Not too long ago, small phones were the standard, with6-inch smartphones being absolute juggernautson the market. That’s not the case these days, with Google, Samsung, and more making big handsets all the rage. Sometimes it feels like you’re hard-pressed to find a pocketable small phone — but not completely.
While there isn’t a vast selection to choose from, you’ll find the few smaller devices available boast flagship specs, including superb performance, quality cameras, and sleek, compact designs. Even better, thebest foldablestoday can give you the best of both worlds. If gigantic slabs are just too cumbersome, the best small phones around will put your hands (and pockets) at ease.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Motorola Razr+ (2024)
Google Pixel 8a
Samsung Galaxy S24
Apple iPhone 16
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Google Pixel 9
Unihertz Jelly Star
Small phones that you can use with one hand
The Pro Google GOAT
Google’s Pixel 9 Pro finally brings the pro-level flagship specs to a smaller, more manageable package. With its comfortable and premium design, industry-leading 6.3-inch display, and battery life that actually lasts, this is just about the best Android phone you may grab. Luckily, all that power can be used with just one hand. If you’re big on mobile gaming, it may not be your first choice, though.
For a truly fantastic Android experience in a smaller package that doesn’t slack on performance, battery life, or helpful features, thePixel 9 Prowill easily win you over. Its new design now matches the size of the baseline Pixels and is a delight to hold, offering a premium-feeling 6.3-inch form factor with plenty of flagship specs crammed inside.
One of the perks of a Google Tensor G4 chipset is a whopping 16GB of RAM. Sure, its gaming performance could be better, but it can still handle anything you throw at it, and it all looks incredible on its OLED display with an adaptive refresh rate reaching 120Hz. Throw in its long-lasting battery life, always-great cameras, and brilliant Gemini Ai features to assist with everyday tasks and photos, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what this Pixel has to offer.
Review: The Pixel 9 Pro is Google’s Goldilocks flagship
Not too big, not too small; just right
Some exclusive AI features, including Gemini Live and Pixel Studio, aren’t all that useful, but with seven years of OS support, there are sure to be all-around improvements down the line (or so we hope). If you’re a fan of the feel and quality of a flagship device but hate how large they can get, the Pixel 9 Pro will bring all the compact goodness to your hand.
A true compact phone
The Motorola Razr+ (2024) is a small, but mighty iterative upgrade over its predecessor. It has a large cover display, a powerful chip that keeps up, and a new telephoto camera with 2x zoom. It’s great for general photography and performs just as you would expect, enabling you to get work done quicker and more efficiently.
TheMotorola Razr+ (2024)might not be a massive upgrade over the Razr+ (2023), but it brings many quality-of-life improvements that finally make it a worthy successor to take on other big brands, such as the Galaxy Z Flip 6. The Razr+ features a 4-inch edge-to-edge cover, and a 6.9-inch pOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, making it excellent for gaming and multitasking.
The cover screen is great for checking notifications, reading emails, using a wide variety of widgets and apps, and previewing photos. Speaking of which, the new Raz+ comes with a 50MP primary and 50MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom. The new Razr misses out on the wide-angle lens, but luckily, we have a new and improved sensor that makes the telephoto capture much better results.
As for the rest of the hardware, Motorola equipped the new flagship with the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. So there’s plenty to play any demanding games and for storing your photos and apps. We also found that the 4,000 mAh battery can comfortably last a full day on a single charge, and the 45W wired charging method tops up the device fairly quickly.
Motorola’s new Razr+ is everything I want from a flip phone
Proper software updates would be nice, though
The Razr+ (2024) retails for the same $1,000 price as last year’s model, which means Motorola managed to avoid hiking the prices. Still, it’s a pricey venture, but this puts the Razr+ in the lead as a more affordable and, for some, even better device than the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
A flagship-lite experience at an affordable price
Google’s latest affordable smartphone combines the Pixel 8’s Tensor G3 chipset with price-conscious swaps like a matte plastic exterior, chunkier bezels, older image sensors, and slower charging speeds. But don’t let that hold you back. Top-notch imaging, seven years of updates, and a fluid interface guarantee a user experience that delivers flagship thrills for less.
