Best small phone 2022

Ara Wagoner is from the Android Central.

The best small phone is the Central.

Big phones have gone from being an outlier to the norm in a few short years. It can be a challenge for those who prefer phones to be small and compact to see that most major devices have a larger physical size. Thankfully, there are still plenty of choices, including the top overall pick, the Google Pixel 5a. If you want to buy a small phone but don't want to switch over to Apple's platform, these are the best.

Ara Wagoner is from the Android Central.

One of the best phones you can buy right now is the Pixel 5a. It's still tremendous value even though it may be showing some age.

ThePixel 5a takes incredible photos, taking Google's computational photography prowess into its own performance. Whether you're shooting in broad daylight or taking a picture of the night sky using the Astrophotography Mode, the Pixel 5a delivers the goods. Images are crisp, full of color, and look great compared to how much it costs. Reliability isn't something that's always found on more expensive devices when you press the shutter button.

Outside of the camera, the Pixel 5a has a lot to offer. The 6.34-inch display really bends the rule on what a "small phone" is, but it's wieldy enough for you to pull it off. It's big enough for enjoyable content consumption while still being manageable in one hand, and thanks to anOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution, everything you do on it looks excellent. You can look forward to a performance from the 765G processor that will be very fast, as well as a much improved battery life and ample storage.

It has an uninspired design and is only available in one color. It isn't the smallest phone on this list and it lacks expandable storage.

Two-day battery life.
The screen is easy to read outdoors.
The camera is good for the price.
Dust and water resistance.
There is a rear fingerprint reader and a headphone jack.
Works with all U.S. carriers.

No expansion of storage.
The design is boring.
Not the smallest on this list.

Like a champion.

The price of the Pixel 5a makes it feel like it's small, but it has an excellent balance of features and features.

Hayato Huseman is from the central region of the world.

We haven't gotten a proper successor to the S10e since it was released back in 2019. The package of the S21 is still a great one, even though it isn't as small as some people were hoping for.

The S21 has a 6.2-inch display. It's very comfortable to use, even though it might sound intimidating on paper. One of the most user-friendly flagships we're bound to see in 2021, the S21 has a flat display, tight bezels, and a lightweight design thanks to the plastic back. The display has a Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and an AMOLED panel.

The S21 is powered by the latest version of the Qualcomm's flagship chip, the Snapdragon 928, and it allows for some of the best performance currently available in a phone. There's also a choice of 128 or 256 gigabytes of internal storage. The triple-camera system is the same as last year's S20, but it's not a bad thing. The S21 has a 12MP primary camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, and 64MP telephoto camera.

The battery life is the biggest downside to the S21. If you have an active 5G connection and are rocking the 120Hz refresh rate, you won't be able to use it for more than a day.

The 120Hz display is amazing.
The performance with the chip was amazing.
The system is great.
The OneUI 3.1 interface is for the 11th edition of the operating system.
Three years of software updates.

The battery is so-so.
The phones on the list are larger.

The small flagship of the company.

If you're after a flagship experience, the S21 is a great buy.

Nick Sutrich is from Android Central.

A few different shapes and sizes of foldable smartphones have gone from being a pipe dream to a reality. The first attempt was by the SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP 5G, while the second attempt was by the RAZR. The device is small and compact because it is folded in half. The display on the outside of the Z Flip 3 was finally figured out by the company.

The rear camera can be used to take selfies with the 1.9-inch AMOLED cover display. It's not big enough to handle more complex tasks, like audio recording, which makes it easier to access.

You can see the larger Dynamic AMOLED screen when you flip the phone open, it's slightly narrower and more comfortable to use. The type of material used to make it stands out. The previous Z Flip felt like plastic, but this time it was glass that felt better.

The phone has a combination of the processor, RAM, and internal storage. It's a capable device and the combination of the two makes it work well. Unfortunately, not all apps take advantage of the Flip's ability to prop up halfway, though you can use it with the camera app for selfies or video calls. The pickings are slim beyond that.

The 3,300mAh capacity is unique in that it uses two batteries that combine to form one. That doesn't make it the most efficient battery out there, but it should hold up well in most situations. The compact size comes with extra perks.

Still solid.
Better cover display.
Excellent battery life.
OneUI 3.1 is sleek.
Good cameras.
The design is amazing.

No long lens.
The display is not very strong.
Not very durable.

The flip-phone is back.

If you can stomach the price, you'll love the compact experience of the GALAXY Z flip 3.

The source is Sony.

The phone is very similar to the Sony Xperia 1 II. The smaller frame gives you a 6.1-inch FHD+OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate, so it's a good looking device. You won't be getting 4K resolution on this panel, but that's fine if you don't mind a step or two lower.

The rounded corners of the Xperia 5 II make it easier to wield. A separate button for the Google Assistant is more like a key that you can modify to do other things. Sony went with an enlarged lock button to double as the fingerprint sensor, which would have made more sense if they had just done an onscreen one.

There are some decent performance specifications, thanks to the Snapdragon Even if the chipset feels a bit old, it's still more than capable of handling any task. If you want to do some gaming, streaming media is easy. In case that's useful, there's a headphone jack.

The phone has some decent water resistance, which may make you take a few risks when shooting with it. The triple camera array in the rear can take good shots, with more true-to-life color that might please your eye if you take photography more seriously. The front-facing sensor is not as good as other comparable phones.

