What is the best small Android phone currently available?

November 6, 2023 12:33 PM

Looking for the best small Android phone on the market, for a family member. Size (and to a lesser extent, weight) is the most important aspect; battery life is fairly important; length of time the phone will be supported is somewhat important; everything else is fairly unimportant, as long as it is within normal range. Budget is flexible, as long as the price is in line with the quality. Currently considering Samsung Galaxy S23, Google Pixel 5, Sony Xperia 5V, and ASUS Zenfone 10.

Anyone have any opinions on any of these, or suggestions for other options? Bonus question: how do any of these compare to iPhones, especially an iPhone 13 mini?

posted by ClaireBear to Technology (14 answers total)

According to this chart the Pixel 5a goes end of support in 9 months.
posted by mmascolino at 12:46 PM on November 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

How about a folding phone? There are folding screens (Samsung Z) as well as decent old-school folders from TCL and Nokia and Motorola and more.
posted by rhizome at 1:04 PM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'm guessing, since they're otherwise looking at recent and high-end models, that the original question was meant to list the Pixel 8, not the long-discontinued Pixel 5.

To answer the question - annoyingly, this seems to be a dead market niche. There really aren't any good current phones in what had been the iPhone-mini size class - the best you can do is basically the ~6" screen regular-iPhone size class. I'd suggest the Pixel 8 as the best current android choice in that cohort, especially considering duration of software support.
posted by kickingtheground at 1:30 PM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

I love my Moto g...It's not big...I guess normal size, and quite thin. Good support, but I've not needed any. Long battery life too. Reasonably priced.
posted by Czjewel at 2:08 PM on November 6, 2023

I never buy the top-of-the-line phone, and I prefer smaller phones. However, after some bad experiences with budget models, I now always buy last year's flagship model, still new but now discounted. I'm partial to the Samsung Galaxy line, so right now I would be getting the Samsung Galaxy S22. In fact, I was about to get one a few months ago but instead decided to spend some money extending the life of my 2019-era Galaxy S10e for one more year so I could spend my time on other stuff. Upgrading my phone is very disruptive for me and I'd like to do it as infrequently as possible.

Then last week I learned that my S10e stopped getting support from Samsung in April -- meaning no more security updates. So apparently they stop four years after product launch. I bought the phone in 2020 (again, "last year's flagship" at the time) so it was only supported for three years for me. Grrr.

The Galaxy S phones usually come in three sizes. The smallest is still pretty big if you're used to older phones, but has turned out to be small enough for me.
posted by intermod at 2:24 PM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Early this year I switched from iPhone SE to the comically tiny Unihertz Jelly 2. I did it in part because there are no iPhones currently on the market as small as the SE; I will probably never go back. Everything I was worried about switching from iOS now seems relatively unimportant save for the (really not great) camera quality. Battery lasts all day, I have all the apps I need, and the price can't be beat (~$200 US). I did get this phone to attempt to step down my phone usage and it works because it is slightly annoying to use for involved sessions but for maps, text, talk, apps, and basic web use it does what it needs to and is really cute too. It fits in any pocket.
posted by lolibrarian at 2:41 PM on November 6, 2023 [12 favorites]

I'm a former Android user who gave up because I couldn't find a small phone anymore and am now on my second iPhone SE (first an original, now a 2nd gen). Apple supports their phones for a long time, battery life is fine, being forced to use Messages is annoying. I would go back to Android if I could find a phone sized for an average woman's hand / pocket, so I'm watching this thread with interest.
posted by momus_window at 4:06 PM on November 6, 2023

Currently considering Samsung Galaxy S23, Google Pixel 5, Sony Xperia 5V, and ASUS Zenfone 10.

If you truly meant the 5, I'd take it off your list, as that phone is no longer receiving security patches or support from Google. If you're interested in the Pixel range, check out the 7A; it has a 6.1 in screen, same as the others on your list, and will still get OS updates until 2026 and security updates until 2028. The 8 is also a good choice, but it's got a slightly bigger screen at 6.2 inches - but will get security and OS updates through 2030.
posted by pdb at 5:08 PM on November 6, 2023

Ditto the Pixel 7A, not tiny at 6.1, but I have the regular Pixel 6 and I think it's about just right for most uses, esp. if you add a little rubber handle for retention, and it also has pretty ingenious "one-handed mode" (pull down on screen and the top drops down so only bottom half of screen is "in play"), among other things.
posted by kschang at 6:21 PM on November 6, 2023

Small? You want the Palm Phone.
Dimensions: 50.6 X 96.6mm / 2" x 3"
Weight: 62.5 grams / 2.2. oz
posted by cocoagirl at 7:20 PM on November 6, 2023 [4 favorites]

and it also has pretty ingenious "one-handed mode"

That's an Android feature, not specific to the 6; I have it on my 8 Pro - which is 6.7 in, way bigger than you're looking for, OP, just thought I'd mention it for context. It's a handy feature no matter what phone size you have, though.
posted by pdb at 8:34 PM on November 6, 2023

I want to second lolibrarian's comment. I bought the Unihertz Jelly 2 phone for my parent who wanted a smart phone no larger than their old flip phone. It's been a huge hit! It does depend on your carrier though; at least in my experience Verizon does not support it well/at all.
posted by divide_by_cucumber at 8:37 PM on November 6, 2023

Response by poster: Thanks, you guys: this is all extremely useful. All of your answers are very helpful and I will research all of the options you mention. Much appreciated!
posted by ClaireBear at 6:26 AM on November 8, 2023

I am writing this on a Pixel 6a I just bought from a friend who has the Zenfone 10 and was explicitly looking for a small Android phone. She'd gotten this one as a warranty replacement for a 5a having already ordered the Zenfone, but I think the 6a would have been acceptable to her (any of the Xa Pixels would be, I think). It's slightly narrower than my Nokia 5.1, which was about as big as I could go and still operate one-handed.

Not answering the question: the iPhone SE is back on the market. I was debating whether I wanted to consider it when my friend mentioned she had a spare 6a she'd sell me cheap.
posted by hoyland at 7:56 AM on November 8, 2023