Remember small phones? Those pocket-friendly devices that dominated the early 2010s? Despite the arduous efforts of companies like ASUS to make people fall in love with small phones, it wasn’t enough. But don’t despair! Existing small phone models are still powerhouses, and can last you for years. If you’re willing to make do with the new definition of small phones, there are a handful of devices. Here’s a look at the best small phones you can still buy in 2025.
What Should We Consider a “Small” Phone?
For a phone to fall in the small phone criteria, its overall length should not be more than 5.8 inches. Since the true small phones are a dying breed, that number has been bumped up to 6 inches. The overall form factor of today’s smartphones has only slightly been bumped length-wise. Reachability could still be an issue, but it’s less pronounced in the phones mentioned in this list.
Despite the diagonally larger screen sizes, the size of the smallest phones mentioned in this list starts from 5.76 inches. That’s pretty close to traditional 5-5.5 inch small phones. This is largely because the display sizes have increased by shrinking bezels over the years.
Best Small Phones to Buy Right Now
Here’s a list of all the small phones you can buy in 2025, ranging from the smallest device, and the standard “small” high-end phones, all the way to the foldables.
1. Best Smallest Phone – iPhone SE 3rd Generation
Although Apple has shut down the production of the iPhone SE, it’s still available. It’s THE smallest phone on the market which you can get for around $400. Specifications-wise, it doesn’t stand a chance against the newest Android devices or even the latest iPhone 16, but that’s not the point. It boasts a 4.7-inch display and measures just 5.45-inch length-wise. That’s almost 0.33 inches smaller compared to the Galaxy S25.
Although, you do end up sacrificing a lot for that 0.33-inch difference. The display on the SE 2022 is a measly 720p unit with huge bezels all around. The Apple A15 isn’t the fastest and the base 64 GB is just not cut for 2025 standards. There’s a decent 12MP single rear camera and a 2,000 mAh battery with 20W fast charging. Overall, the SE 2022 won’t blow your mind in any aspect, but it is still the smallest phone around.
Pros Cons Incredibly small Measly 2,000 mAh batter Supports the latest iOS 18.3 Ancient SoC Touch ID could be a boon for some Bad cameras for 2025 standards 64 GB base storage Poor 720p IPS display
2. Smallest Android Phone – ASUS Zenfone 10
ASUS Zenfone 10 is one of the last smaller Android phones. It features a 5.9-inch display and weighs only 172 grams. Powering the device is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and a 4,300 mAh battery capable of charging at 30W. The 8 Gen 2 is old but still a very good performer. The 30W charging speed might be slow for 2025 standards but it’s better than the Galaxy S25’s 25W.
In addition, the phone features UFS 4.0 storage, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. On the front, it has a 144Hz OLED display with 1100 nits of peak brightness. Protecting the display is Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus, which should make it a bit resistant to scratches and cracks.
The phone has dual-rear cameras with a 50MP primary camera and a 13MP ultrawide shooter. The software is mostly stock Android with ZenUI, the company’s proprietary skin. The phone is available in a myriad of colors and has a headphone jack.
For an asking price of $699, it’s expensive for what it offers. Some devices are much better but they aren’t of the same size as the Zenfone 10. Therefore, if you absolutely need the 5.9-inch size, it’s one of the best small phones you can buy. The phone launched with Android 13. So, the only thing you need to be wary of is that Android 15 will be its last major update.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent one-hand usability | Average cameras |
| Good higher refresh rate display | Won’t get Android 16 |
| Retains the headphone jack | Expensive |
| Near Stock Android experience with ZenUI | |
| Great performance |
3. Best Small But Powerful Android – Samsung Galaxy S25
The Galaxy S25 (review) is Samsung’s latest take on standard S series devices. And like previous generations, it’s smaller than most smartphones out there. Sure it’s not like traditional small phones with less than 6-inch displays, but a respectable 6.2-inch display. This combined with slimmer and smaller dimensions compared to the S24 means that the S25 is still a great small device. Not to mention, it weighs just 162 grams which is quite light. Length-wise, it’s
Specifications-wise you get the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Elite (benchmarks), a triple camera setup, an LTPO 2X AMOLED display, a 4,000 mAh battery with 25W charging, UFS 4.0 and LPDDR5X storage and RAM, and One UI 7 with 7 years of Android updates. Overall, the Galaxy S25 is one of the best small phones you can buy right now.
