the battery on the HTC One Mini 2 to 2100mAh from 1800mAh in the original.
This not only makes sense because of the larger screen but also because of the increased power coming from the processor. It's a smart move and not just compensatory in its implementation.
Instead HTC has done some tinkering and what you're left with is a phone that has a pretty solid all-day battery life.
This includes music on the way to work, regular checking of social media, emails and also watching a few videos on YouTube. By the time we'd got home the battery was down to between 15-20 per cent, more than enough considering it was unplugged at around 7.30am.
HTC One Mini 2: PerformanceThis is another area where it becomes clear this isn't just a shrunken down version of the HTC One M8. Luckily it's nowhere near the drop in specs that Samsung seems to implement on its 'Mini' smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Mini 4.
Instead HTC has opted for a 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor along with 1GB of RAM.
Now on the surface that actually doesn't sound like very much, and in truth it isn't, but somehow HTC has managed to make all the hardware work together in such a way that it feels as quick as any flagship phone.
The added bonus of this reduction in power is that the One Mini 2 isn't as battery hungry as its rivals. If there is one downside it's that HTC's multi-tasking is a bit of a cheat.
Rather than keep the app completely running, it seems to place it in stasis, so when swapping apps you'll see a short delay in which the phone restarts the app. Visually it looks like an image loading on a web page.
HTC One Mini 2: VerdictThe HTC One Mini 2 is a solid improvement on what was already one of the best smaller-sized handsets out there.
The build quality is fantastic and it actually feels and looks better than the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact while the addition of a microSD card slot is extremely welcome.
It's not a revolution in how you can cram power into a smaller package, instead it's a leaner creation, focusing on doing the small things well while making it through to the end of the day.
If you're after innovative new features and gimmicks then the One Mini 2 isn't for you, this is a phone that isn't looking to change your life completely, just make it markedly easier.
HTC One Mini 2 release date: June 2014
HTC One Mini 2 price: TBC, probably around £380 SIM free
HTC One Mini 2: Price Comparison
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