Smartphones can be found in all sizes and styles, however discovering smartphone that’s additionally compact is slightly trickier – however that’s the place we at Trusted Opinions are available in.
Historically, smaller telephones have been targeted on the finances finish of the market – smaller shows are cheaper to fabricate – however we’ve seen a little bit of a resurgence of small telephones within the extra premium finish of the market in recent times with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Asus ZenFone 10.
Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless troublesome to discover a smartphone that’s each compact and provides a stable smartphone expertise. That’s why we’ve completely benchmarked each single choice on this record, with our reviewers switching SIMs, and transferring all apps and information to check real-world use too.
We contemplate components like display screen measurement, dimensions and weight, together with the same old efficiency, digital camera testing and battery testing we do with all smartphone critiques, and we’ve damaged down our record into completely different classes – iOS, Android, finances – to make the selection even simpler.
It’s most likely price noting that our official definition of a small telephone is one with a show that measures a most of 6.1 inches, although if there are any exceptions to that rule in our choice beneath, we’ll you’ll want to clearly clarify why.
For those who’ve modified your thoughts and could possibly be tempted by one thing slightly bigger, check out our collection of the perfect smartphones and the perfect Android telephones for extra inspiration.
Which is the perfect small telephone in 2024?
How we check
Each telephone included within the record beneath has been correctly examined and used for an prolonged interval by considered one of our product consultants. We don’t overview telephones based mostly purely on specs or a producer’s claims – we use them as our on a regular basis units for not less than 5 days and often for for much longer.
For those who learn a telephone overview on Trusted Opinions, you’ll know the reviewer has popped their private SIM card into the telephone, transferred throughout their most-used apps and even their backlog of WhatsApp messages. We go all in, so you recognize you’re getting an sincere view of a product.
Our overview course of features a combination of real-world exams, together with greater than 15 measured exams and industry-standard benchmarks. We imagine this offers essentially the most rounded view of a tool. The scores a telephone receives from a run beneath our skilled colourimeters aren’t price a lot if the display screen can’t be used comfortably on a sunny day.
iPhone 13 Mini
Greatest small iPhone
Execs
Nice cameraBetter battery life than the earlier MiniThe strongest small telephone round
Cons
No ProMotionNo optical zoomStill can’t compete with the opposite iPhone 13 fashions for battery life
The iPhone 13 mini is the very definition of a compact telephone in our eyes, sporting an analogous measurement to the 4.7-inch iPhone SE whereas sporting a bigger 5.4-inch show that primarily takes up the whole thing of the entrance of the telephone.
That mixture permits for a kind issue that’s refreshingly small and simple to make use of one-handed, particularly at simply 140g, whereas nonetheless providing a bigger display screen than most smartphones its measurement. Granted, the 5.4-inch 120Hz panel continues to be removed from the 6.1-inch choices utilized by most different compact smartphones in 2024, however in the event you’re actually in search of the smallest, most compact choice, that is it.
It’s not simply nice as a result of it’s small both; although outshone by the newer iPhone 14 vary, the iPhone 13 mini continues to be an extremely tempting selection in 2024.
It sports activities a robust A15 Bionic chipset, a good twin 12MP digital camera providing and, in fact, entry to the iOS platform – the one choice in our small telephone chart ready to take action. If utilizing an iPhone is of the utmost significance, that is actually your solely choice.
The one draw back to the iPhone 13 mini is battery life, with a comparatively small cell offering nearly sufficient energy for our reviewer to get to the top of the day – however solely often with round 3-5% left within the tank. That’s slightly too shut for consolation.
Assessment: iPhone 13 mini reviewReviewer: Max Parker
Asus Zenfone 10
Greatest small Android
Execs
High-end performanceAll-day battery lifeSix-axis gimbal stabilisation steadies photograph and video capturePocketable design
Cons
Bio-plastic rear feels slightly cheapSame primary digital camera sensor as Zenfone 9Relatively gradual 30W charging
For those who’re after a small telephone however need to keep on with Android, the Asus ZenFone 10 is your finest guess.
