Bigger isn’t always better, with regards to smartphones, and this list best represents the top picks for worthwhile small phones on the market in 2022, right now.
When the 4.7in display iPhone 6 was released, many were outraged at the size increase. Nowadays, such a screen size is considered comically small.
Simply put, phones have gotten too big. Bezels on phones have shrunk significantly in the last few years, but that doesn’t mean people are suddenly willing to wield a 6.8in monster, like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
People with smaller hands are going to find a permanently two-handed phone an inconvenience, not just when in-hand but when it’s constantly poking out the top of their jeans pockets too. Handsets of a smaller size can be used one-handed, fit in a pocket or bag far more easily, and can do everything a bigger phone can do in a more compact package.
There’s also the matter of foldables to now consider, with devices like the revived Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 embracing the clamshell designs of old but combining them with new foldable display technology, giving you the best of both – a larger-screened device in a compact package.
Best small phone 2022
1. iPhone 13 Mini – Best overall
Pros
Lightweight and compact
Powerful performance
Great cameras
Cons
Limited battery life
Relatively expensive
No ProMotion display
Easily the best small phone around – considering the size-to-performance balance it strikes – with its (still 60Hz) 5.4in Super Retina XDR OLED display.
The 13 Mini runs on the same cutting-edge A15 Bionic chipset found in the rest of the series and it also benefits from more base storage and a bigger battery, compared to its predecessor (even if longevity is still behind that of rivals).
The dual rear 12Mp camera also enjoys improved stabilisation, better sensors and new shooting abilities – like Cinematic mode, while the selfie snapper is among the best in the business.
The screen might feel a little cramped to type on, so try one out in an Apple Store before you buy, if you can, and think hard about the price, as 2020’s iPhone 12 Mini is still a superb small phone offering that now costs even less.
Read our full
Apple iPhone 13 mini review
2. Google Pixel 6a – Best small Android phone
Pros
Great performance
Good battery life
Five years of security updates
Cons
60Hz display
Slow 18W charging
Plastic back scratches easily
The Pixel 6a has a 20:9 6.1in AMOLED screen so is taller than the iPhone 13 mini, but it’s still a slender and manageable size compared to most modern smartphones. It’s a 60Hz panel, the same as the iPhone, but other small phones have higher refresh rate displays.
The Pixel is our favourite smaller Android phone thanks to top drawer performance from the Google Tensor processor, the same chip as in the larger and more expensive Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The 12.2Mp main camera is also one of the best in the game thanks to Google’s clever HDR software that processes shots excellently.
Battery life is also excellent and better than many other high-end phones and small phones alike. It’s a shame the charging is a little slow, but the pay off is worth it in the end when the phone only costs $449/£399/€459. Add to that lots of clever Google features like spam call answering, great on-device transcription, and photo tools, and this is one pocketable powerhouse.
Read our full
Google Pixel 6a review
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 – Best foldable
Pros
Elegant folding design
Water resistance
More affordable than ever
Cons
No telephoto camera
Middling battery life
Still needs to be tougher
MSRP:
$999 (128GB) | $1,049 (256GB)
Samsung took its already-groundbreaking Galaxy Z Flip foldable, improved every aspect – from design to performance – and then made it cheaper too!
The Z Flip 3 is a beautiful expression of the evolution of foldable smartphone tech and somehow manages to incorporate water resistance into its design. As such, you get a phone with a pretty sizeable 6.7in 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED that folds in half, making it much more pocketable.
Battery life and the dual cameras could be better but despite flagship-class performance in a groundbreaking design, the Flip 3’s pricing also proves that foldables can tango in the same space as conventional high-end smartphones without any major sacrifices.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G review
4. iPhone 12 Mini – Fantastic all-rounder
Pros
Lightweight and compact
Powerful performance
Great cameras
Cons
Limited battery life
Relatively expensive
No ProMotion display
MSRP:
$699 (64GB) | $749 (128GB) | $849 (256GB)
The iPhone 12 Mini serves as the smallest of the four handsets from Apple’s 2020 line-up and still boasts an impressive size-to-performance ratio.
On the front, you’ll find a beautiful 5.4in display that extends across the entirety of the phone’s front (save for the Face ID-capable notch).
It also packs in a pair of stellar cameras,
MagSafe for iPhone-compliant wireless charging and what is still one of the most powerful SoCs out there, in Apple’s own A14 Bionic. 5G is included too, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Read our full
iPhone 12 mini review
5. iPhone 13 Pro – Best camera
Pros
ProMotion display
Superb cameras
Top-tier performance
Improved battery life
Cons
Cinematography Mode and HDR algorithm need work
Pricey
Even though it lacks a ‘Mini’ in its name, the size of Apple’s standard and ‘Pro’ phones still come in below the average, thanks to the size of most Android alternatives.