TheGoogle Pixel 8ais the perfect example of bridging high-end essentials with midrange components to create an affordable smartphone with flagship-lite features. If you don’t mind the plastic build and slower charging, the Pixel 8a delivers most of the experiences expected of flagship phones. For example, the screen remains compact at 6.1 inches, but this year, Google has improved the quality of the panel with better saturation, contrast, and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Similarly, the phone gets the sameTensor G3 chipsetas the mainlinePixel 8 and Pixel 8 Prophones, guaranteeing seven years of software updates. That’s a tremendous promise for any phone, let alone an affordable smartphone. Unfortunately, you might have to forego some of the company’s AI-centric feature drops. The Tensor G3 was well behind the Qualcomm competition at launch, and the gulf has only widened.
Google Pixel 8a review: A great phone that I’m not sure you should buy
Google’s hardware lineup is in a tricky spot, and the Pixel 8a only makes things more confusing
On the other hand, the Pixel 8a continues to deliver the same tack-sharp images that the Pixel line is known for. While it lacks a telephoto sensor, the computational capabilities can offload that to a degree. Google’s computational flourishes are what make the Pixel lineup so special. From automatic call screening to the Magic Eraser, there’s a lot to like here. Unfortunately, there are other compromises, too. Battery life isn’t the phone’s strong suit and the slow 18W charging compounds that problem. But, if you’re able to handle all those drawbacks, there’s still an endearing, affordable phone to be found here.
Poised to live out its 7-year Android lifespan swimmingly
While it didn’t see a ton of upgrades compared to the S23, the Galaxy S24 packs in just enough improvements to further cement its place at the front of the pack. Increased efficiency, an even better display, and an impressive Android update promise to lead the charge.
The seemingly minor design change of flattening the sides of the S24 family had two big knock-on effects. Firstly, it allows for a 0.1-inch-larger display without increasing the phone’s overall size. Possibly more importantly, it’s easier to hold onto securely, especially during one-handed use. To make matters better, a slightly textured finish now adorns the back, cutting into the slipperiness the S23 suffered from.
From a hardware and performance standpoint,the S24only slightly improves upon its predecessor, but the relatively minor changes have two effects. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 isn’t significantly more powerful than the Gen 2, but a slight clock speed bump helps ensure the S24 will perform well throughout its promised seven Android updates.
Arguably more relevant, though, the new chip’s even greater efficiency pairs with a slightly larger battery to last even longer between charges. This doesn’t just improve battery life, but also positively affects the battery’s longevity, further improving the phone’s outlook over the course of the aforementioned Android update lifespan.
Samsung Galaxy S24 review: Small but super
Bright screen, flat sides, can’t lose
We were hard-pressed to come up with major negatives to the S24, but unfortunately, Samsung failed to address the only two big complaints we had. The 25W charging still doesn’t impress, especially given the phone’s cost. And Samsung’s cameras, while better than before, still suffer from periodic blurriness and sometimes questionable image processing. Nonetheless, the cameras work fine for most purposes, and the S24 is a better flagship-class investment than ever before.
Lightweight and powerful
Apple’s latest iPhone 16 comes with two major bonuses: it feels more Pro than previous models and iOS makes it closer to the feel of Android. Both work great on its premium, 6.1-inch OLED display, and it boasts some mighty power for its size thanks to its A18 processor. While its Camera Control feature allows quick access to its fantastic cameras, it doesn’t work as well as it should.
Apple’siPhone 16is a lightweight, well-designed 6.1-inch wonder, and it’s largely due to two significant upgrades: performance and Android-like customizability. The former keeps its Pro siblings on their toes, as its powerful A18 chip can support console gameplay in the palm of your hand, which looks fantastic on its OLED display with 2,000 nits of peak brightness (bit it’s a shame that it’s still stuck at 60Hz, though).