It’s not fairly as small because the iPhone 13 mini, sporting a 5.9-inch 120Hz OLED show, nevertheless it’s nonetheless comfortably inside compact territory when most Android flagships sport 6.7- and even 6.8-inch shows. And as with the iPhone 13 mini, don’t let the compact nature idiot you; that is very a lot a flagship smartphone with specs to match.
That features the newest and biggest Qualcomm chipset within the type of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, coupled with 8- or 16GB of RAM and as much as 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage to play with, permitting the ZenFone 10 to deal with no matter you throw at it with absolute ease. Gaming was additionally a pleasure on the compact telephone, managing to remain cool even over prolonged gameplay periods.
There’s additionally nice digital camera efficiency from a mix of a 50MP primary and a 13MP ultrawide, significantly with regards to picture stabilsation, and a 32MP RGBW selfie digital camera delivers among the finest selfies we’ve seen this yr.
What actually makes the ZenFone 10 stand aside from the competitors, nonetheless, is its vastly customisable strategy to Android 13.
You’ll be able to both go for Asus’ ZenUI pores and skin or undertake one thing very near inventory Android, with further assist for Materials You and different customisable components of the UI. It goes a lot additional than virtually every other Android OEM, making it a pleasure to make use of day-to-day.
Throw in snug all-day battery life from a 4,300mAh cell and also you’ve bought an amazing compact Android smartphone that doesn’t value the Earth.
Assessment: Asus ZenFone 10 reviewReviewer: Lewis Painter
Samsung Galaxy S24
Greatest small Android flagship
Execs
One of some highly effective, small Android phonesPricing makes extra sense than the PlusSome intelligent AI options
Cons
The digital camera ought to have been overhauledAreas like battery life and charging lack notable upgrades
The Asus ZenFone 10 stays the smallest flagship Android smartphone round, however the Samsung Galaxy S24 shouldn’t be solely extra highly effective, however provides a bigger display screen in a physique that’s not a lot larger than that of the ZenFone.
The 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display screen is a slight improve on final yr’s 6.1-inch panel, however don’t fret; that’s potential on account of Samsung shrinking the display screen’s bezels, leaving the shape issue near-identical to its older sibling. Meaning it’s not solely larger whereas nonetheless sustaining a compact kind issue, nevertheless it boasts high-end specs like an LTPO-enabled 120Hz refresh fee alongside HDR10+ assist and a most brightness of 2600nits.
It will get slightly bit complicated within the chipset division with the UK, Europe and different areas discovering the Exynos 2400 chipset whereas these within the US get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy.
We reviewed the previous, although we’ve benchmarked the latter and it’s clear that the Snapdragon-equipped variant is extra highly effective in GPU exams, however you seemingly received’t discover a distinction in on a regular basis use. It’s fast, responsive and utilises GenAI capabilities to offer on-device translation, voice recording transcription and extra. That ought to solely proceed to enhance with its improved seven years of OS upgrades, the longest of any small-screen telephone proper now.
The one disappointment is digital camera efficiency; whereas it’s removed from a nasty digital camera setup, comprised of a 50MP primary, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto, it stays totally unchanged for a 3rd yr operating and, as such, there are extra performative choices available on the market – although many of those are connected to larger screens like Samsung’s personal 6.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely.
Nonetheless, in the event you’re in search of a stable small-screen flagship that may deal with absolutely anything you throw at it, the Galaxy S24 stays a tempting choice.
Assessment: Samsung Galaxy S24 reviewReviewer: Max Parker
Google Pixel 8a
Greatest small mid-ranger
Execs
Manageable sizeIP score and Qi chargingGreat digital camera (for the worth)Seven years of software program updatesClever AI-infused software program
Cons
Display is much from the bestThe battery won’t ever final greater than a daySlow charging
What in case your finances doesn’t fairly prolong to flagship-level smartphones just like the S24 or ZenFone 10? The Google Pixel 8a is our advice for compact smartphone followers on a bit extra of a finances.
