It may be hard to believe today, but there was once a time when a 6-inch smartphone was considered massive. However, as manufacturers built more sophisticated and powerful camera systems and customers demanded more screen real estate, battery life, and power, the 6.5-inch+ screens that once graced only those smartphones facetiously referred to as “phablets” have become the norm rather than the exception. Today, most of the best Android phones are in this larger size range, and while they offer some incredible features and gorgeous screens, sometimes a 6.7-inch phone is just too much.
Thankfully, if you have smaller hands — or simply want a more pocketable phone — there are still some great options on the market. While “smaller” these days typically means a display around six inches, that’s still refreshingly compact and light compared to some of the 6.8-inch+ behemoths on the market. The advent of more reliable folding screen technology has also given rise to devices that can offer you the best of both worlds, with an expansive screen that folds closed into a more compact form.
The good news is that many of today’s smaller phones don’t compromise on power — some of the best of these have the same screens and processors as their larger siblings while packing in as much advanced camera hardware as their smaller frames can handle. Here are some of the best of the bunch to suit nearly any taste.
Small phones that you can use with one hand
Asus Zenfone 10
Truly compact Android phone
The Asus Zenfone 10 is the ultimate small phone due to its combination of size, performance, and price. With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and up to 16GB of RAM, the Zenfone 10 is more than capable of keeping up with your daily habits. Throw in its compact frame and small 5.92-inch display, and you have a well-rounded device that is perfect for one-handed use.
- One-handed use is easy
- Plenty of power for good value
- Headphone jack
- Software update policy lags behind the competition
- Design isn’t for everyone
If you are looking for a compact phone that can keep up with your daily needs, look no further than the Asus Zenfone 10. This small device is not short on power, thanks to the included Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. One of the drawbacks of last year’s Zenfone 9 was the lack of wireless charging, but Asus fixed that this year.
Gestures in the ZenTouch suite offer some simple tried and true methods of navigating your phone, such as the “double tap to wake and lock” feature we’ve seen on other phones. But the “edge” tool that brings up a panel of apps and tools you can access picture-in-picture while in any other app, and the customizable “tap on the back” shortcut, make the compact design of the phone more than just a novelty — it’s part of its identity.
Asus Zenfone 10 review: The last of the (good) small phones
Good things still come in small packages
Although the double-camera array on the back of the Asus Zenfone 10 isn’t the best implementation we’ve seen on a smartphone, it’s acceptable for posting pictures to social media accounts. The 50MP main sensor is good at capturing most shots, especially in full-resolution mode, making it a decent point-and-shoot camera. And given that the Zenfone 10’s reasonable MSRP sees frequent discounts now, it’s a hard bargain to pass up.
Samsung Galaxy S24
Poised to live out its 7-year Android lifespan swimmingly
While it didn’t see a ton of upgrades compared to the S23, the Galaxy S24 packs in just enough improvements to further cement its place at the front of the pack. Increased efficiency, an even better display, and an impressive Android update promise to lead the charge.
- Nearly unbeatable brightness
- Excellent battery life
- Industry-leading performance
- Still limited to 25W charging
- Typical Samsung camera struggles
The seemingly minor design change of flattening the sides of the S24 family had two big knock-on effects. Firstly, it allows for a 0.1-inch-larger display without increasing the phone’s overall size. Possibly more importantly, it’s easier to hold onto securely, especially during one-handed use. To make matters better, a slightly textured finish now adorns the back, cutting into the slipperiness the S23 suffered from.
From a hardware and performance standpoint, the S24 only slightly improves upon its predecessor, but the relatively minor changes have two effects. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 isn’t significantly more powerful than the Gen 2, but a slight clock speed bump helps ensure the S24 will perform well throughout its promised seven Android updates.
Arguably more relevant, though, the new chip’s even greater efficiency pairs with a slightly larger battery to last even longer between charges. This doesn’t just improve battery life, but also positively affects the battery’s longevity, further improving the phone’s outlook over the course of the aforementioned Android update lifespan.