Pros Cons Good one-hand usability Slower charging speeds Exceptional display Battery life One UI 7 with 7 years of updates No changes in cameras Extraordinary performance Good camera performance
4. Best Small But Powerful iPhone – iPhone 16
The iPhone 16 is currently the smallest iPhone in the lineup and it’s smaller length-wise than the Pixel 8. It’s 5.81 inches in length to be exact with a smaller 6.1 inch display. Now, it definitely doesn’t carry the legacy of the SE series which is rumored to launch soon after three long years of pause. It will definitely be the next small iPhone but for the time being, iPhone 16 or even iPhone 15 take the spot for the best small iPhone.
As for the specifications, it features a 6.1-inch OLED 60Hz display with Apple A18 SoC. There’s a dual-camera setup at the back, the latest AI features with Apple Intelligence and the phone is IP68 water resistant.
It is a bit expensive at $700, especially for a display with 60Hz, but it’s the only iPhone you can buy right now, other than the iPhone 16 Pro.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Decebt one-hand usability | 60Hz refresh rate |
| A18 performs great | Not the best display |
| Great cameras | |
| Excellent, premium build quality |
5. Best Small Phone That Flips Open – Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Those looking for pocketability rather than a smaller screen will appreciate the new-gen foldable phones. When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s display measures 6.7-inch diagonally and 6.5-inch in length, which is not pocketable or suitable for one-handed use.
However, when folded, the form factor comes down to 3.3 inches, which any pocket can easily accommodate. You can then use apps on the smaller 3.4-inch outer screen. It’s actually too small and counterintuitive for a small phone, yes, but it technically makes the Galaxy Flip 6 the smallest phone on this list.
Specs-wise, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 boasts a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, UFS 4.0 storage, 4,000 mAh battery, and dual 50 MP + 12 MP rear cameras. It should get 7 years of Android updates. It charges at a measly 25W still, which is the same as the S25 and S24. That said, you can get a lot done on the front display which should help the phone sip battery.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 launched at $1099 but since it’s been almost a year since the launch, you can sometimes buy one brand new for $849.
Pros Cons Exceptional pocketability The outer display is a low-resolution 60Hz panel Great higher refresh rate inner display Relatively expensive Great performance Decent cameras Four years of Android updates
6. Best Budget Folding Phone – Motorola Razr+ 2024
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra (impressions) aka the Razr+ 2024 in the US is a tad bit bigger than the Galaxy Z Flip 6 both in terms of screen size and the overall footprint. However, it’s a flip phone with a foldable screen, so pocketability should be no issue. Besides, it’s got a slightly bigger and higher resolution cover screen which extends to the ends of the top cover, and it looks phenomenal. It’s also great to get more things done just using the cover screen since it’s now bigger than the Razr+ 2023.
The Razr 50 Ultra features UFS 4.0 storage and the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC. Powering the smartphone is a 4,000 mAh battery that charges much faster than the Z Flip at 45W. Motorola promises up to 3 major Android updates, which is great but knowing the company’s track record with updates, I wouldn’t expect the updates to arrive quickly.
The Razr 50 Ultra launched at $999 but has since received several price cuts bringing the price down to $849. For that price, it’s easily one of the best small phones on this list.
Pros Cons Exceptional pocketability Three years of major updates Great high refresh rate inner and outer displays Expensive Decent performance Modest cameras
7. Best Small Google Phone – Pixel 8
Although the Pixel 9 is Google’s latest small vanilla device, the Pixel 8 still holds its ground as the best small Pixel phone. That’s due to its smaller overall footprint and a 0.1-inch smaller display. It may not look like a big difference but combined with Pixel 8’s more bubbly and curvy design language, the Pixel 8 is the better small phone to hold and use.