The iPhone 13 Pro sits at the top of that pile, offering the latest and greatest in terms of raw performance (from its A15 Bionic chip), along with a trio of excellent cameras that boast support for Apple’s ProRAW and ProRes still and video standards; not to mention a few more experimental features, like Cinematic mode that – after a little tuning from Apple – will leave you impressed.
Battery life is also hugely improved and the 13 Pro also finally integrates ProMotion onto an iPhone, with a 6.1in Super Retina XDR display that supports a dynamic refresh rate up to 120Hz.
Read our full
Apple iPhone 13 Pro review
6. Xiaomi 12 – Best for fast charging
Pros
Impressive fast charging
Crisp 120Hz display
Great performance
Cons
MIUI isn’t for everyone
No IP certification
Underwhelming battery life
If you want a small but powerful Android phone with more a little more kick than 2020’s Pixel 5, 2022’s Xiaomi 12 is a brilliant alternative.
Provided you’re happy to contend with its more convoluted MIUI-based user experience, the Xiaomi 12 packs in the latest flagship chipset, great cameras and impressive 67W fast charging; addressing one of the frequent shortcomings of smaller phones – weaker, shorter battery life.
Size-wise, its 6.28in 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED display isn’t to be sniffed at either.
Read our full
Xiaomi 12 review
7. iPhone 13 – Great performance
Pros
Brilliant performance
Capable cameras
Long battery life
Great value
Cons
Still a 60Hz display
No telephoto camera
Slow charging
While it loses out on the 13 Pro’s high refresh rate display, the iPhone 13 still boasts cutting-edge features like Apple’s newest A15 Bionic 5nm chip and the latest camera features, including Cinematic Mode.
The rear camera system now sits at a diagonal, primarily to accommodate the impressive sensor-shift OIS (optical image stabilisation) that was exclusive to 2020’s
iPhone 12 Pro Max (although there’s still no telephoto sensor), while on the front – despite the same 60Hz refresh rate as before – you get a stunning 6.1in OLED display, complete with a 20% smaller notch.
Like the 13 Pro, some of the best battery life on an iPhone comes as part of the iPhone 13 experience, but fast charging speeds are still well behind the curve
Read our full
Apple iPhone 13 review
8. Asus Zenfone 8 – Android all-rounder
Pros
Slick performance
120Hz display
IP68 water-resistance
Cons
Uneven battery life
No wireless charging
Drab design
The Asus Zenfone 8 is a surprisingly powerful phone for its price, and offers a well-balanced set of specs and features.
Like most modern Android flagships you can expect a 120Hz AMOLED display, measuring 5.9in. The phone is powered by last year’s flagship Snapdragon 888 chip, and can come with up to 16GB of RAM alongside it.
Battery life is the main disappointment – it’ll last the day but not much more – and we think the design is a little dull. But if you don’t mind those drawbacks, this is one of the smallest Android phones right now.
Read our full
Asus ZenFone 8 review
9. Sony Xperia 5 III – Narrowest display
Pros
Great 120Hz display
Periscope zoom camera
Headphone jack
Cons
No wireless charging
Expensive
The Xperia 5 III takes Sony’s flagship
Xperia 1 III specs and squeezes them into a compact body; much like Apple does with its Mini models.
That means you get a 120Hz AMOLED display in Sony’s trademark slim 21:9 aspect ratio, but in this phone it measures just 6.1in across the diagonal. Sony has also packed in advanced speakers and audio features, along with a modern rarity: a headphone jack.
Top specs round out the phone, and the camera is also notable: this is one of the few small phones to include a periscope lens, going up to 4.4x zoom.
It’s a bit expensive, but this is one of the most powerful small Android phones around.
Read our full
Sony Xperia 5 III review
10. iPhone SE 2022 – Cheapest iPhone
Pros
Latest Apple chip
Wireless charging
Cheap (for an iPhone)
Cons
Extremely dated design
Low-resolution display
Single rear camera
The iPhone SE is one of Apple’s smallest iPhones – only the two Mini models are more petite – but it’s not our first choice.
That’s mostly because Apple’s has stuck to its old iPhone design here, meaning that while the SE is small, a lot of that space is wasted by a big black bezel and Home Button. That means the display is absolutely tiny and still low resolution – other small phones will feel bigger.
Still, you get the same processor as the iPhone 13 series, along with wireless charging and water-proofing. And while there’s only one rear camera it is pretty good – though not at night.
Buy this if you can’t afford either of the Minis, but otherwise it’s better to stretch your budget if you can.
Read our full
Apple iPhone SE (2022) review
Related: How we test smartphones
Related stories for further reading