We were hard-pressed to come up with major negatives to the S24, but unfortunately, Samsung failed to address the only two big complaints we had. The 25W charging still doesn’t impress, especially given the phone’s cost. And Samsung’s cameras, while better than before, still suffer from periodic blurriness and sometimes questionable image processing. Nonetheless, the cameras work fine for most purposes, and the S24 is a better flagship-class investment than ever before.
Google Pixel 8a
A flagship-lite experience at an affordable price
Google’s latest affordable smartphone combines the Pixel 8’s Tensor G3 chipset with price-conscious swaps like a matte plastic exterior, chunkier bezels, older image sensors, and slower charging speeds. But don’t let that hold you back. Top-notch imaging, seven years of updates, and a fluid interface guarantee a user experience that delivers flagship thrills for less.
- Same chipset as the flagship Pixels
- Excellent imaging performance
- Seven years of updates
- Large bezels
- Slow charging
- AI-future remains dubious
The Google Pixel 8a is the perfect example of bridging high-end essentials with midrange components to create an affordable smartphone with flagship-lite features. If you don’t mind the plastic build and slower charging, the Pixel 8a delivers most of the experiences expected of flagship phones. For example, the screen remains compact at 6.1 inches, but this year, Google has improved the quality of the panel with better saturation, contrast, and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Similarly, the phone gets the same Tensor G3 chipset as the mainline Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones, guaranteeing seven years of software updates. That’s a tremendous promise for any phone, let alone an affordable smartphone. Unfortunately, you might have to forego some of the company’s AI-centric feature drops. The Tensor G3 was well behind the Qualcomm competition at launch, and the gulf has only widened.
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Google’s hardware lineup is in a tricky spot, and the Pixel 8a only makes things more confusing
On the other hand, the Pixel 8a continues to deliver the same tack-sharp images that the Pixel line is known for. While it lacks a telephoto sensor, the computational capabilities can offload that to a degree. Google’s computational flourishes are what make the Pixel lineup so special. From automatic call screening to the Magic Eraser, there’s a lot to like here. Unfortunately, there are other compromises, too. Battery life isn’t the phone’s strong suit and the slow 18W charging compounds that problem. But, if you can handle all those drawbacks, there’s still an endearing, affordable phone to be found here.
Motorola Razr (2023)
A budget-friendly flip phone
Thanks to its budget price tag, the Motorola Razr (2023) is the perfect device for those hesitant to try a foldable device. This device single-handedly resets the expectation for flip phones and proves you don’t need to spend $1000 to get one. It may lack some of the bells and whistles of its more expensive competitors, but for $700, it’s tough to beat.
- Excellent in-hand feel
- Good battery life
- Fantastic internal display
- Cameras are good but not great
- External display is limited
The Motorola Razr (2023) is a great flip phone that does a lot right while keeping the cost down to a respectable $700. The Razr (2023) gets you solid day-to-day performance thanks to its Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM. It won’t chew through the latest games and heavier workloads like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will, but should do more than enough to keep up with your daily tasks.
This Razr has an excellent 6.9-inch pOLED LTPO display that can reach 1,400 nits and has a refresh rate of 144Hz. It’s the same panel used on its more expensive Razr+ sibling. To keep costs low, Motorola equipped this flip phone with a small 1.5-inch AMOLED external display. Due to its size, the external display is a bit limited to what it can display outside of messages and notifications.
Motorola Razr (2023) review: Better than it should be
It’s not the flashiest or most powerful, but this clamshell foldable is great for the space
The Motorola Razr (2023) also ships with a dual camera setup that will get you good shots in most conditions, except when the lighting goes down. It has a 64MP OIS main lens, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 32MP front-facing camera. Thanks to its 4200mAh battery, you can expect all-day battery life, but not much more. The vegan leather exterior is pleasant to hold and offers a nice change of pace compared to the usual glass slab. One thing that may be a letdown is Motorola’s lackluster history of providing timely software updates. If that doesn’t bother you, then the Motorola Razr (2023) is tough to beat for the price.
