Just when you think phones couldn't get any bigger, phone companies prove you wrong. And the trend continues, with brands trying to stretch out displays to challenge the limits of human grip, and turning their focus away from small phones.
But while most phone makers insist, bigger is not necessarily better. Many of us actually long for phones that are easier to grip firmly and use with a single hand as well as lighter in the pocket. Thankfully, there are some great small phones that you can buy today, without having to compromise on use or functionality.
Below we discuss the best small phones you can buy in 2025. All of these options are available in the U.S. so you wouldn't have to worry about compatibility with your carrier.
The best small iPhone
iPhone 16
- Fun, refreshing new design
- Stunning colors this year
- Camera Control is so, so good
- The Action button rules
- Excellent camera system
- Reliable battery life
- 60Hz display, no always-on display
- Slow charging speeds
- Apple Intelligence not yet available
Why you should buy this: If it's a compact iPhone you're after, but don't want to pay for features you may occasionally use, the iPhone 16 is the best choice.
Who it’s for: Anyone who prefers an iPhone that is compact yet uncompromising in features or power.
Why we picked the iPhone 16:
The base iPhone is one of the finest -- and unfortunately, the few -- great small phones each year, and the iPhone 16 doesn't hesitate from claiming that spot again.
This generation has undergone noticeable changes in design, including a new vertical camera module, the Action button, and the new Camera Control button. The new colors are more saturated than they were last year, and this could be a winning situation for anyone who wants a deep pink or a turquoise phone, since these colors are rather uncommon among smartphones. These changes lend the iPhone 16 with a sense of newness.
While being a small phone, the iPhone 16 isn't short on performance. Apple stocks it with the latest A18 chip, which only slightly less powerful than the A18 Pro on the iPhone 16 Pro. Though if you weren't looking to pick nits, you wouldn't notice any cutbacks. More importantly, it's a big upgrade over the A16 which powered the iPhone 15. Besides, the chipset allows for Apple Intelligence, which might be a bit underwhelming at the moment, but is unlikely to lag behind competition through the phone's life, which is definitely a long one.
The iPhone 16's primary camera is dependable while the ultrawide shooter now has autofocus, which means you can also capture macro shots. Just like the Pro, the regular iPhone 16 also gets new Photographic Styles, which can completely transform the mood of the photo -- while giving you the options to tweak parameters, both before and after taking the images.
The iPhone 16 also gets Dynamic Island on top of the display. While the 60Hz refresh rate could take some time getting used to, unless you're coming from an older iPhone, in which case, it won't matter much. The iPhone 16 also gets a solid battery life with MagSafe, allowing for fast wireless charging along with support for a host of accessories.
Overall, the iPhone 16 doesn't seem asking for compromise in front of its Pro sibling, and with its advantage of its price, it makes plenty sense for anyone who wants the best from Apple without going overboard with their budget.
The best small Android phone
Google Pixel 9 Pro
- Beautiful hardware and display
- Compact size without compromises
- It's pink!
- Long battery life
- Great cameras
- Mostly good AI tools
- Seven years of updates
- Slow charging speeds
- 128GB base storage
Why you should buy this: If you want the best of Google's software experience, especially with AI, and an extraordinary camera setup among all small phones, the Pixel 9 Pro is for you.
Who’s it for: Those who like phones with good cameras but in a smaller footprint.
Why we picked the Pixel 9 Pro:
The Pixel 9 Pro is a jewel of a phone with charming looks, a great screen, and brilliant cameras. This is also the first small Pixel with a Pro badging, which means Google doesn't limit its camera capabilities based on its size. So, it's essentially the same size as the Pixel 9 but has an additional telephoto camera and more megapixels on the selfie camera.
With the Pixel 9 Pro, you get the best of Google's Android experience with a clean interface and the earliest updates in addition to Pixel-exclusive features, including Call Screen, Best Take, Add Me, Pixel Screenshots, and more. The Pixel 9 Pro is also among the most secure Pixel phones, thanks to a dedicated Titan M2 security chip and a face unlock security that is on par with Apple's Face ID in terms of reliability.
