Best Small Phone to Buy in 2024
It used to be that the most desirable phones around were the smallest ones you could get. Nowadays, the opposite is true, with bigger being definitely considered better. The latest iPhone 16 Pro Max comes in at a whopping 6.86 inches, while both Pixel 9 Pro XL a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra it measures 6.8 inches. In comparison, the original Samsung Galaxy Note was once considered a Goliath with a diagonal of only 5.3 inches.
Phones with a large display certainly have their advantages. Making the phone bigger allows manufacturers to pack in top-of-the-line hardware, great cameras, and bigger batteries. Not to forget, a larger display has a number of benefits, such as increased productivity and a more immersive experience when 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, especially for anyone with hands smaller than continental plates. And I’m not talking about the awkward bump when you try to stuff one into the pocket of your skinny jeans.
While larger phones certainly have their audience, there are many of us who would still prefer a smaller phone that’s easier to type on with one hand and less noticeable in our pocket.
Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a small phone, your options are limited and only get bigger over time. This is especially true from Apple discontinued her iPhone Mini line up to the 2021 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 have to change 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 larger than 6 inches. Today, only one phone would remain: Apple iPhone SE from 2022 with a 4.7-inch display. It’s undoubtedly the smallest phone currently available new, and the only truly small phone I’d recommend if you insist on having a phone under 6 inches. Rumors have been circulating for some time Apple will launch an update to the SEbut there’s currently no official word on whether that will happen, or whether Apple will simply discontinue its SE line.
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The only small Android phone to be launched recently is Asus Zenfone 10. It has a 5.9-inch display and a rare 3.5mm headphone jack, but lacks camera performance and only gets 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 do not recommend this phone.
The best small phones of 2024
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With a 4.7-inch display, the iPhone SE is the smallest phone you can buy new right now. And at $430, it’s a lot cheaper than the base iPhone 16. For that money, you get the latest iOS 18, a powerful single rear camera, and an A15 Bionic processor that’s powerful enough for most tasks.
What you don’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 smaller than 6 inches, but there’s no doubt that it feels dated compared to today’s iPhones. It’s also worth remembering that its display, although small, is surrounded by large bezels, especially on the top and bottom, which makes 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 more expensive Pixel 8, including the same powerful Tensor G3 processor, slick software and AI skills like circle search.
Its camera isn’t the best in the world, but it’s more than good enough for casual shots of your family and friends on vacation, and at under $500, it’s a great value. Especially since its seven-year software support means this phone will still be going strong in 2031. We expect Google to launch a similarly priced Pixel 9A, but probably not until May 2025, so it’s not worth the wait if you’re in a pinch . new phone right now.
The Pixel 7A is also worth keeping an eye on. Google still sells the older 7A, although at the time of writing it was priced exactly the same as the latest 8A, so it’s not a problem to avoid. However, it’s heavily discounted over the Pixel 8A in the UK, and we’ve seen the 7A sell for less at retailers, especially over the festive period. If you can find it for at least $100 less than the 8A, then it’s worth considering, especially since it gets seven years of software support, making it safe to use until 2030.
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While the iPhone 16 packs a much larger 6.12-inch display than the 2022 iPhone SE, it’s not actually that much larger overall. The 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 larger than the iPhone SE. It’s definitely worth heading to your nearest Apple Store to see how the phone feels in your hand before you rule it out.
And it’s an overall better phone than the SE, packing a much more powerful processor, a sleeker design and a better camera setup, with two cameras (standard and ultra-wide) versus the SE’s single rear camera. It comes with a higher price tag but is 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 become a fairly compact square that fits more easily in a pocket or small bag. As a result, it could be the best of both worlds; an easily portable phone that still gives you a large display for watching videos and playing games. As a result, I’m including it in this list as a wildcard option.
The Z Flip 6 packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a solid 50-megapixel main rear camera (and a second ultra-wide camera), and plenty of AI features, including useful translation tools. When it’s open, its main display is vivid, and the crease where it folds is usually barely visible. When closed, a smaller external display provides key information and displays incoming notifications.
It’s not cheap, but for those of you who want a compact phone that doesn’t skimp on high-end technology, a foldable phone like this might be the one for you.
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Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET’s team of experts. We actually use the phone, test features, play games and take photos. We review all the marketing promises the company makes about its phones. And if we find something we don’t like, whether it’s battery life or build quality, we’ll tell you all about it.
During testing, we examine every aspect of the phone:
- Display
- Design and feel
- Processor performance
- Battery life
- Camera quality
- Features
We test all phone cameras (front and back) in a variety of conditions: from outdoors under sunlight to more subdued interiors and night scenes (for all available night modes). We also compare our findings to similarly priced models. We’ve run a series of real-world battery tests to see how long the phone lasts in everyday use.
We take into account other features of the phone such as 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, folding displays and other useful accessories. And, of course, we consider all our experience and testing with the price so you know whether or not the phone represents good value. For more information, see our explanation page how we test phones.
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