The 4,000mAh battery is larger than the phone's frame, and that makes it last a full day every day.

If you're still running on 4G, you should go for the Xperia 5 II because it's compatible with 5G networks in the U.S.

There is a colorful display.
Excellent performance.
Solid camera output.
The battery is long- lasting.
Good resistance to water.

The sensor is odd.
Only works with T-Mobile and AT&T.
There is no access to 5G networks in the US.

More than you think.

It does many essential things well enough to be worth it, even though it wasn't on your radar.

Alex Dobie is from the Android Central.

We have the Zenfone 8. The Zenfone line has had a few wins in its short history, and this version is a pretty good choice if you're looking for the right combination of size and function. The rest of the phone runs on the same specifications as the different ones, but there are a few different ones.

A 5.9-inch display used to be big, but now it feels small. One of the reasons the Zenfone 8 is one of the smallest phones to run on a processor is because it has a 120Hz display. You get a lot for something that isn't as large as other phones, if you add the different storage and RAM options.

It also sticks to the basics, like a headphone jack, while pushing boundaries on durability with an intellectual property rating of68. The front of the phone has a glass that is resistant to impact. Beyond its hardware and software performance, the only real question is what kind of upgrade cycle Asus will stick to for this phone.

The cameras can take great pictures, but you don't get a long lens to zoom in. A 4,000mAh battery is enough to keep the phone going for a full day with little to get in the way. It supports 30W wired charging, but you will need to plug in for extra juice.

It is easy to hold.
Excellent performance.
Excellent main and ultra-wide cameras.
It is a cleaner software.
3.5mm jack for headphones.

There is no wireless charging.
There was no telephoto camera.
The update cycle of the phone.
Only works with T-Mobile and AT&T.

Go the smaller route.

The Zenfone 8 is lighter in your hands, but not in what it offers or how it performs, making it an excellent choice to consider.

Joe Maring is from the Android Central.

Budget phones come with measured expectations because they're clearly dialed back to bring the price down. The Moto G Fast is very much in that boat, but when you don't have a lot of needs and you want something easier to hold, it does check both of those boxes. The Moto G Power is a repackaged version of the Moto G Power.

The reason why this device made the list is because of its size. The overall design of the display makes it feel small, but it is. If you don't care to do much with the phone, you can accept the lower resolution. If your eyes don't really notice a difference, or you don't care, then this might be the phone for you.

The modesty extends to the same processor found in both the Moto G Power and G Stylus. If you're using several apps at the same time, multitasking will reach its limits because the G Fast only has 3GB of RAM. When you're not pushing things too far on the hardware side, the fingerprint sensor is responsive and accurate. It's not clear what kind of updates the phone will get.

The camera output will be as good as it gets. When the lights are not on, shots are not as good. The battery has a 4,000mAh size and is lighter, so it lasts a long time. You should be able to complete a full day with plenty left to spare.

Excellent build quality.
The battery life is long.
A fast and reliable sensor.
All U.S. carriers are compatible.
Very low price.

You have to accept a display that is 720p.
Not enough storage or RAM.
Terrible mono speaker.
The update policy of the company.

When you don't need much.

The Moto G Fast isn't going to wow anyone with what it brings to the table, but that's fine when you don't need to have it all.

Ted Kritsonis is from the Android Central.

Apple continues to support one of the smallest phones it makes, as evidenced by the fact that the iPhone 13 mini carries on from its predecessor. The 13 mini is a combination of a smaller size with the performance capabilities of the company's other premium handsets. One of the smallest phones you can wield today is the 5.4-inch OLED, and it's obvious that the focus is on it.

Hardware and software can run this well on a device of this size. The A15 chip is a steady performer, and with the new operating system running smoothly, it's as intuitive as you'd expect an Apple device to be. The 13 mini will be relevant for some time because of Apple's tendency to support its phones with years of updates.

The two 12MP cameras now have a Cinematic mode that lets you play around with focus in ways that make clips look and feel like Hollywood. The results should mirror what you get with the larger iPhone 12 if you upgrade to the 12 mini. You won't get the same quality as the 13 Pro models, so don't expect images to look the same.

A smaller battery is a result of trimming things down. Apple doesn't talk about the size of the phone's battery, but it claims that it can do better than before. That isn't a guarantee for the long-term. You will have to charge via MagSafe, wireless, or Lightning because there's still nousb-c.

A15 Bionic is a powerful chip.
A wide and ultra-wide camera setup.
The dust/water resistance of the I.68.
MagSafe charging.
It's a great size for one-handed use.
Up to five years of OS and security updates.

It's still pricey for what you get.
There is nousb-c port.

Go the smaller route.

The smallest of the new phones, the iPhone 13 mini, is in line with the larger sibling.

There are still plenty of options for small phones, even though the market is not as wide as it used to be. The best one you can get right now is the Google Pixel 5a.

The small phone formula was perfect with the Pixel 4a, which was attractive and well-built. ThePixel 5a is small by modern phone standards, but it has capable specs across the board, comes in at a price that's more than reasonable, and can still be considered small by modern phone standards. The phone is cheap, but it's still great, punching above what you'd expect from a phone of that price.

The camera and software of the Pixel 5a is above and beyond. The benefits of the Pixel are better than anyone else, and you can stay within your budget with it.

The team worked on this guide.

Ted loves taking photos when there is an opportunity. He can be found tinkering with gadgets or enjoying a cigar.

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