More importantly, Pixel's Tensor G4 chip and 16GB of RAM across all storage variants allows for on-device AI processing for several text-based and visual inputs. The applications include Smart Replies in messaging apps, live translations, rendering videos faster, and even enhancements to games.
Since Pixels are known for their cameras, you can't go wrong with a Pixel 9 Pro if you want a great phone camera that's also easy to weild. The additional telephoto with a 5X optical zoom allows for 30X blur-free shots that are enhanced using AI.
All in all, it's the same phone as the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL but in a smaller layout. The only cutbacks here are the smaller screen, though without any differentiation in terms of the brightness or even sharpness, and a slightly smaller battery -- though 4,700mAh is plenty for over a day's utility.
The Pixel 9 Pro feels like the most perfect Android phone Google has launched in ages, and it's the ideal choice if you desire all the power in a convenient layout.
The best small Android phone runner-up
Samsung Galaxy S25
- Compact footprint and solid build
- Beautiful 120Hz OLED screen
- Plenty of silicon firepower
- Battery can go a full day
- One UI 7 has a few functional charms
- It sorely needs a design makeover
- Cameras don’t justify the price tag
- Charging situation is just poor
- Most of the new AI tricks fall flat
- Upgrades? Don’t say that word
Why you should buy this: This is the perfect small phone with Samsung's software finesse and Snapdragon's firepower.
Who’s it for: Small phone enthusiasts who want reliable performance and experience.
Why we picked the Galaxy S25:
If you like safe bets, there's not a more reliable small phone in the Android pool than the Galaxy S25. It packs Samsung's reliability along with the promise of special AI features on top of Google's suite of apps, and the assurance of updates for the next seven years.
The Galaxy S25 has one of Samsung's best displays, one that's not only very bright but also punchy. The LTPO tech allows it to run at a refresh rate between 1 and 120Hz, saving you battery in scenarios when you don't need the speedy movements across the display. You wouldn't feel the 6.2-inch panel limiting your ability to watch content or play games.
Samsung's ecosystem is, hands down, the best outside of Apple's. So if you use a Galaxy Watch, a Samsung tablet, its laptop, or other smart home appliances, the Galaxy S25 is the perfect small phone. Despite its size, it also packs the same power as the bigger Galaxy S25 Plus or Ultra devices, thanks to the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset exclusive to Samsung.
Unlike the iPhone 16, the Samsung Galaxy S25 gets more muted tones. It looks classy but not underrated. It is also one of the lightest small phones if a light weight, along with a smaller size is
There are three cameras on the back, all of which offer sufficient details in bright as well as dim lighting. The primary and 3X telephoto are both optically stabilized, meaning you can use them for steady videos while panning or expect images to be blur-free. Even though the camera hardware isn't as impressive as the Pixel 9 Pro, Samsung does plenty of software processing to enhance photos beyond what you see in the viewfinder.
The Galaxy S25 also gets an array of Samsung-exclusive AI features which can be accessed across several system apps. Among other features, Samsung's Now Brief gives you a summary of your daily planned calendar events, fitness stats, etc. Samsung intends to be your personal virtual assistant as it learns how you use your phone, and all the processing happens on the device.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 would be the right small phone for those who prefer more customization on their Android beyond what Google offers, along with support for a hearty ecosystem that rivals Apple's.
The best value small phone
Google Pixel 8a
- Compact and light
- Vibrant camera
- AI photo-editing suite
- Easy to use Android software
- Long update commitment
- Cheap-feeling body
- Slow charging
- One-day battery life
Why you should buy this: Without frills or fuss, the Pixel 8a offers a pretty value if you want Google's top features in a small form factor and with an affordable price.
Who’s it for: Those who want the Google experience without breaking bank.
Why we picked the Pixel 8a:
The Google Pixel 8a is a compact and lightweight mid-ranger from Google. Don't be deceived by its looks or price, though, as it packs a Tensor G3 chipset, identical to what we see on the more expensive Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. Since the Pixel 8a has already had a successor in the Pixel 9a, the former has also seen its price cut to around $400, which is excellent for the Pixel-exclusive features on offer.