Google Pixel 8
Google’s new Pixel 8 expands on the machine learning and computational photography features Pixel phones are known for with a new Tensor G3 chip that powers even more sophisticated photo processing, giving it a photographic prowess that’s much greater than the sum of its camera hardware.
- Bright and brilliant display
- Solid battery life
- A staggering 7 years of OS updates
- Middling charging speeds
- Inexplicably missing software features compared to its larger counterpart
Although Google’s Pixel 8 is missing a few things from its larger sibling, it still packs an impressive number of AI-powered machine learning features into a small package, thanks to Google’s powerful new Tensor G3 chip. The dual-camera system may not be as impressive as other flagship phones, but Google more than makes up for that with advanced computational photography that not only delivers bright, vibrant, and natural photos but also lets you edit them in ways that no other smartphone can.
For instance, the Tensor G3 powers a new Magic Editor, a generative AI tool that builds on the well-known Magic Eraser from prior Pixel phones to let you edit photos in ways you may have never imagined possible. Now, not only can you remove background objects, but you can actually move things around in your photos and change the look of things, and it’s all amazingly effortless. Google’s AI algorithms will automatically generate the pixels needed to fill in the blanks, so your edits look natural.
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The Pixel 8 doesn’t need every feature the 8 Pro offers, it’s packing more than enough
While the Tensor G3 isn’t the fastest chip in terms of raw performance, it can still more than hold its own for everyday tasks and casual gaming, and while the Pixel 8 doesn’t come cheap, it’s important to remember that you’re not only getting Google’s latest and greatest phone, but this time around the company promises an unprecedented seven years of major Android updates, so this one has staying power that’s unlike any other Android smartphone on the market today.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Small and big at the same time
While phones may never be as small as the height of the flip phone era ever again, the 6.7-inch 1080p screen of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 can fit into the smallest of pockets. Sure, Samsung’s clamshell foldable has a few drawbacks that make the expensive price point a little unsettling; however, there’s nothing quite like it on the market.
- Unique foldable design
- Allows big screen in a small form factor
- Improved hinge design
- Cameras could be better
- Battery life isn’t too great
While the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 isn’t a small phone in the traditional sense, its foldable design makes it easy to carry around and fully embraces what the promise of foldable phones always was from the get-go. Unfolding the Z Flip 5 reveals a big 6.7-inch display, but folded up, it’s only about 3.4 inches, making it easy to slip into a pocket, bag, or purse.
Once again, the software touches that make use of the unique form factor of the Z Flip 5 are truly a treat, even if they are a little more fun than they are practical in some situations, like being able to prop the phone up in an “L” position (known as Flex mode) to use the front-facing camera hands-free, or even scrolling through apps with a little digital trackpad. Neat features like these make the Z Flip 4 a fun and innovative device.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review: Flex Window for the win
A slightly larger cover screen makes all the difference in the world
Although the device is powerful and has full 5G support — making it a fantastic 5G phone — it does lag behind its more traditional slab-style Galaxy brothers regarding camera performance and battery life. Still, if you love having a big phone that can become a small phone when you need to carry it around, there’s no better foldable to pick up.
Google Pixel 7a
Low price, big features
The Pixel 7a offers flagship-level performance at a price not many phones can contend with. At $500, the Google Tensor G2 chip, 90Hz 6.1-inch display, and 8GB of RAM should make just about everyone happy. And with such a small display, the Pixel 7a is easily held in one hand. For those looking for the best bang for your buck, the Pixel 7a is a winner.
- Feels and runs like a flagship
- Impressive price-to-performance ratio
- Screen and cameras are predictably great
- Battery life could be better
- Misses the long Android lifespan of newer Pixels
For those who want an uncompromising experience but scoff at the sky-high prices of flagship smartphones, you can’t do much better than the Google Pixel 7a. For $500, the Pixel 7a includes many flagship-level features, keeping it in contention with devices that cost almost twice as much. The Pixel 7a has a 6.1-inch, FHD OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 90Hz. Add in the Google Tensor G2 chipset and 8 GB of RAM, and you have a well-rounded device that can easily keep up with your day-to-day life.
