The 6 Best Small Smartphones That Don’t Skimp on Features

Key Specs

• 5.4-inch Liquid Retina XDR OLED display with 476 pixels per inch
• A15 Bionic chip with all-new Neural Engine
• Up to 512GB of storage
• Dual 12MP camera with sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 12MP front-facing camera

The iPhone 13 mini is the small smartphone to buy. You get the same advanced features as pricier smartphones, but with better ergonomics and a more pocket-friendly design.

It’s one of the few small smartphones that doesn’t sacrifice key features in the name of its small shape. The iPhone 13 mini has the same premium, completely waterproof design as the latest iPhone 13. It also comes with the same powerful processor and dual-camera system. Really, the biggest difference is it has a smaller 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display.

The iPhone 13 mini can be held comfortably with one hand, and your thumb should be able to stretch and reach across the entire screen. It’s about 20% smaller and 23% lighter than the iPhone 13, so it doesn’t have as big of a battery as full-sized iPhones. However, during my tests with the iPhone 13 mini, I had no issues getting through an entire day using the phone, and occasionally had as much as 20% worth of battery life to spare.

Read More: Our Full Review of the iPhone 13 mini

Key Specs

• 5.4-inch Liquid Retina XDR OLED display with 476 pixels per inch
• A14 Bionic chip with all-new Neural Engine
• Up to 256GB of storage
• Dual 12MP camera, 12MP front-facing camera

Before the iPhone 12 mini came out, if you were shopping for a small phone, you’d have to opt for a budget smartphone with outdated specs and a lower-grade design. Like our best overall pick, the 12 mini doesn’t require you to compromise on features or performance in the name of its smaller size. Although it’s not the best small phone money can buy, it’s a good option for folks on a budget who don’t need the latest and greatest.

The previous generation costs about $100 less than the 13 mini, and although it isn’t equipped with the latest cameras or processor that Apple uses for the iPhone 13 series, it still is an outstanding phone. Our biggest complaint is its battery life. You can expect 1.5 hours less battery on this phone as compared to the iPhone 13 mini (9 hours vs. 7.5 hours). Despite its shorter battery life, however, the 12 mini is a reliable, easy-to-hold smartphone with impressive camera quality and a durable build.

Key Specs

• 5.9-inch 120Hz OLED display
  
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
  
• 128GB/256GB of storage
  
• Dual camera with 64MP main with optical image stabilization, 12MP ultra wide, 12MP selfie camera
  

The ZenFone 8 really isn’t that small of a smartphone, but it’s smaller than almost any Android phone you can buy right now. It’s about 20% larger than the iPhone minis we previously mentioned. For comparison’s sake, it’s similar in size to an iPhone 13 or a dollar bill.

The ZenFone offers users a robust build that’s more durable than most other small phones on the market. The phone has a metal frame and tough Corning Gorilla Glass panels on its front and rear sides.

Besides its smaller size, what separates it from other Android smartphones is its Snapdragon 888 processor. This chip is coupled with 6, 8, or 16GB of RAM — depending on how much you’re willing to spend — so the Asus offers better performance than most other devices. That means you can juggle more apps, play more graphic-intensive games, and even get some serious work done on it.

As far as the cameras and battery life are concerned, the ZenFone 8 is equipped with a 64MP main camera and 12MP ultra wide lens, and you can expect about 11 hours of battery life.

Key Specs

• 6.34-inch FHD+ OLED display
  
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
  
• 128GB of storage
  
• Dual camera with 12MP main, 16MP ultra wide, 8MP selfie camera
  

If you’re shopping for a new smartphone and want something that’s reliable yet affordable, you can’t go wrong with the Google Pixel 5A. With a reasonable price just under $500 (it's on sale!), the phone packs a reliable processor, great battery life, clean software, and a better-than-average camera — all in a fully waterproof metal housing.

The smartphone is a hair bigger than the ASUS ZenFone 8 we previously mentioned, and doesn’t offer as impressive specs. That’s because it features a midrange (not as powerful) Qualcomm processor, less RAM, and a screen with a lower refresh rate — so it’s not as fluid. Although pricier Android phones with more RAM have better multitasking ability, numbers aren’t everything, and this phone is still quite snappy.

My colleague Stefan Vazharov was also blown away by its camera: The Pixel 5A can take photos with exceptional quality in just about any lighting scenario. It also has a large battery that’ll easily make it through a full day of heavy use. Because of these reasons, the Pixel 5A is one of the best smartphones you can buy for under $500.

Key Specs

• 6.7-inch foldable FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120 Hz maximum refresh rate, 1.9-inch Super AMOLED secondary screen with 302 ppi
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
• 128/256GB of storage
• Rear dual cameras with 12MP ultra wide rear camera, 12MP wide-angle camera, 10MP front selfie camera
  
  If you’re tired of the same old smartphone that looks like a slab of glass and want to mix things up, you won’t have to make many sacrifices with the Z Flip3. This folding smartphone packs a powerful processor, solid battery life, vivid display, and loud stereo speakers, all in a waterproof and completely pocketable design.
  
  The Galaxy Z Flip3 sports an eye-catching design that comes in seven colors. When closed, the device is about the size and thickness of a stack of Post-it notes. Unlike the majority of other folding phones, the Galaxy Z Flip3 is completely water-resistant. It's also made from much more durable scratch-resistant glass than the previous Z Flip iteration.
  
  Under the hood, Samsung has packed Qualcomm’s range-topping Snapdragon 888 chipset, a whopping 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The device is as snappy as any other flagship phone — even the Z Fold3 that costs several hundred dollars more.
  
  More: The Best Flip Phones You Can Still Buy

Key Specs

• 2.45-inch 240 x 432 pixel display
  
• 2GHz Octa Core Processor
  
• 6GB of storage, MicroSD card slot
  
• 16MP main camera, 8MP selfie camera
  

If you're in search of the smallest smartphone money can buy, the Unihertz Atom is hard to beat. Believe it or not, this smartphone is about the size of a pack of gum! It still has built-in GPS, dual cameras, Bluetooth, and a headphone jack like every other modern smartphone, and it even runs on the latest 4G networks and comes unlocked. It supports AT&T and T-Mobile, but note that it doesn't work with Verizon or Sprint.

It offers a rugged body, which helps it withstand drops, dirt, and spills. It also packs 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space, and runs the Android Oreo operating system.

Unfortunately, it’s equipped with mediocre cameras and a weak speaker. It's also difficult to type on because of its smaller size. If you work in construction, break your phone frequently, or just want a break from your full-sized phone, it's an affordable option that you may want to consider — especially given its extreme durability and IP68-rated water resistance.