It used to be the case that the most desirable phones around were the smallest ones you could get. These days, the opposite is true, with bigger definitely seen as better. The most recent iPhone 16 Pro Max comes in at a huge 6.86 inches, while both the Pixel 9 Pro XL and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra measure 6.8 inches. In comparison, Samsung’s original Galaxy Note was once considered a Goliath at only 5.3 inches.
Phones with big screens certainly have their advantages. Making a phone bigger lets manufacturers pack in high-end hardware, great cameras and bigger batteries. Not to forget, there are a lot of advantages to having a bigger screen, like increased productivity and a more immersive experience watching videos or playing games. That said, there’s no escaping the fact that the increase in size has made phones more cumbersome to hold and use, particularly for anyone with hands smaller than continental plates. And that’s to say nothing of the embarrassing bulge when you try to shove one into the pocket of your skinny jeans.
Though bigger phones certainly have an audience, there are many of us who’d still prefer a smaller phone that’s easier to type with one-handed, and less conspicuous in your pocket.
Unfortunately, if you’re in the market for a small phone, your options are limited and only getting more so over time. That’s especially the case since Apple discontinued its iPhone Mini line after 2021’s iPhone 13 Mini. While both Apple and Google offer two sizes of their phones, even the smaller models are well over 6 inches, so you’ll need to alter your definition of “small” to “relatively small.”
What’s the best small phone right now?
In an earlier version of this list I didn’t include any phones over 6 inches in size. Today, that would leave only one phone: Apple’s 2022 iPhone SE with its 4.7-inch display. It’s unquestionably the smallest phone currently available new and is the only truly small phone I’d recommend if you insist on having a phone under 6 inches. Rumors have circulated for some time that Apple will launch an update to the SE, but there’s no official word right now on whether that will happen or if Apple will simply kill off its SE line.
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The only small Android phone launched recently is the Asus Zenfone 10. It’s got a 5.9-inch display and a rare 3.5mm headphone jack, but it has disappointing camera performance and it will only receive four years of security support, meaning this phone will only be safe to use until 2027, giving it a short lifespan. As a result, I don’t recommend this phone.
Best small phones of 2024
With its 4.7-inch display, the iPhone SE is the smallest phone you can buy new right now. And at $430, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than the base iPhone 16 too. For that money you get the latest iOS 18, a capable single rear camera and an A15 Bionic processor that’s powerful enough for most tasks.
What you won’t get is USB-C charging, MagSafe wireless charging or Apple Intelligence — the company’s new AI platform. The 2022 SE is a solid option (also the only option) if you want a phone much below 6 inches in size, but there’s no question that it feels outdated compared to today’s iPhones. It’s worth keeping in mind too that its display, while small, is boxed in by large bezels, especially on the top and bottom, making the physical dimensions of the phone not that much smaller than the base iPhone 16.
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At 6.1 inches, the Pixel 8A isn’t exactly tiny, but it’s the smallest Android phone that’s actually worth buying. It has a lot in common with the pricier Pixel 8, including the same powerful Tensor G3 processor, slick software and AI skills like circle to search.
Its camera isn’t the best around, but it’s more than good enough for casual shots of your family and friends on holiday and with a price tag under $500, it’s great value. Especially as its seven years of software support means this phone will still be going strong into 2031. We do expect Google to launch a similarly affordable Pixel 9A, but likely not until May 2025, so it’s not worth waiting around if you’re in need of a new phone right now.
It’s worth also keeping your eye out for the Pixel 7A. Google still sells the older 7A, although at the time of writing it was exactly the same price as the most recent 8A, making it a no brainer to avoid. However, in the UK it’s quite heavily discounted over the Pixel 8A, and we’ve seen the 7A sell for less at retailers, particularly around holiday shopping season. If you can find it for at least $100 less than the 8A then it’s worth considering, especially as it also receives seven years of software support making it safe to use into 2030.
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While the iPhone 16 does pack a much larger 6.12-inch display than the 2022 iPhone SE, it’s not actually that much bigger overall. That iPhone 16’s larger display fills the entire front of the phone with a much narrower bezel, meaning its actual physical dimensions aren’t that much bigger than the iPhone SE’s. It’s certainly worth heading into your nearest Apple store to see how the phone feels in your hand before ruling it out.
And it is a better phone all around than the SE, packing a much more potent processor, a more elegant design and a better camera setup, with two cameras (a standard and an ultrawide lens) against the SE’s single rear camera. It comes with a higher price tag, but it’s also compatible with Apple Intelligence — Apple’s AI platform for iOS — which you won’t be able to use with the iPhone SE.
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While the Z Flip 6’s main 6.7-inch display can hardly be considered small, the phone folds in half to turn into a relatively compact square that will fit more easily into a pocket or a small bag. As a result, it could be the best of both worlds; an easy-to-carry phone that still gives you a big display for watching videos and playing games. As a result, I’m including it in this list as something of a wildcard option.
The Z Flip 6 packs a potent Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a solid 50-megapixel main rear camera (and second ultrawide camera) and a host of AI features, including useful translation tools. When open, its main display is vibrant and the crease where it folds is usually barely noticeable. When closed, a smaller outer display provides key info and displays incoming notifications.
It’s not cheap, but for those of you wanting a compact phone that doesn’t skimp on the high-end tech, a folding phone like this could be just the thing.
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Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET’s expert reviews team. We actually use the phone, test the features, play games and take photos. We assess any marketing promises that a company makes about its phones. And if we find something we don’t like, be it battery life or build quality, we tell you all about it.
We examine every aspect of a phone during testing:
- Display
- Design and feel
- Processor performance
- Battery life
- Camera quality
- Features
We test all of a phone’s cameras (both front and back) in a variety of conditions: from outdoors under sunlight to dimmer indoor locales and night time scenes (for any available night modes). We also compare our findings against similarly priced models. We have a series of real world battery tests to see how long a phone lasts under everyday use.
We take into account additional phone features like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, foldable displays and other useful extras. And we, of course, weigh all of our experiences and testing against the price so you know whether a phone represents good value or not. For more, check out our page explaining how we test phones.
