Compact and Powerful: The Best Small Android Phones of the Year

In recent years, manufacturers have consistently been increasing the sizes of screens, and it seems that small Android mobiles  are becoming harder to find on the market. Are they really no longer needed by anyone? But all is not so bad for enthusiasts of compact mobile gadgets.

What should be the best small Android phone

To begin with, it is necessary to understand the criteria a touchscreen phone must meet to be considered small and make it to the ranking of the best small Android smartphones. First and foremost, attention is given to the screen diagonal, which should not exceed 6.3 inches. However, overall dimensions are equally important, as sometimes a smartphone with a small diagonal may have wide bezels and, in terms of size, may be larger than a phone with an increased diagonal.

Therefore, the second criterion for evaluating compactness is the ratio of the screen to the front part of the body. The larger this percentage, the larger diagonal you can afford with the same dimensions.

And the main parameter: physical dimensions and weight. Such a phone should be convenient for one-handed use. The recommended height is up to 160 cm, even better - 140-150 cm, the recommended weight - up to 170-190 g. Indicators above this range are no longer considered compact, and it goes against the preferences of those who appreciate convenience and minimalism.

Before choosing and purchasing a compact smartphone, weigh all the pros and cons of the model you are interested in.

It is important to have a display resolution of at least Full HD 1080p (usually 2400x1080 pixels) to achieve good image clarity. Although for a small diagonal, HD resolution is acceptable, and it also positively affects battery life.

Small-sized smartphones with a good camera have a high matrix resolution (from 12 MP to 200 MP), a small aperture (up to f/1.6) for quality night shooting, telephoto, ultra-wide-angle lens, depth sensor, slow-motion shooting capability, digital zoom, optical stabilization, and more.

Take a look at the technical specifications. To achieve good performance, a fast interface, and the ability to handle modern games, a smartphone will need a reasonably decent processor and a minimum of 4-6 GB of RAM. If the phone's responsibilities include internet browsing and responding to friends on social media/messengers, you don't need to worry too much about the hardware. As for storage, 128 GB is the minimum for a modern active user, and anything less might be insufficient, although still enough for, for example, elderly users.

The smallest Android phones don't come with huge batteries, and there are very few compact models with more than 4500 mAh. However, this is sufficient, considering that small screens consume less energy.

Certainly, capacity is not the only factor; energy efficiency also plays a significant role. It depends on the chip's technology, other hardware components (such as the RAM standard), and, crucially, the optimization of the firmware (manufacturer's interface).

The last piece of the puzzle in the quest for the best smallest Android smartphone with good characteristics is the price and value. Expensive phones are valued for flawless screens with some astronomical peak brightness, design features like curved displays, fast hardware, water resistance, and wireless charging. However, buying an expensive flagship is not mandatory.

On the other hand, mini smartphones are not always inexpensive, as it might seem. Choose the best models based on the price-to-quality ratio in our compact phone rankings.

Rating of good small Android phones

We have selected for you small Android cell phones that offer high specifications.

Asus Zenfone 10

The device's design can be described as simple and classic – it features a flat screen, a polymer back, and metallic edges. The phone's dimensions fit within the compact range, measuring 146.5 x 68.1 x 9.4 mm, and it has a lightweight of 172 g.

This model comes with a 5.92-inch AMOLED screen with a high 144 Hz refresh rate and Full HD resolution. While the smartphone may not appear externally as a premium device, its hardware is top-notch. The model is equipped with the latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, offering two options for RAM – 8GB and 16GB, as well as three storage options up to 512GB. Software features are provided by a nearly clean version of Android, ensuring the absence of unnecessary programs and system clutter.

There are two cameras on the phone – a 50 MP main camera and a 13 MP wide-angle camera, without optical zoom. The phone captures high-quality images regardless of lighting conditions, showing reliable camera performance. For selfies, there's a 32 MP front sensor.

The battery has a relatively modest capacity of 4300 mAh, which is explainable due to the compact design. Nevertheless, it delivers satisfactory autonomy, sufficient for a day of use. Among its undeniable advantages is water resistance with an IP68 rating. A feature worth noting, almost forgotten by many, is the presence of a headphone jack.

Google Pixel 8

This is another best small Android phone with advanced features. It is compact, lightweight, comfortable to hold, and comes in three colors – pink, black, and walnut. The body materials include glass and aluminum.

The phone features a 6.2-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2400x1080, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and a maximum brightness of 1400 nits – making the screen easily visible even in bright sunlight.

The gadget is equipped with Google's proprietary Tensor G3 processor, which, while not matching the top chips from Qualcomm and Apple, operates swiftly and handles all tasks effectively. Heat dissipation is well implemented, and the phone remains practically cool during operation. There is sufficient memory with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The device has a clean interface with minimal pre-installed programs, but it includes proprietary enhancements and additions, such as image processing algorithms and built-in AI features.

