Small Smartphones: 7 Top Picks for 2024

No doubt about it—phones have gotten bigger in recent years, and many flagship devices are basically "phablets" (see the new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold for an example). However, there are still a smattering of smaller devices on the market, among them extremely popular ones from Apple and Samsung. Our favorite small smartphones in 2024 include: 

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
• Apple iPhone 16
• Apple iPhone SE
• Motorola Razr+ (2024)

The best small phones offer high-end, top-of-the-line features into their relatively diminutive frames. Read on as we detail what each phone we've chosen offers, along with specific dimensions.

Best Small Android Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Our favorite small Android phone is a device that's both big and small at the same time: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. This cutting edge device folds up into a small little square, measuring 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9 mm. However, when you're ready to enjoy some immersive browsing or streaming, unfolding the device reveals a vivid 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED display. Hence, you get the best of both worlds—a pocket-friendly device, and a media-friendly foldable—all in one.

Here's a summary of Galaxy Z Flip 6's specs:

• Displays: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED interior display, 3.9-inch Super AMOLED cover display
• Cameras: 50MP camera, 12 MP ultrawide lens, 10MP selfie camera
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• Battery: 4,000 mAh

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Best Small iPhone: Apple iPhone 16

The obvious choice for the best small iPhone would seem to be the tiny Apple iPhone SE (2022), since it offers a nice suite of features in the smallest package available from Apple. However, if you are willing to go a little bit bigger, the iPhone 16 offers much better specs, befitting its flagship status.

The iPhone 16 could be interpreted as "the iPhone 15, only better." The camera, display, and processor upgrades over the iPhone 15 are noticeable but not dramatic—really more of a refinement of an already great suite of features. What really takes the iPhone 16 to the next level, however, are the many AI enhancements made possible by iOS 18.1.

The iPhone 16 measures 5.81 in height x 2.82 in width, which is small enough to be more than pocket-friendly, but certainly not as tiny as the iPhone SE. Still, we think the future-leaning features packed into the iPhone 16 are worth going a little larger for.

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Best Cheap Small Smartphone: Apple iPhone SE

O.K., having just rattled off a list of reasons that you should consider springing for the iPhone 16 over the iPhone SE if you're on the hunt for a small smartphone, here's the part where we tell you why you should consider the SE—and it mostly has to do with price.

The iPhone SE is a couple of years old now, and can be had very cheaply both from major carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T) and smaller prepaid carriers (Mint Mobile, Visible, Straight Talk Wireless), as well as third-party retailers like Amazon. At just 5.45 inches high x 2.65 inches wide, this phone is definitely small. Despite this, the device packs a surprising amount of horsepower under the hood, including a fast A15 processor, a sharp 12MP main camera, and a water resistance rating of IP67. Sure, these aren't flagship phone specs, but they will be more than enough for most people.

Best Small Flip Phone: Motorola Razr+ (2024)

The Motorola Razr+ (2024 edition) is another foldable phone that gets really small when it's compressed, yet offers a fair amount of display real estate when it's opened up. Beyond this, there's a lot to like about the Razr+, from it's downright attractive design to its excellent battery life to its full IPX8 water resistance rating (meaning it's fully water resistant). Best of all, it's on the affordable end of Android flagships, and will likely be significantly cheaper than any of the other devices on this list, save for the iPhone SE.

Why Smartphones Are Getting Bigger

We rely on our phones more than ever for all manner of entertainment and media—from reading to gaming to streaming. Device manufacturers, of course, have noticed this (or are perhaps even responsible for it), and have responded by continually increasing the screen sizes, and overall dimensions, of their phones. Some of the bigger handsets, like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, feel more like tablets than they do cell phones, and are actually designed as such. However, a vocal minority of cell phone users want something they can easily fit in their pocket or shirt, and phone makers have acknowledged this too.

The Small Smartphone is Dead—Long Live the Small Smartphone

While the trend with smartphones has been to go bigger, the small phones we outlined in this piece show that small smartphone design lives on—for now. It seems that the way to get flagship phone features in a small smartphone nowadays is to buy a foldable device, as they tend to feature top-of-the-line specs, yet fold up neatly into a small package. The two best exemplars of this are the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, and the Motrola Razr+ (2024).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do small smartphones still exist?

If this list is any indication, small smartphones still very much exist, and many of them pack flagship-level specs into their diminutive frames for a modern smartphone experience. Our favorite small smartphone right now is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.

Does Samsung have a compact phone?

Yes, Samsung has a compact phone. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 folds up into a small little square, measuring 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9 mm. When you're ready to enjoy some immersive browsing or streaming, unfolding the device reveals a vivid 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED display.

Why doesn't Apple make small phones?

Apple has veered away from small phone due to the lackluster sales of its iPhone mini devices. The iPhone SE (2022) is certainly small, but it's a couple of years old now, and Apple hasn't released an updated version of the device since.