It’s also more like Android than ever, and not because it sports a USB-C port. With iOS 18, you can now move apps and widgets to wherever you want on the home screen, change the overall color theme, and customize its Control Center with the widgets and settings you want. If there was ever a time to move from Android to iPhone, now would be it.
Review: The iPhone 16 is the iPhone you should be tempted by
There are few reasons to go Pro
That said, it still has some quirks, including its new Camera Control button. While it’s a great way to quickly access its dual-camera system, its functions are less intuitive than what Apple is going for, and it’s weirdly placed on the phone itself. At the very least, you’re still getting great camera quality, even with a lack of telephoto lens, and its battery is solid enough to last all day. While small phone fans may miss the days of the iPhone mini, the iPhone 16 still nails that small phone aesthetic many crave.
Best foldable software
The new Galaxy Z Flip 6 is Samsung’s latest and greatest flip phone that can fit in any pocket, handbag, or purse. It features a 3.4-inch cover, and a bright 6.7-inch AMOLED display that can show your favorite apps and widgets. The Flip 6 is powered by a flagship chipset that easily lets you run even the most demanding apps, making multitasking a breeze.
On paper, theSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6isn’t a massive upgrade, but it brings many improvements and enhancements over its predecessor. It provides the full package in a small form factor that can fit in any pocket or backpack, featuring premium materials and Qualcomm’s flagship chipset.
The Flip 6 sports a 3.4-inch cover, and a 6.7-inch AMOLED display that looks gorgeous. While the cover screen can only display selected apps, notifications, and widgets, it’s useful for previewing and taking photos, as well as seeing information at glance. The main display is bright, colorful, and it’s perfect for consuming content, and doing everything that you’d otherwise do on a traditional smartphone.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has better battery life than ever, thanks to the more advanced and power-efficient chip. It also has a new ISP (Image Signal Processing) sensor that improves the quality of photos, though the Razr+’s camera probably still has a slight edge.
Review: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 is great but it’s no longer the slam dunk foldable choice
The best one yet, but is that good enough?
The big downside to the Flip 6 is the $1,100 price tag, which makes it more expensive than both previous Flips and the latest Razrs, with only Samsung’s usual long-term software support justifying that extra outlay.
The more affordable Pixel
Not fussed about pro-level features? You’ll get much more out of Google’s Pixel 9 than just saving money. It’s the same 6.3-inch size as its Pro sibling but with a charming polished glass back, so this Pixel is fantastic to hold. Moreover, it boasts some fantastic perks, including great performance, incredible camera quality, and handy Gemini AI features (even if some could use some work).
If you’re after the same size and splendid Android experience the Pixel 9 Pro offers but don’t want to drain your funds,the Pixel 9is your best bet. So much so, in fact, that it made our Editor-in-Chief, James Peckham, question whether he even needed a Pro model. From its premium-feeling design to its incredible cameras, that’s how well Google knocked it out of the park with its base Pixel.
While pricier than previous models, it makes up for this with its capable Google Tensor G4 chipset and 12GB of RAM for great performance, fantastic 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and (unsurprisingly) amazing cameras — including an upgraded 48MP ultra-wide camera with a 50MP main shooter. It’s the closest you can get to the perfect Android experience at this price, even if it didn’t come packed with Android 15 from the get-go.
Review: The Google Pixel 9 makes me question if I need to go Pro
The Pixel 9 has everything most people want from a phone
The good news is it comes with an astounding seven years of OS updates, so expect Android 15 and beyond with this small beast. Unlike its Pro counterparts, it doesn’t boast the same performance or battery life, so be aware of running low on battery and slow charging speeds. Still, if a comfortably sized compact handheld is what you’re after, the Pixel 9 will impress for less.
Unlike any other phone on the market
One of today’s rare phones legitimately perfect for one-handed use, the Unihertz Jelly Star sports a compact form factor that nothing else matches. A 3" screen means it won’t get you very far watching movies or shows, but for maps, music, messaging, brief web searches, and other casual uses, it’s an intriguing option.