The Pixel 8a measures in at a compact 6.1 inches, boasts a clean 120Hz refresh fee and even borrows the Actua tech from the flagship Pixel 8 to spice up brightness to 2000nits. It’s additionally a pleasant compact measurement that sits properly within the hand, particularly with the Pixel 8a’s rounded edges.
The place the Pixel 7a flexes its mid-range muscle groups is within the digital camera division, utilizing the flagship-level Tensor G2 chipset to energy a variety of AI options like Tremendous Res Zoom and Evening Sight, together with unique photograph enhancing options that take away distractions from the background and even sharpen blurry photos.
That AI goodness additionally extends to the final expertise, with the Pixel 8a’s inventory Android 14 affected by helpful AI options to enhance your day-to-day, be it displaying upcoming calendar invitations and the climate on the Residence display screen to Just lately Performed, an AI function that mechanically detects music in your setting as you go about your day – an actual boon for music discovery.
Battery life can also be stable, although it’s nonetheless very a lot only a one-day gadget – one of many downsides of extra compact smartphones.
Nonetheless, in the event you’re in search of a compact telephone on a finances, you received’t discover a extra succesful choice than the Google Pixel 8a in 2024.
Assessment: Google Pixel 8aReviewer: Max Parker
Motorola Razr 40 Extremely
Most compact foldable
Execs
Premium clamshell foldable designGenuinely helpful 3.6-inch exterior displayGreat digital camera efficiency from primary 12MP sensorTop-end 6.9-inch pOLED foldable show
Cons
Battery may solely final a couple of daySnapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a yr outdated
What if you need a compact telephone with out having to compromise on the large-screen expertise? That’s the place foldables come into play.
Whereas technically not a small display screen telephone with a 6.8-inch 165Hz AMOLED show, the Motorola Razr 40 Extremely folds to half its peak when not in use, making its folded footprint far more compact than most different small telephones in 2024.
It primarily supplies the perfect of each worlds: a big, expansive show nice for TikTok and scrolling by means of the net that folds right down to a way more compact kind when not in use.
Elsewhere, the Motorola Razr 40 Extremely sports activities a sublime, premium design with both a glass or vegan leather-based end, with the latter offering significantly better grip when holding the telephone one-handed. It’s additionally obtainable in slightly trendy color choices, together with a vibrant Pantone-inspired Viva Magenta end, making it stand out from the gang – foldable and in any other case.
It additionally sports activities a stable 12MP primary digital camera with a powerful f/1.5 aperture and an accompanying 13MP ultrawide that make snapping photos a fast and simple course of, and as a result of foldable nature of the telephone, you may half-open it and use it as a tripod for hands-free seize.
Throw in stable efficiency from the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, all-day battery life, a big, expansive exterior show that helps lower down how usually you could unfold the telephone and stable charging and also you’ve bought an amazing compact foldable.
Assessment: Motorola Razr 40 Extremely reviewReviewer: Lewis Painter
We additionally thought of…
FAQs
For our cash, it’s between the iPhone 13 mini and Asus ZenFone 10 relying on whether or not you’re an iOS or Android fan. They’re essentially the most compact round whereas nonetheless delivering a comfortably highly effective flagship smartphone expertise.
That totally relies upon; when you can spend tons of on a flagship-level telephone just like the ZenFone 10, yow will discover cheaper compact choices just like the Pixel 7a.
Trusted Opinions check information
Geekbench 5 single core
Geekbench 5 multi core
Geekbench 6 single core
Geekbench 6 multi core
sRGB
Adobe RGB
DCI-P3
Max brightness
1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming on-line)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming offline)
30 minute gaming (intensive)
30 minute gaming (mild)
1 hour music streaming (on-line)
1 hour music streaming (offline)
Time from 0-100% cost
Time from 0-50% cost
30-min recharge (included charger)
15-min recharge (included charger)
15-min recharge (no charger included)
3D Mark – Wild Life
GFXBench – Aztec Ruins
GFXBench – Automotive Chase
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