Like all Pixel devices, the Pixel 7a ships with a mostly stock version of Android with three years of Android upgrades and five years of security patches. The 4,385mAh battery should be good enough to give you five hours of screen-on-time, which is average at best. Depending on how hard you push your device, that could be a full day of use, but it can be much less.
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If you love taking photos, the Pixel 7a will surely put a smile on your face. Google gave the 7a some flagship love this year and went with a 64MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide. Add in Google’s fantastic post-processing prowess, and you are bound to get some fantastic shots from this device.
The only real reason not to buy the 7a is that the 8a is out now at the same price — so only grab this older model if you find it at a healthy discount.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Lightweight and powerful
The iPhone 15 Pro packs a lot of power into a relatively small frame, with Apple’s latest A17 Pro chip that’s optimized for console-quality games, a leading-edge camera system, and a new titanium alloy construction that makes it lighter than any other flagship smartphone in its class.
- Lightweight titanium construction
- Incredible performance
- Excellent camera system for a smaller phone
- Apple’s iOS isn’t as customizable as Android
- Pricey
Apple upgraded the iPhone 15 Pro to a souped-up A17 Pro chip with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and other GPU enhancements, making it one of the first smartphones capable of playing full console-quality games. That’s joined by a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2,000 nits of peak brightness that can easily hold its own against some of the best Android smartphone displays out there. It’s also lighter than ever, thanks to a new titanium alloy construction, and it’s the first iPhone to finally ditch Apple’s proprietary Lightning port in favor of USB-C.
While the camera system doesn’t match up to the high optical zooms found on the largest Android flagships, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better camera on any smartphone in this size class. The three-lens system combines a 48MP primary camera with 12MP wide and 3X telephoto lenses, plus a LiDAR scanner for taking portrait shots and delivering faster autofocus in low light. The power efficiency of the A17 Pro chip and iOS 17 should easily get you through a day of typical use, although if you want to push the gaming capabilities of Apple’s new A-series chip, you’ll want to keep a charger handy.
Unfortunately, if you’re used to Android’s level of customizability, this is where the iPhone 15 Pro still falls short. Apple’s iOS has significantly improved in recent years by offering features like widgets and shortcuts, but it still doesn’t come close to how extensively you can tweak your user experience on most Android phones.
A small phone that doesn’t suck
There are still quite a few smaller devices available for those who love them. While these devices may not be as small as they used to be, a 5.9-inch display with minimal bezels will feel absolutely tiny in your hand. The one-handed nature of these devices makes using them a breeze and fitting them into your pockets a simple endeavor.
The Asus Zenfone 10 bucks the trend that every other smartphone manufacturer has been jumping on for years by offering a small phone that is perfectly pocketable and doesn’t skimp on performance. It includes the powerful and capable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, so you never have to worry about being unable to run the games you want. Its use of Android is also pretty great, with a ton of gesture controls that make zooming through the UI on the Zenfone 10 a breeze.
If you want something with a bit more support and don’t mind spending a little more, then the Samsung Galaxy S24 offers a lot in a svelte package. Samsung made great strides in making the Galaxy S24 one of the best small phones on the market. It has a beautiful display, decent battery life, and an impressive 7 years of software support.
The Google Pixel 7a is for those who want all the benefits of a flagship smartphone but hate the idea of flagship prices. You are getting great performance from the custom Tensor G2 chipset and a beautiful 90Hz display. The images you can get from the Pixel 7a are simply amazing, and because this is a Google device, you can expect timely updates for years to come. Just make sure you get yourself a great case to keep the camera bar in perfect shape.
Asus Zenfone 10
Truly compact Android phone
When it comes to outstanding small phones, the Asus Zenfone 10 is easily a great choice for people who really want to use a phone in one hand. This compact 5.9-inch screen is quite a bit smaller than most phones, but it doesn’t suffer in quality thanks to its Super AMOLED 120Hz display. Plus, it’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and has up to 16GB of RAM to accomplish everything you need to do.
