Best small phones of 2024: Our top choices tested and reviewed
Where did all the cute little smartphones go? Remember "big" 5-inch phones when they first came out? People thought they were huge! The screen size started to crawl up slowly but surely, and nowadays we have these 7-inch monstrosities we still call phones (they used to be called phablets back in the day). Then what is a compact phone in 2024?
Well, let's take the iPhone 13 mini as a prime example, mainly because it was the last phone to have "mini" in its name (remember the Galaxy S mini phones and the Xperia compact?). The main property of the 13 Mini is its size. It features a 5.4-inch screen and, hence, a pretty compact chassis. Sadly, this model is long gone, and you can't find it anymore.
So, we need to redefine our perception of "compact" when it comes to smartphones. When the benchmark for modern flagships is 6.7 inches and above, it's fair to assume that the middle ground would be 6.3 to 6.7 inches, and all phones under the 6.3-inch screen diagonal should be considered compact.
Our primary metric is the overall phone rating. This score is a composite of 12 different factors that define the smartphone experience, including Battery Life, Camera Quality, Design, Performance, and more. Each factor is rated on a scale from 0 to 10, but their contribution to the final score varies—Battery Life, for instance, holds more weight than Design.
The "Price Class Average" metric is another very important part of the rating system, it compares the phone in question to other phones with similar specifications and price points. This gives additional context to the mean score, as it helps you quickly assess how a particular model stands within its category.
We've made some changes to the way we rate phones. As of now, most top Android phones score around 7.5, leaving room for future devices to improve and push boundaries. If you want more detailed insights, we also offer category-specific ratings, such as our Battery Score and Camera Score, which break down performance even further.
Of course, when we talk about compact phones, the main criterion is the size and weight. These don't negate our overall ratings for the models, just put an upper limit on the size of the screen.
Well, let's take the iPhone 13 mini as a prime example, mainly because it was the last phone to have "mini" in its name (remember the Galaxy S mini phones and the Xperia compact?). The main property of the 13 Mini is its size. It features a 5.4-inch screen and, hence, a pretty compact chassis. Sadly, this model is long gone, and you can't find it anymore.
With that in mind, let's see what are the best compact smartphones in 2024.
The best small, compact phones to buy in 2024:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 - 6.2-inch screen, 168 grams, 7.0/10
- Apple iPhone 16 - 6.1-ich screen, weight: 170 grams, 7.3/10
- Google Pixel 9 Pro – 5.9-inch screen, weight: 169 grams, 6.9/10
- Google Pixel 8a - 6.1-inch screen, 188 grams, 6.5/10
- Sony Xperia 5 V – 6.1-inch screen, weight: 183 grams, 6.4/10
Samsung Galaxy S24
Screen size: 6.2 inches
Dimensions: 147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm
Weight: 168 grams
Image by PhoneArena
The Galaxy S24 isn't the most compact in this article, especially given the fact that its screen had grown to 6.2 inches, but this model still offers the best compact Android experience, especially compared to other entries on the list. The size has remained pretty much the same as the S23, the bezels have been shrunk, and the sides are flatter now.
You're also getting the latest processor, a super-bright screen, and the new trend in smartphone tech - AI. The S24 comes equipped with Samsung's Galaxy AI, and for sure this system will learn new tricks with time.
When it comes to cameras, they are mostly the same from a hardware point of view but smartphone photography is computational these days, so there are improvements to the algorithms. The Galaxy S24 is just a tad larger than the Asus Zenfone 10, and if you want to keep your Android phone for seven long years, it's the best choice for a compact phone.
Read More:Samsung Galaxy S24 review
Key Galaxy S24 specs
- Evolved design with flat sides
- Slimmer screen borders, uniform bezel
- Compact 6.2" size
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
- 8GB of RAM
- "Galaxy AI" features
- Same triple camera hardware, but new camera processing
- 4000mAh battery
- $800 starting price
Apple iPhone 16
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Dimensions: 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm
Weight: 170 grams
Weight: 170 grams
Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 16 is the smallest modern iPhone, coming with a 6.1-inch screen. Apple used to have the iPhone 13 mini with a 5.4-inch screen, but that model is long discontinued and we don't expect Apple to return to the Mini game anytime soon.
The 6.1-inch screen and the size of the iPhone 16 puts it very close to the Galaxy S24. The weight is almost the same as well. The iPhone 16 is very powerful thanks to the Apple A18 chip inside and it has 8GB RAM, so it supports Apple Intelligence. There are some compromises, though, such as just two camera on the back (no dedicated zoom lens) and the screen is also just 60Hz, which is almost inexcusable in 2024.
On the other hand, the 48MP main camera is great, and the iPhone is still amazing for recording video.