You will find features missing compared to the Pixel 9 Pro, especially with the 8a's limited capabilities to run on-device AI models, it's a commendable small phone if you want a simplified interface and a convenient ergonomics. Google keeps the device more exciting by promising the same seven-year-long software support window as it does for the premium Pixels.
The cameras on the Pixel 8a are good enough for you to want the phone solely for that reason. Despite less capable hardware, Google's pedigree in software-based enhancements to photography and videography stands out among budget phones with good cameras. Features such Add Me and Magic Eraser make photography with the Pixel 8a even more interesting.
Despite its less than exciting looks, the display is bright, even for daylight viewing, and responsive. It houses a fingerprint sensor, and you get a 120Hz refresh rate for enjoying games that support it. Overall, you wouldn't be disappointed with what you get on the phone, with its great value easily offsetting the cons.
The best small folding phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
- Top-notch hardware
- IP48 dust and water resistance
- Very good inner display
- Fast, snappy performance
- New 50MP camera is great
- Seven years of updates
- Bad cover screen
- Slow charge speeds
- Frustrating price increase
- Extremely similar to the Flip 5
Why you should buy this: It's a compact phone that unfolds to a larger footprint, as big as a regular phone, but without the bulk.
Who’s it for: Anyone who wants a compact phone without compromising a big phone's utility.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6:
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 offers a big phone's screen size in dimensions smaller than our usual small phones. Despite its large 6.9-inch inner folding screen, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is narrower than standard candy bar phones, and that makes it as easy to use with one hand as the other small phones in this article. More interestingly, you don't always need to unfold the phone all the time, as the outer display can already run plenty of apps and games.
The small form factor does not mean the flip phone is lacking in terms of power. Inside, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 runs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset -- same as the S24 models -- with 12GB of RAM. This gives the flip phone sufficient power to drive daily use cases while also letting you dive into intense games without any resistance. And to make sure the phone lasts through a day's of usage, Samsung has put the largest battery ever on a Galaxy Flip so far.
Like other flagship Samsung phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is also promised to get seven Android generation updates after Android 14 alongside routine upgrades with new features. The software has been refined over six generations and apps are optimized to work well on the slightly longer display. The Flip 6 also gets Samsung AI features, including ones that can use both screens simultaneously as they face two different people.
For its cameras, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 gets two cameras outside, and one inside. These sensors do quite a lot of justice to the rather confining layout and the slim body. In addition, you can also take better selfies using the outer screen as a viewfinder. If you have been inclined to try a folding phone that's also small and compact, a flip is the way to go. And there's barely any competing with the Galaxy Z Flip 6, given Samsung's reliability and leadership in the world of foldables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smartphones started growing larger when user preferences turned to all content all the time, especially in the form of reading, watching video, and playing games. These activities benefit from increased screen real estate. The problem is that larger phones are heavier, harder to carry and use with one hand, and more expensive. Large phones are inconvenient for people with small hands or with those who do not have 100% use of both hands. If you prefer to stash your phone in a shirt or pants pocket, want to or must use your phone with one hand, do not mind watching videos on a slightly smaller screen, and appreciate a more compact, lightweight unit, a small phone may be the optimal choice for you.
The immediate impact of a small smartphone is the size of the screen, but secondary attributes like smaller batteries, less powerful processors, inferior cameras, and less storage space will likely factor into how small you want to go. Notice we said nothing about the price. While large phones are more expensive, choosing a small phone may not save you significant money, and the price may even be on par with some of the larger models. That's because a high-quality small smartphone cleverly packs high-end features into a small package, and you are still paying for that high quality. Thus our favorite iPhone mini or SE or the Google Pixel are great choices for a small size phone that do not skimp on features or materials.
Smartphone sizes are a matter of personal style and necessity. If you appreciate having a phablet that fits into your backpack or purse for cinematic video, conference calls, report reading, art creation, gaming, or any other work or entertainment-related activities that are better suited to a spacious canvas, then stick with a larger smartphone. If you are a traveler who is not toting around a full laptop array of tech gear, a large phone will serve many purposes exceptionally well. You'll benefit not only from a large bright screen, but likely a larger, long-lasting battery, and even extra RAM built in.