Clear and detailed photos are ensured by the dual rear camera. The front camera has a resolution of 10.5 MP. The battery capacity is 4575 mAh, providing a day of device usage. The fast charging power is 27 W, although there is no power block included, and wireless battery replenishment is supported.

The phone is water-resistant with a high IP68 standard and supports eSIM technology.

Samsung Galaxy S23

This mini Android phone has compact dimensions and a lightweight design. Although its diagonal is larger than that of the Asus Zenfone 10, it is shorter and thinner, as well as lighter. In general, it is the lightest model in the lineup, weighing only 168 grams.

The flagship features a bright 6.1-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The edges of the body are almost flat, with slight curvature. Using the phone is convenient, and nothing interferes with holding it in the hand. Durable Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is installed on the front and back. The manufacturer, Corning, claims that it can withstand a fall from a height of one meter onto concrete, but it's still not worth testing.

There is also water and dust protection according to the IP68 standard — the smartphone should survive immersion in fresh water for half an hour at a depth of up to one and a half meters. However, it's better not to intentionally swim with it, as contact with juice or saltwater can still damage it.

The S23 is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with a slight factory overclock, its frequency is 160 MHz higher than the base. The smartphone is well-suited for gaming. One of the most demanding games, Genshin Impact, runs at 60 FPS at maximum settings. Less resource-intensive games like Call of Duty Mobile and World of Tanks run smoothly at a maximum of 120 frames per second, fully utilizing the capabilities of the fast screen.

The main camera is of high quality and, upon detailed examination of the photos, is quite comparable to other flagship models like the iPhone 14. The shots are clear, vivid, and have accurate color reproduction. Most flagships use more or less the same camera sensors—everything else is handled by neural networks and photo processing algorithms. The company excels in photo processing.

The gadget lasts for a day, but before going to bed, you have to put it on charge. The battery discharges from 100% to 0% over ten hours of screen-on time. However, everything depends on the usage scenario: if actively used for one to two hours, it will last for a day or more.

Sony Xperia 5 V

This Android small mobile phone also belongs to the flagships and has corresponding characteristics and cost.

The smartphone features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2520x1080 pixels. Sony continues to ignore trends, so there is no LTPO technology and dynamic refresh rate in this novelty. In the settings, you can choose only between 60 and 120 Hz. In the latter case, 120 hertz will operate even when displaying static images.

It is equipped with the same chip as most top Androids - the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with 8 GB of RAM, and storage options of 128/256 GB, expandable with a memory card.

The rear camera consists of two sensors: a 52 MP main sensor and a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. There is also a 12 MP camera for selfies. In good lighting conditions, the main camera focuses incredibly quickly even on fast-moving objects, captures a multitude of details, accurately reproduces colors, and selects white balance. There are no noticeable noises in the photos, the sharpness is moderate, and the dynamic range is wide, preventing strong highlights and shadows.

The smartphone is equipped with a large 5000 mAh battery, but it doesn't drastically impact autonomy. At the end of the day, you'll still need to charge it. Unusually, it retains the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Samsung Galaxy Flip5 

At first glance, this phone might seem unnecessary in the list of the small Androids, as its main screen reaches a whopping 6.7 inches. But in reality, the foldable design of the device allows it to transform into a very small gadget with dimensions of just 85.1 x 71.9 x 15.1 mm. All information can be viewed on a small 3.4" screen.

The edges are metallic, and the entire external surface is covered with the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The colors are pleasant, and there are plenty of options: mint, graphite (black), cream (as in this review), lavender, gray, blue, green, yellow. It's worth noting that all tones are soft and pastel, which suits the phone very well. In the folded state, there is no gap between the halves, and in the unfolded state, the fold is practically invisible.

The phone features the latest flagship platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with overclocked cores, combined with 8 GB of RAM. The built-in storage options include 256/512GB.

The model features a dual camera with 12 MP modules and a 10 MP front camera. During the day, in good lighting conditions, both modules of the Samsung Galaxy Flip5 capture excellent images: superb color reproduction (simultaneously bright and saturated, but not overly vibrant), a wide dynamic range, and refined optics performance in backlight.

Despite the relatively modest 3700 mAh battery, the smartphone performs well enough to last through a day. The exact duration of the smartphone on a single charge depends on several factors: how often you use the internal screen, whether Always-On Display is active, the brightness level of the screen you are accustomed to, and your personal usage scenarios.

In any case, the Flip5 is a fantastic gadget – it's a beautifully crafted, high-quality, and genuinely convenient device. It's not just a prestigious accessory but also a user-friendly smartphone without a gap between the folds, featuring a friendly software environment and responsive performance. Plus, it's a truly compact Android small mobile phone.

Specs Comparison