It features a 6.2-inch display but length-wise, the Pixel 8 measures 5.93 inches (vs 6.01 on Pixel 9). The display is an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2000 nits of peak brightness, all protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
Sure has a slower UFS 3.1 storage and the Google Tensor G3 might not be as fast as the latest Snapdragon SoCs, but that’s never been the point of Pixels. If you’re looking for a compact phone with the best cameras and excellent software experience, you cannot ask for more at $399. In terms of longevity, you get 7 years of major OS updates; so the device should last for years to come.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great one-hand usability | Performance |
| Higher refresh rate display | Older and slower UFS 3.1 storage |
| Exceptional camera performance | |
| 7 guaranteed OS updates | |
| Extremely cheap for what it offers |
8. Smallest Phone With Best Camera – Xiaomi 14
With a 6.36-inch display and 6.01-inch length, not many would consider the Xiaomi 14 a “small” device, but for those willing to sacrifice the same for the features the phone packs, it’s a no-brainer. The 6.01-inch tall length is still small compared to other smartphones in the market, and Xiaomi could achieve this via the slim uniform bezels on the Xiaomi 14.
The phone is packed with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, UFS 4.0 storage, triple cameras (all of them being 50MP sensors). It has an LTPO OLED panel with 3,000 nits peak brightness. To top this, it offers a 4,610 mAh battery with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. So, it ticks almost all the boxes in a flagship.
The company promised major Android updates for up to 4 years and up to 5 years of security updates. Coming at around $759, it’s a device worth considering.
Pros Cons Excellent bright display Feels a little bulky for a “small phone” Exceptional performance Limited availability Great battery life with best-in-segment fast charging HyperOS might not be everyone’s cup of tea Excellent Leica-tuned cameras
9. Small Phone with best AI Features – Pixel 9
The Pixel 9 (review) is not the best small Pixel phone but it’s comparatively smaller than most devices at a raw height of 6.02 inches. It’s not as light as the S25, nor is it slimmer or shorter length-wise with a 6.3-inch display. The improved specifications make up for the slightly larger footprint, though.
It sports a 120 Hz OLED display with 2,700 nits, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides, an improved design that looks quite good, and a bigger 4,700 mAh battery.
The Pixel 9 has the same charging speed as the Pixel 8, i.e., 27W. The secondary ultrawide 48 MP camera is also better on the Pixel 9 compared to the Pixel 8’s 12 MP. The Tensor G4 is ever so slightly faster than the G3. All in all, for an asking price of $699, it’s definitely a small phone worth considering.
Pros Cons Adequately small Tensor G4 is slow Great, bright display Slow charging speeds Excellent camera performance Exquisite software experience Seven years of Android updates
10. Best Small Flagship for Everyone – Samsung Galaxy S24
The display size in the last three generations of vanilla Galaxy devices has remained the same. Therefore the S24 also features a 6.2-inch display may not make it seem like a small device, but the phone is just 5.79 inches tall length-wise, making it as pocketable as the Zenfone 10 and worth considering if you’re looking for a small phone.
It boasts the same 120Hz 6.2-inch dynamic 2X LTPO AMOLED display as the S25. The only major difference in the S24 other than the design is that it’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Exynos 2400 chipset depending on where you live. Powering the device is the same 4,000 mAh battery with 25W charging as the S25.
Besides, this Samsung phone also features UFS 4.0 storage (256GB and above models only), and LPDDR5X RAM. There are three cameras at the rear — a 50 MP wide, 10 MP Telephoto, and a 12 MP Ultrawide. You get OneUI 6 on the software front with plenty of customizations and up to 7 years of updates, making it a long-term option for many.
The best part about the phone is its price, which has gone down to $700 from $799 for the 128 GB variant, which is a great deal. We suggest waiting a bit more for the price to drop further since the Galaxy S25 series just came out. Make sure you get the Snapdragon variant, if not get the S25 which gets Snapdragon across all variants globally. For that asking price, it’s easily one of the best small phones you can buy.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great one-hand usability | Average battery life, slow charging speed |
| Excellent Dynamic AMOLED display | Exynos 2400 variant might not perform as good |
| Great cameras | |
| Excellent performance (on Snapdragon variant only) | |
| Entitled to 7 major OneUI updates |
And these were some of the best small phones you can buy in 2025. If we had to choose, we’d pick the Galaxy S25, Moto Razr 50 Ultra, and the Pixel 8. They’re all small devices and also extremely capable. The Zenfone 10 is still an option but the update situation makes it feel too outdated already, even though the hardware is very much capable of lasting 3-4 more years.
What are your thoughts about small phones? What could manufacturers do more to keep them alive? Let us know in the comments below.