Read more: Apple iPhone 16 Review
Key Apple iPhone 16 specs
- 48MP main camera
- 2x sensor crop
- Improved camera features
- A18 chipset
- Dynamic Island
- USB-C
- A textured matte back panel
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Screen size: 6.3 inches
Dimensions: 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm
Weight: 199 grams
Weight: 199 grams
Image by PhoneArena
The Pixel 9 Pro may not be the most compact flagship out there with its 6.3-inch display (actually, it's right on the limit), but Google has managed to produce one amazing small flagship and it deserves a place here. Even though this phone comes with the aforementioned 6.3-inch screen, the overall dimensions are not far off much more compact phones, especially when we look at the width (much more important for subjective feel in the hand). The weight is also pretty reasonable under the 200-gram mark.
What's inside the Pixel 9 Pro is what counts! The latest Google Tensor G4 chipset is the beating heart of this little beast. The LTPO AMOLED panel can go over the 2,000-nit brightness mark in real-life conditions (we've tested this), and the camera system is as powerful as ever with a 5x telephoto lens included. There's Gemini onboard and seven long years of software support.
The Pixel 9 Pro is probably the best package Google has produced ever, and its sub-$1000 price is also a nice surprise. Given the lengthy support and all the AI magic that will be coming to the phone with each Feature Drop, the Pixel 9 Pro is a very strong Android contender.
Also Read:Google Pixel 9 Pro review
Key Google Pixel 9 Pro specs:
- 6.3-inch LTPO AMOLED screen (very bright)
- 50MP main camera
- 48MP telephoto with 5x zoom
- Gemini onboard
- Google Tensor G4 chipset
- Seven years of major OS updates
Google Pixel 8a
PhoneArena rating: 6.5/10
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Weight: 188 grams
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Weight: 188 grams
The Pixel 8a is a great value proposition, no matter if you're looking for a compact Android phone or just want to get the best bang for your buck. This phone is slightly larger than the competition despite boasting the same 6.1-inch screen. This is mainly due to larger bezels and a bit bulkier design, but it's a small price to pay when you're getting the Tensor G3, a great screen, and all the software magic from the original Pixel 8 at a fraction of the price.
One can even argue that the Pixel 8a is just a roughly looking Pixel 8, the differences are so miniscule. As an alternative, you can buy the Pixel 8, of course, and there's the newly launched Pixel 9 lineup with two somewhat compact phones in it - the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro. The latter made it to our list but it costs almost $1000, so with the Pixel 8a you're getting the same compact at half the price.
The Pixel 8a is also the last one to sport the Camera Bar design, so if you're a fan of that, and also the curved back and sides, this is the way to go. It also feels much more comfortable in the hand in comparison to more boxy phones with flat sides.
Also Read:Pixel 8a Review
Key Google Pixel 8a specs
- 6.1-inch Actua display 1 20:9 aspect ratio
- 24+ hour battery life
- 8 GB LPDDR5x RAM
- 128 GB/256 GB UFS 3.1 storage
- Google Tensor G3
- 64MP main camera
- Seven years of major OS updates
Sony Xperia 5 V
PhoneArena rating: 6.4/10
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Weight: 182 grams
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Weight: 182 grams
The Xperia 5 V explores other angles of the term compact. On paper, this 6.1-inch phone doesn't scream compact, but once you hold it in your hand for a while, you see what Sony has done. The width of the phone is just 68mm, which is very close to the 64.5 mm of the iPhone mini. In practice, you feel like you're holding a much smaller phone, thanks to the reduced width.
On the other hand, its tall, 21:9 OLED screen might not be the easiest to operate, especially drawing the notification shade and reaching for UI elements toward the top of the phone, but it's gorgeous for movies and other content consumption.
Buying a Sony phone comes with the usual perks of having a 3.5mm audio jack, a microSD card slot, some cool pro-grade software tools, and a unique form factor. Don't overlook Xperia phones when it comes to good package. And the 5-series delivers it in a compact form as well.
Furthermore, this phone might be the last from the Xperia 5 series, as Sony seems to have focused on the flagship Xperia 1, and the budget Xperia 10 series, scrapping the compact flagship altogether. So, it's your last chance to own a compact flagship Xperia phone. Don't miss it!
Read More:Sony Xperia 5 V review
Key Sony Xperia 5 V specs
- 52MP (48MP effective) main camera with Exmor T sensor, 1/1.35", 120 fps, OIS/AF, f/1.9
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- New camera aisle design (now housing only two cameras)
- New Video Creator app
- New amplifier for the front-facing stereo speakers
- Notification LED is gone
How We Rate Smartphones
Our primary metric is the overall phone rating. This score is a composite of 12 different factors that define the smartphone experience, including Battery Life, Camera Quality, Design, Performance, and more. Each factor is rated on a scale from 0 to 10, but their contribution to the final score varies—Battery Life, for instance, holds more weight than Design.
We've made some changes to the way we rate phones. As of now, most top Android phones score around 7.5, leaving room for future devices to improve and push boundaries. If you want more detailed insights, we also offer category-specific ratings, such as our Battery Score and Camera Score, which break down performance even further.
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