Unihertz doesn’t make many phones, but instead focuses on niche devices with unusual form factors. Basically the opposite of its ultra-rugged Tank lineup, the Unihertz Jelly Series — and theJelly Starin particular — delivers one of the extremely few truly small options today.
Given its 3-inch display, you’d be right to question its usefulness for a lot of people. It’s too small to enjoy videos or play most games, and depending on the website, even browsing the internet isn’t the most convenient. But with a little tweaking (like resizing the keyboard, for example), the typing, navigation, and general experience can be surprisingly satisfying. Leaning into smart assistants and voice typing streamlines everything further.
The Helio G99 SoC driving it sits at the lower end of modern midrange hardware (although there’s plenty of RAM and storage), but with so few pixels and such limited screen space, you won’t see significant slowdowns in the activities it can actually handle. And the bottom line is that the form factor’s so incredibly handy that things like flipping through playlists, sending messages to your friends, and even taking pictures can be easier than with a full-size phone.
Unfortunately, it does come with tradeoffs other than just the size and chipset. It’s a little more slippery than we’d like, and its 4G bandwidth and latency could both be a little better. Notably for most people, though, the camera isn’t great, and it runs Android 13 and won’t see an upgrade. Even security patches are few and far between.
Unihertz Jelly Star review: 3 inches of magic
There’s nothing like Unihertz’s latest tiny phone, and if you like it, you love it
If you like the idea of the Jelly Star and want something a little better at bridging the gap between tiny and modern, though, keep an eye on Unihertz. It recently teased a successor, the Jelly Max, which will offer 5G support via a Dimensity 7300 chip, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a form factor partway between the Jelly Star and today’s other supposedly compact phones.
A small phone that doesn’t suck
The small phones of today are miles bigger than they used to be (unless we’re talking about the 3-inch Unihertz Jelly Star), but their thin, compact designs still fit comfortably in one hand. That’s the sweet spot our picks aim to deliver, and they’re recent releases, too.
Case in point: the Google Pixel 9 Pro. It has a 6.3-inch size with a refined, premium design akin to the more compact size of the smartphones of yesteryear, and it has plenty of flagship specs to boot. This includes excellent cameras, a beautifully bright display, fantastic battery life, and new Gemini AI features to help you with everyday tasks. It’s pricier than previous Pixel models, but its seven years of OS updates will ensure this small phone’s longevity.
Fancy something different? A foldable phone is as compact as you’re able to get, and the Motorola Razr+ (2024) is among the best of them. With a vibrant 4-inch cover display that will let you open apps, check and send messages, look at photos, and more, and a snazzy form factor that unfolds to show off a gorgeous 6.9-inch pOLED screen, this pocketable flip phone offers the best of both worlds when it comes to big and small phones. Of course, you’ll get flagship specs for multitasking and playing demanding titles, too. It costs a pretty penny, but it won’t disappoint.
As for real value (and one of the smallest near-flagship sizes you can get), the Pixel 8a is a fine choice. If you can get over its large bezels, you’ll enjoy its lightweight, 6.1-inch size and surprisingly great-feeling plastic back. It’s a delight to hold with one hand, especially when using its brilliant cameras to take snaps. It can feel underpowered compared to flagships, but it’s still a fantastic small phone for the money.
If you’re after a trulytinyphone, there’s always the Unihertz Jelly Star, but you’ll also want to keep an eye on its upcoming 5-inch sibling, the Unihertz Jelly Max, for a great balance between size and modern specs.
Google’s Pixel 9 Pro finally brings the pro-level flagship specs into a smaller, more manageable package. With its comfortable and premium design, industry-leading 6.3-inch display, and battery life that actually lasts, this is just about the best Android phone you can grab. Luckily, all that power can be used with just one hand. If you’re big on mobile gaming, it may not be your first choice, though.
Best Android phones in 2025
Top-tier smartphones with distinct capabilities
